General Manager

About the Role

Lead a High-Performing Operation at Whistl

Whistl is one of the UK's leading logistics and delivery management companies, helping businesses efficiently manage their mail, parcels and fulfilment requirements. We are looking for an experienced and commercially focused General Manager to lead our North Hub operation.

This is a key senior leadership role responsible for delivering a safe, efficient and cost-effective sortation operation while driving service excellence, continuous improvement and employee engagement. You will lead operational, transport and operation teams in a fast-paced 24/7 environment, ensuring exceptional customer service and operational performance.

Job Opportunity

About the Role

As General Manager, you will have full accountability for the hub's operational performance, people leadership, financial management, safety compliance and customer service delivery.

Working closely with internal stakeholders and customers, you will drive operational excellence, deliver efficiencies, and support the continued growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end sortation operation from receipt through to handover.
• Drive operational efficiency through lean processes and continuous improvement.
• Analyse operational data, forecasts and performance trends to optimise resources and productivity.
• Work collaboratively across functions to improve service, efficiency and business performance.

People Management

• Lead, coach and develop a large operational workforce and management team.
• Create a positive, engaged and inclusive working environment.
• Manage performance, attendance and conduct in line with company policies.
• Support succession planning and talent development across the operation.
• Encourage continuous improvement and employee involvement in operational excellence initiatives.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Own operational budgets, forecasts and cost controls.
• Monitor expenditure and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Deliver financial targets through effective labour planning and operational management.

Customer & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure service quality targets are consistently achieved.
• Support customer reviews, site visits and operational performance discussions.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Champion a culture of safety, compliance and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety, Environmental and Mail Integrity requirements.
• Support audits, investigations and security initiatives across the operation.

Change & Continuous Improvement

• Lead operational change programmes and business improvement initiatives.
• Communicate effectively with teams to drive engagement and positive adoption of change.
• Measure and monitor improvements to ensure sustainable results.

Essential Skills

About You

We're looking for a confident and resilient operational leader who thrives in a fast-moving logistics environment.

You will have:

• Significant senior management experience within logistics, FMCG, mail, parcels or distribution operations.
• Proven experience leading large operational teams in a 24/7 environment.
• Strong transport management experience with responsibility for fleet or transport operations.
• Transport Manager CPC (National) qualification.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial and operational data.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts and cost improvement initiatives.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A track record of leading change and continuous improvement programmes.
• The ability to make informed decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills.

Essential Experience

• Minimum 5 years' senior management experience within logistics, mail, parcel, transport or FMCG operations.
• Experience within manual or semi-automated operational environments.
• Proven ability to manage operational performance, productivity and service delivery.
• Demonstrable experience leading and developing management teams.

About Company

We are the UK’s leading delivery management company providing efficient, high-quality and competitively priced services across Business Mail, Parcels, Fulfilment and Doordrop Media both in the UK and internationally. Distributing more than 4 billion items annually, we are market leaders in Downstream Access Mail (DSA) services handling over 50% of bulk business mail in the UK.

We are in the top 100 privately owned companies with 23 locations across the UK. Our success is down to our people and the values we all follow to delivery excellence to our customers.

We think as part of a team, act with a can-do attitude and do the right thing. Following these simple values has resulted in our people delivering and exceeded both our business and personal development goals.

We are a ‘family’ of uniquely different people with strengths in the areas we work in and always have the opportunity to be curious to enhance ourselves.

We are a disability confident employer and embrace Well Being, EDI and ESG to make ourselves and our environment the best it can be.