Vacancy No 5293 Vacancy Title HEAD OF OPERATIONS- LANDSCAPING AND BUILDING MATERIALS SUPPLIER Vacancy Description Are you a hands-on leader who can take ownership of operations and ensure the smooth day-to-day running of a business? If so, we are delighted to offer this unique and brand new opportunity for a Head of Operations to join a well-established and highly regarded supplier of landscaping and building materials at an exciting time in the development of their brand across the UK market. The Company Our Client is an Essex-based supplier of outdoor living, landscaping, paving and building materials with over 25 years of experience in delivering high-quality products for a wide range of building and landscaping projects. The business is built on innovation and commitment to providing a first-class service to customers. Their culture is open, honest and trustworthy. Their employees are truly empowered to maximise their potential, they are recognised for their hard work and success and the value they add to the business. They operate a flat structure, without a hierarchical senior management team. You will be empowered to be bold, creative and to make a difference. The Role As Head of Operations, you will be responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of the business. These include but are not limited to: Health & Safety compliance, Transport, Warehouse, Sales order Processing and stock management. Reporting to: Managing Director Main Objectives of the role: 1. Health & Safety Ensuring legislation related to Health, Safety, transport and the environment are kept up to date and implemented at all times. Ensure Manual Handling best practice is followed by all. Manage risk assessments, fire policies, inspection records and COSHH legislation. Site Traffic management Always Ensure sufficient First aiders / Fire Marshalls on site. Ensure every incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence and unsafe condition is investigated in full and communicated to interested parties Stock Management & Inventory Control Oversee annual stock takes and schedule PI counts, ensuring accuracy and minimising discrepancies. Responsible for implementing inventory controls for warehouse operations. Prepare site plan to ensure stock is stored in the most efficient way to avoid damages and maximise picking efficiency. Improve order processes and audit trail through in-house stock system (Orderwise). Buying & Supplier Management Oversee and optimise the buying process to ensure stock availability while managing costs efficiently. Work with suppliers to negotiate pricing, terms, and lead times for key materials. Ensure all incoming supplier deliveries are checked against Orderwise PO and Delivery note. Monitor inventory forecasting to prevent overstocking or stock shortages. Ensure all operational purchases (packaging, tools, transport supplies) are cost-effective and well-managed. Logistics & Transport Efficiency Ensure all deliveries are checked against pick notes to avoid errors. Enforce driver compliance with daily vehicle and MHE defect checks ensuring any remedial work is actioned promptly. Adhere to legislation relating to O’licence, vehicle maintenance, MOT’s and brake testing. Create a robust procedure to ensure no stock is despatched without being paid in full. Operational Efficiency & Business Process Optimisation Develop and enforce clear processes to ensure smooth and cost-effective operations. Address inefficiencies in workflows, tools, and transport to improve productivity and profitability. Ensure that drivers and yard staff operate with discipline, maintaining order and accountability. Work closely with the Sales Manager to review customer experience, identifying operational improvements that enhance service, delivery times, and overall customer satisfaction. Identify where improvements can be made to site safety, processes, quality systems and operations, encouraging suggestions from others and communicating effectively. Engage with colleagues to formalise Operations manual with “how to guides” encompassing all day-to-day activities. Ensure appropriate segregation of waste streams to maximise recycling, in line with company procedures Customer Service and Performance Ensure the shop and site remain secure, preventing unauthorised customer access. Implement customer service protocols to maintain professionalism even in self-service scenarios. Ensure that sufficient resource coverage is always available and that future resourcing requirements are planned. e.g. vehicles MOT’s coverage, staff coverage for annual leave etc. Ensure that open communication channels are established and maintained with Managers, staff, customers, suppliers and service providers. Leadership & Team Management Undertaking people management responsibilities, providing leadership, coaching and development. Communicates budgets, KPI’s and SLA’s. Help set strategy to motivate employees with measurable staff objections. Carry out performance reviews in line with company procedure and create personal development plans for each member of the team with focus on staff retention. Identify employee performance issues, absence and disciplinary issues. Identify and raise awareness of staff training requirements. Skills and Attributes required: This role will suit someone who is customer focused, a team player with a can do attitude, flexible, good communicator, professional, detail conscious, results driven, proactive and commercially aware. Skills: People management experience running a large operation of around 30 operational employees Numerate and literate IT knowledge (MS office) Experience in compliance with the Operator License Legislation with strong health and safety experience Ideally, you will have experience of a change management programme in a similar environment and a proven track record in continuous improvement. The diverse nature of this role means that you will be given a number of opportunities for personal development along with opportunities for future career progression within this growing business. Location/Area Essex Salary Negotiable dependent on experience