South Birmingham | Operations and Supply Chain Leadership

The Opportunity

Laborare Group is supporting an established and growing business in the appointment of an Operations Manager to lead and develop its business services and operational supply chain function.

This is a broad leadership position bringing together customer service, procurement, inventory, logistics and manufacturing support to deliver an efficient, customer-focused and commercially effective operation.

Working closely with the Managing Director and colleagues across the business, you will take ownership of end-to-end business services, ensuring customer commitments are met, supplier performance is managed effectively and stock is controlled.

You will also play an important role in strengthening operational processes, systems and team capability as the business continues to grow.

The Role

As Operations Manager, you will lead the Business Services team and take responsibility for the performance of the company’s customer service, purchasing, inventory and supply chain operations.

You will:

• Lead, coach and develop the Business Services team.

• Build capability, accountability and a culture of continuous improvement.

• Oversee the complete order-to-delivery process.

• Ensure customer orders are managed accurately and reliably, with proactive communication throughout.

• Manage purchasing activities and supplier relationships.

• Review supplier performance, commercial terms and supply chain risks.

• Optimise stock availability while controlling excess inventory, obsolescence and associated costs.

• Reduce unnecessary working capital tied up in stock.

• Coordinate with colleagues across logistics and manufacturing to maintain material availability and production continuity.

• Support reliable and timely customer deliveries.

• Improve workflows, data quality, reporting and operational efficiency.

• Use ERP systems, automation and structured problem-solving to strengthen operational processes.

• Establish meaningful operational and service-performance measures.

• Investigate and resolve service or supply chain issues.

• Deliver measurable improvements in cost, quality, productivity and customer satisfaction.

The position requires someone who can balance customer requirements, commercial priorities and operational risk while creating a structured and supportive environment for the team.

About You

You will be an experienced operations, business services, procurement or supply chain professional with the ability to lead people and manage complex operational activities.

You will bring:

• Experience in customer service, purchasing, supply chain or business operations management.

• A strong understanding of inventory control, supplier performance, logistics and order fulfilment.

• Commercial awareness, including an understanding of cost, margin, working capital and operational risk.

• Strong analytical skills and confidence using operational data to support decision-making.

• Experience using ERP systems within an operational environment.

• A track record of improving processes and resolving operational challenges.

• The ability to deliver sustainable improvements in service and performance.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

• The confidence to influence colleagues and stakeholders across different business functions.

• A supportive but decisive leadership style.

• A commitment to developing people and building a high-performing team.

Experience within regulated distribution, manufacturing, food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals or personal care would be advantageous.

Knowledge of procurement best practice, quality management systems, Lean principles or other continuous-improvement methodologies would also be beneficial.

What We Offer

This appointment offers the opportunity to take ownership of a broad and influential business function within an established and growing organisation.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Work closely with the Managing Director and senior colleagues.

• Lead and develop an important operational team.

• Influence the future capability and structure of the business services function.

• Improve systems, processes and operational reporting.

• Strengthen customer service and supply chain performance.

• Support improvements in working capital and commercial performance.

• Increase operational resilience as the business continues to grow.

• Make a measurable contribution to customer experience and team development.

Location

The position is based in South Birmingham.

Applicants should live within a reasonable commuting distance of the location or be willing to relocate.

Applicants must already have the legal right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Apply

If you have experience leading customer service, procurement, inventory or supply chain operations and would like to take ownership of a broad business services function, please apply using your CV or LinkedIn profile.

All applications will be treated confidentially. Laborare Group will not share your details with the client without your prior knowledge and consent.