Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 per year depending on experience
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday 08:00-17:00 (on-site)
Contract: Full time / Permanent
About Oxwash - come and join the washing revolution!
💧Our mission at Oxwash is to eliminate the impact of textile care on our planet and its people. We are now looking for a dedicated and experienced Senior Operations Manager to join our team and lead the seamless operations of our first of its kind plant, Big Blue I in Swindon - the world’s first industrial-sized laundry facility, operating with Net-Zero emissions (Scopes 1 & 2), catering primarily to the hospitality and healthcare markets.
Summer 2024 has brought exciting new equipment to the centre of our mission, including a 5-metre Tunnel Washer, a HyDro Water Reclamation System, and enhanced dryers, irons and folders at Big Blue I. You can read our Sustainability Report for 2023 for more details on Sustainability and Innovation at Oxwash.
If you are looking for a new challenge in a highly innovative and ambitious environment, you identify with our mission, and feel you’d fit perfectly in one of the top 100 organisations to escape to for 2023, then apply to work with us. You could be a part of the world’s first Certified B Corporation®carbon-neutral laundry service!
About the role
Reporting to the VP of Business Operations and Strategy, the Senior Operations Manager will lead the Operations department which incorporates all processing and logistics activity. This role is an on-the-floor management role, being present at site every day to lead the team face to face. You will be wholly responsible for operational planning and delivery, operational efficiency, and accountable for OTIFIQ customer experience within operations, financial performance, and the safe working, well-being, and culture of the team. With a hands-on approach to leadership, you will lead continuous improvement initiatives, engaging with the team and driving success. You will manage and develop all operational employees, building a winning team for fast-paced, high level growth. Industrial laundry experience is a must for this role, with the right candidate developing with the business as it grows, to become the Site General Manager.
The Senior Operations Manager’s key responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
* Operational Delivery : Responsible for end to end operations at all Oxwash sites. Maintaining the highest levels of OTIFIQ (On Time, In Full, In Quality). Delivering this with an efficient and cost effective approach.
* Continuous Improvement and Process Optimisation : Identify opportunities to systematically improve quality or efficiency and reduce cost through KPI and external trend analysis. Develop and execute initiatives that successfully implement across all operations. Develop, document and optimise processes across all areas of operations to ensure that they are efficient, effective, and scalable. Monitor and identify bottlenecks, eliminate them one by one and continuously improve processes to meet quality standards, compliance requirements and operational goals.
* Financial Management : Full accountability for the national operational P&L, including procurement, site operations and logistics. Responsible for the full operations budget and supporting the site managers in their areas of budget control. Forecasting and scenario planning, running a consistent operations cost forecast and developing contingency plans against a range of circumstances. Both in a reactive and proactive fashion. Cost control focus responsible for all costs of sales are managed proportionately to revenue, in line with budget and holding the team to account for discrepancies and overspend.
* Team Leadership : Build, manage and develop a high-performing operations team, ensuring that team members have clear roles, responsibilities, and development plans. Maintaining a culture of accountability, integrity, creativity, and excellence. Train, develop and upskill the team to become a high performing, KPI focussed, passionate and engaged team.
Key Relationships:
* VP of Business Operations and Strategy : You will report to our VP of Business Operations and Strategy, who is accountable for the delivery of nationwide operations in processing and logistics. They will support you in your execution, sponsor any key projects and foster your development.
* CCO : Where operations revolve around creating revenue, our CCO will be the principal internal stakeholder and will have both input and some accountability on delivery.
* CFO : Holding financial responsibility for the operational P&L will mean regular interaction with the CFO and Finance team.
* VP of Platform : Where your work aligns with or integrates with our software architecture you will collaborate closely with our VP Platform to ensure adoption and integration of developments and deliverables into our operations
* Head of Projects and Operational Excellence : You will collaborate on operational projects and improvements, working together to achieve shared goals and hit shared targets. Driving excellence in all levels of the operation.
* Head of Sustainability : You will collaborate with our Head of Sustainability to ensure our operations are aligned with company sustainability mandates. You will also work together to deliver operational changes in the dynamic fashion required to remain at the forefront of sustainability in a growing and ever changing environment.
* Head of People : You will work together to deliver people management and culture improvement projects across your team. Ensuring a people focus is present in all operational decisions and developments.
Requirements
These are some of the key qualities and competencies required in this role (categorised under our 4 performance pillars):
Technical competency
* Industrial Laundry Experience : Experience working in an industrial laundry is essential. A deep understanding of the processes involved in industrial laundry, with experience developing, managing, and improving them.
* Specialist and Technical Knowledge : Expert knowledge of operations management principles, methodologies, and best practices. Strong understanding of manufacturing, supply chain, logistics and financial management. Experience with data analysis, performance metrics, and process optimisation.
* Financial and Business Acumen : Ability to fully manage and articulate P&Ls, set rational budgets with a high degree of seasonal forecasting, and risk mitigation. Ability to make data-driven decisions and manage resources effectively and proactively.
* Communication : Verbal and written communication will be crucial to achieving buy-in for your projects and keeping stakeholders invested throughout the journey. You will also serve as a strategic account manager for our enterprise clients as they onboard - creating a bespoke service will likely come naturally to you.
Technology, automation and innovation
* Technology, Automation and IT Literacy : Identify and utilise efficiencies (time, cost etc.) that are possible with new AI tools, our technology and other platforms and SOPs.
Leadership and collaboration
* Leadership : Strong leadership skill with the ability to delegate, motivate and inspire teams to achieve operational excellence. Proven experience in building and managing high-performing teams. Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, clients, and partners.
Sustainability and values
* Sustainability : You are expected to be a champion for sustainability initiatives and improvements, driving this mantra in all operations teams, all the time.
* Caring : Care is at the centre of everything we do, care for our team, for the textiles we hope to extend the life of, for the planet and for our customers. You will be empathetic by nature and driven to address the climate crisis and remove the damage of laundry on our textiles, the planet and us.
* Values : You are expected to embody our values of creativity, excellence and integrity.
Benefits
💷 A salary of £65,000 - £75,000 per year depending on experience
🧩 Generous EMI share options, following successful probationary period
☀️ Enjoy 31 days of holiday (including bank holidays) plus, the option to purchase additional holiday days and take your birthday off!
🧢 Uniform and equipment provided by Oxwash. You may also get an allowance to buy work related equipment.
💧 Employee discount on personal laundry and wet cleaning
🌻 Free, confidential mental health support + 1 Mental Health Day off
🏥 A funded health cash plan and enhanced sick pay
💚 Cycle to work scheme
Oxwash cares deeply about leading the way as an employer and providing a more inclusive and diverse workplace for all. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at Oxwash. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy and maternity, marital status or disability status. Please let us know if you would benefit from any reasonable adjustments in order to participate fully in our recruitment process.