Role Summary

This role is accountable for the day‑to‑day management and strategic development of logistics operations, including collections, material handling, event and charity logistics, manual collection models, and outbound material sales coordination.

The role incorporates people leadership, contract and partner management, operational data oversight, mass‑balance integrity, QMS ownership, risk‑register management and delivery of key operational projects including bin‑washing trials, manual collections, island operations, backhaul partnerships, and rPET‑related initiatives. You will also collaborate cross‑functionally with Regulatory & Compliance, Finance, Data & Technology, Communications, and the wider Operations teams to ensure coherent, audit‑ready performance across the DRS ecosystem.

You will manage a Logistics team and act as the primary operational interface with external partners including LPP, charities, retailers, and relevant public‑sector bodies, ensuring logistics operations are safe, efficient and aligned to scheme objectives.

You will also support outbound material logistics, backhaul partnerships, bin‑washing and manual‑collection trials, incident and issue management, and cross‑functional coordination with Retail, Community, RPO, Finance and external partners such as LPP and Abtran.

This is a strategic operational role requiring demonstrable capability in strategy analysis, strategy implementation, project management, people leadership, and data‑driven decision‑making. Qualifications in these areas are a plus; proven experience is essential.

What you’ll do:

Complete and maintain logistics reports, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.
Plan and coordinate logistics for events, charity collections and community activities, including equipment, routing and volunteer support.
Manage charity collection processes, including coordination, reporting and payment support.
Oversee daily input/output logistics data, ensuring mass‑balance accuracy across collections, processing, events and manual collections.
Investigate and resolve data discrepancies and operational variances.
Support manual collection operations and trials (e.g. 437), including routing and efficiency improvements.
Support bin‑washing trials and development of future collection models.
Coordinate outbound material logistics, including RoFR tracking and tender support.
Manage inbound incident and issue communications, working with partners to resolve and escalate where required.
Support backhaul relationships with retailers and logistics partners.
Contribute to operational projects and cross‑functional initiatives as assigned.
Manage and triage logistics cases received via our customer‑service partner, inboxes and phone queries.
Maintain accurate logistics webpages and FAQs, ensuring guidance remains current.
Contribute to non‑compliance workflows and QMS document maintenance, escalating issues where appropriate.

Who are you?

An organised and detail‑focused operations professional with experience in logistics, operations or field‑based delivery environments.
Confident managing multiple workflows and deadlines in a structured, process‑driven environment.
Confident working with operational data, trackers and reports to identify issues and improvements.
Practical, hands‑on and solution‑oriented, with a strong sense of ownership
Comfortable operating in a regulated or compliance‑focused environment.
Proactive, reliable, and committed to delivering high‑quality operational outcomes.
Highly data-driven, with the ability to analyse performance, generate insights, and make informed, evidence-based decisions.
Highly effective in stakeholder engagement, with the ability to influence and build credibility with internal and external stakeholders.
A clear communicator, able to provide teams and stakeholders with clear, accurate and professional communication around shared objectives and priorities.
A collaborative team player who works effectively to support broader logistics and operational goals

Essential

Experience in logistics operations, supply chain, field operations or waste/collection environments.
Strong capability in data tracking, reporting and operational analysis.
Experience working with logistics partners, retailers or service providers.
Familiarity with incident management and operational issue resolution.
Experience contributing to projects or trials (e.g. pilots, new operating models).
Strong organisational skills and attention to detail in high‑volume environments.
Strong capability in data entry, reporting and tracker management.
Familiarity with QMS documentation, SOPs or process updates is desirable.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work accurately in high‑volume, high‑compliance operational environments.
Experience in data analysis and data-driven decision making
Experience delivering initiatives to scope, timeline and governance standards.
This role will require travel, so a full clean drivers’ licence is essential

Desirable

Experience coordinating event logistics, collections or multi‑site operations.
Strong data analysis skills (patterns, trends, KPIs, operational insights) that drive accuracy and decision making
Formal qualification in business (MBA), Project Management (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP), operations, analytics, retail management or related field a plus
Familiarity with FMCG, retail operations or supply chain environments.
Experience using AI-powered features in workplace tools to improve efficiency and confident in leveraging generative AI models (e.g., CoPilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) for daily tasks and workflow optimization.
Experience in environmental schemes, waste management or Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks.

Benefits Include:

23 days annual leave plus 2 company days
Flexible hours
Hybrid working - 2 days per week WFH
Bonus
Company Pension
Company Health Care Scheme
Income Protection
Employee Assistance Programme
Onsite parking and Subsidised canteen
Sports & Social Club

Operations Manager - Logistics Team

Benefits

Job Description