Key Accountabilities
1. Warehouse Start Up & Project Management
- Own the warehouse start up from contract award to go live, including but limited to:
o Layout and capacity planning
o Process design and SOP development
o Labour ramp up and training plans
o Systems implementation (WMS, automation interfaces, reporting tools)
o Cycle count implementation
- Act as the overall operational project lead, coordinating:
o Internal teams (IT, Engineering, HR, Finance, Commercial)
o External vendors (racking, MHE, systems integrators)
o Customer stakeholders
- Build and manage detailed project plans, milestones, RAID logs, and readiness reviews.
- Ensure start up is delivered on time, within budget, and to contractual SLAs.
2. Operational Design & Innovation
- Design scalable, fit for purpose operating models for high volume, complex operations.
- Challenge “standard” solutions where required — applying creative problem solving to constraints such as space, labour, systems, or cost.
- Identify and implement automation, mechanisation, or digital solutions where they deliver real ROI.
- Balance speed of deployment with long term operational sustainability.
3. Leadership & Team Build
- Recruit, develop, and lead a high performing operations leadership team (Ops Managers, Department Manager, Support Functions).
- Establish a strong safety first, performance driven culture from day one.
- Coach leaders through ambiguity and rapid change during start up and ramp up.
- Act as the visible senior leader on site during critical phases.
4. Customer & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the senior operational interface with the customer during implementation and early operations.
- Translate customer requirements into executable operational solutions.
- Manage expectations while maintaining contractual integrity and commercial discipline.
- Present confidently to senior customer stakeholders, including performance updates and risk mitigation plans.
5. Performance, Cost & Risk Control
- Own operational KPIs including:
o Productivity
o Service level attainment
o Safety and quality metrics
o Maintain Cycle count schedules
- Establish strong cost controls during ramp up and steady state.
- Proactively identify operational risks and implement mitigation plans.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives post go live
Skills, Experience & Capability
Essential
- Proven experience leading large scale warehouse operations.
- Demonstrated success in start ups or major operational transformations.
- Strong project management capability in live operational environments.
- Commercially astute — understands cost drivers, margins, and contract obligations.
- Able to operate effectively in uncertain, high pressure environments.
- Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at all levels.