Morgan McKinley is exclusively representing a leading organisation in the foodservice and supply chain sector in the search for an experienced Head of Operations Systems & Transformation.

This is a senior leadership opportunity to join a highly successful and growing organisation, taking responsibility for driving operational transformation, systems optimisation and strategic improvement initiatives across its wider operations and supply chain function.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the organisation's operational strategy, leading a diverse portfolio of business-critical projects and ensuring that systems, processes and operational capabilities continue to evolve in line with the business's ambitious growth plans.

With responsibility for several key functions, including National Inventory, Warehouse Systems Planning, Loss Prevention and Operations & Supply Chain Projects, this role will lead a team of approximately 35 colleagues. The position requires a commercially astute and strategically minded leader who can combine a forward-thinking approach to transformation with the ability to drive effective execution and measurable operational results.

Working closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation, the Head of Operations Systems & Transformation will champion continuous improvement, leverage technology and data to enhance performance, and build the operational capability required to support the organisation's continued expansion.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Operational Transformation

Provide strategic leadership across National Inventory, Warehouse Systems Optimisation, Operations & Supply Chain Projects and Network Modernisation initiatives.
Develop and execute operational systems and transformation strategies aligned with wider organisational objectives and long-term business priorities.
Lead a portfolio of business-critical transformation and improvement projects, ensuring effective planning, implementation and delivery.
Identify opportunities to modernise operational processes, improve systems capability and enhance the effectiveness of the wider supply chain function.
Challenge existing ways of working, driving innovation, consistency and best practice across the organisation.
Ensure operational transformation initiatives support the organisation's continued growth, expansion and evolving customer requirements.

Systems, Projects & Continuous Improvement

Oversee the development and optimisation of warehouse systems, inventory processes and operational planning capabilities.
Lead strategic Operations and Supply Chain projects, ensuring initiatives are delivered effectively, on time and within agreed budgets.
Drive the use of technology, systems and data to improve operational visibility, efficiency, accuracy and decision-making.
Establish and embed robust project governance, ensuring clear accountability, effective stakeholder engagement and measurable outcomes.
Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve operational quality and drive greater consistency across the network.
Champion a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring teams are focused on delivering sustainable and measurable business benefits.
Support the modernisation of the wider operational network, ensuring systems and processes remain fit for purpose as the business evolves.

People Leadership & Organisational Development

Provide overall leadership and direction to the National Inventory, Warehouse Systems Planning, Loss Prevention and Operations & Supply Chain Project teams, comprising approximately 35 colleagues.
Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing leadership team, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Establish clear objectives and performance expectations, ensuring individual and team contributions are aligned with wider business goals.
Develop succession planning strategies, alongside structured training and development frameworks, to strengthen internal capability and build future leadership talent.
Champion effective two-way communication across all teams, ensuring strategic priorities, business updates and operational changes are clearly understood.
Lead organisational change effectively, engaging and empowering teams throughout transformation initiatives.
Foster an inclusive, positive and high-performance culture, leading by example and encouraging colleagues to embrace new ways of working.

Commercial & Financial Management

Take ownership of financial governance across the relevant departments, ensuring effective budget management and cost control.
Prepare, manage and monitor monthly, quarterly and annual departmental budgets.
Drive both Group-level and local operational efficiencies, identifying opportunities to improve cost performance and maximise value.
Ensure transformation and improvement projects deliver clear commercial benefits and measurable returns.
Use operational and financial data to evaluate performance, identify trends and support informed business decisions.
Maintain strong financial discipline while balancing investment in systems, people and operational capability.

Performance Management & Stakeholder Engagement

Define, implement and monitor appropriate KPIs to measure operational performance, project delivery and individual and team effectiveness.
Establish robust reporting mechanisms, providing clear visibility of performance, progress against strategic objectives and areas requiring intervention.
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, influencing at all levels to drive alignment and support for key initiatives.
Work collaboratively across the wider Operations, Supply Chain and senior leadership functions to ensure transformation programmes deliver against business priorities.
Promote a customer-first approach, ensuring operational improvements translate into enhanced service, reliability and customer experience.
Ensure operational strategies and initiatives reflect wider organisational commitments, including sustainability and responsible business practices.

Candidate Requirements

Experience & Qualifications

A minimum of 10 years' relevant experience within operations, supply chain, logistics, warehouse systems, business transformation or a related environment.
Degree or relevant trade qualification in an appropriate discipline.
Demonstrable experience leading complex operational transformation programmes and delivering business-critical projects.
Proven experience managing multiple operational functions and leading sizeable, diverse teams.
Strong understanding of inventory management, warehouse systems, operational planning and supply chain processes.
Experience developing and implementing operational strategies, systems improvements and network modernisation initiatives.
Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience managing departmental budgets, financial performance and cost improvement programmes.
A track record of establishing performance frameworks, implementing KPIs and using data to drive operational improvements.
Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships and influencing senior decision-makers.
Demonstrable experience leading organisational change and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.

Personal Attributes

A passionate and inspiring leader who can motivate, engage and develop teams while creating a strong sense of shared purpose.
Customer-focused, with a genuine commitment to delivering outstanding service and operational excellence.
Highly organised and comfortable operating within a complex, fast-paced and constantly evolving environment.
Commercially astute, with the confidence to challenge existing practices and drive meaningful change.
A strategic thinker who can balance long-term business priorities with the practicalities of operational delivery.
An analytical and data-driven problem-solver, capable of identifying root causes and developing sustainable solutions.
An effective communicator and influencer, able to build credibility and strong relationships across a broad range of stakeholders.
Resilient, adaptable and decisive, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain momentum.
A collaborative and inclusive leader who leads by example and brings people along on the transformation journey.
Passionate about innovation, operational improvement and delivering consistently high standards of execution.

Core Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate strength across the following areas:

Strategic Leadership: Ability to develop and execute operational strategies that support wider business objectives and long-term growth.
Transformation & Project Delivery: Proven ability to build business cases, lead complex projects and deliver sustainable change.
Commercial Acumen: Strong financial, budgetary and commercial management capabilities, with a focus on efficiency and value creation.
Analytical & Data-Driven Thinking: Strong numerical and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends and drive evidence-based decisions.
Stakeholder Management: Confidence in managing, influencing and challenging a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
People Leadership: Ability to inspire, motivate and develop high-performing teams while fostering an inclusive and positive culture.
Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to identifying opportunities, challenging the status quo and improving operational effectiveness.
Execution & Accountability: A strong delivery mindset, with the drive and determination to translate strategic priorities into tangible business results.

The Opportunity

This is a significant opportunity for an experienced operations and transformation leader to take ownership of a broad and influential portfolio within a successful, growing organisation.

The role offers the opportunity to shape the future of operational systems and supply chain capabilities, lead a talented team and deliver strategic initiatives that will have a tangible impact on business performance, efficiency and customer experience.

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