Head of Operations - #2169649

Head of Operations

Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, with some travel to our stores

Contract: Permanent

Reports to: Finance, Operations & HR Director

Salary: Competitive, plus bonus

About Joe Browns

At Joe Browns, everything we do revolves around making people feel good. Since 1998, we’ve been creating unique, colourful clothing and homewares that celebrate individuality and help our customers express themselves.

Today, we’re a successful multi-channel retailer, selling through our website, our own stores, independent stockists and retail partners across the UK and internationally. Our head office, customer service team and warehouse are all under one roof in Leeds, so you’ll never be far from the action.

We’re at a pivotal point in our growth and are looking for a Head of Operations to help build an operation that’s agile, efficient and ready to scale.

About the role

You’ll lead our warehouse and operations team, taking overall responsibility for getting products from intake to our customers’ doors safely, accurately and efficiently.

Combining hands-on leadership with a focus on continuous improvement, you’ll review how we work, identify opportunities to improve performance and lead changes that deliver lasting results. You’ll take ownership of stock control, drive cost savings and build strong relationships with our couriers and external partners.

You’ll also lead health and safety across our warehouse, head office and stores, turning policy into clear, practical ways of working and building a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading, motivating and developing our warehouse and operations team, building a culture of ownership, pride and continuous improvement.
• Overseeing warehouse operations, including goods intake, storage, picking, packing, dispatch and returns.
• Setting and monitoring operational KPIs, using data to improve productivity, accuracy, dispatch times and cost per order.
• Planning capacity, staffing and warehouse space to meet seasonal demand and support business growth.
• Reviewing processes and implementing improvements that increase efficiency and deliver cost savings while protecting service levels.
• Taking ownership of stock accuracy, cycle counts and audit processes, strengthening controls to minimise stock loss across the warehouse and stores.
• Working closely with merchandising, buying and ecommerce teams to keep stock flowing smoothly.
• Managing relationships and service performance with couriers, logistics providers and retail partners.
• Leading health and safety across all sites, including risk assessments, safe systems of work, audits, investigations and RIDDOR reporting.
• Overseeing fire safety, emergency planning and disaster recovery arrangements.
• Coordinating relevant training and providing operational and health and safety updates to the Board.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be a commercially minded, hands-on leader who enjoys making things work better. You’ll know how to deliver change while keeping people engaged, and you’ll be comfortable working with everyone from the warehouse team to the Board.

Essential experience and skills:

• Proven experience leading warehouse or distribution operations.
• A strong track record of improving processes, increasing efficiency and delivering cost savings.
• Solid stock control experience, with a focus on accuracy and minimising loss.
• Experience managing health and safety in an operational environment, with a sound understanding of UK health and safety legislation.
• A recognised health and safety qualification, such as NEBOSH or equivalent.
• Experience managing relationships with couriers, logistics providers and other external partners.
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills.

It would also be great if you bring:

• Experience in multi-channel retail, ecommerce or fashion.
• Experience leading an operation through growth and building processes that can scale.
• Knowledge of warehouse management systems and operational reporting tools.
• A continuous improvement or Lean background.
• A NEBOSH National Diploma and/or Chartered Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH)

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary and bonus.
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell up to a week of leave.
• Company pension scheme.
• 50% discount on Joe Browns clothing.
• Health cash plan and life assurance.
• A colourful, creative and fun working environment where individuality is celebrated.

Ready to join the Joe Browns story?

We’d love to hear from you. Please email your CV to [email protected].