Depot Manager, Wellingborough

Job description

Join Day Group as Depot Manager at our Wellingborough depot and take responsibility for the safe, efficient operations of one of our key recycling and aggregate processing sites. Reporting to the Operations Manager, you’ll lead the depot team, oversee production activities, and ensure materials are processed and dispatched to the highest standards of quality, safety, and customer service.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll be responsible for managing people, plant, and processes within a busy operational environment. You’ll drive performance, maximise productivity, maintain compliance, and ensure the depot continues to operate safely and efficiently while supporting the wider objectives of the business.

Working closely with operational teams, maintenance providers, transport teams, and internal stakeholders, you’ll play a key role in developing the depot’s capabilities, improving operational efficiency, and maintaining the high standards expected across Day Group’s recycling and aggregate operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the safe, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the depot
• Lead depot teams to maximise productivity, quality, and operational performance
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce production costs
• Ensure the safe production and dispatch of quality materials
• Take ownership of depot procedures and work instructions, ensuring compliance across all operational activities
• Implement and maintain Company health, safety, environmental, and quality policies
• Support the delivery of health and safety training and promote a strong safety culture
• Monitor and improve the performance of direct reports through effective leadership and development
• Ensure plant and equipment are maintained through planned maintenance programmes to maximise availability
• Manage staffing levels, training requirements, and workforce planning to meet operational demands
• Plan current and future workloads and communicate operational priorities effectively
• Liaise with internal departments to support customer requirements and wider business objectives
• Support and maintain compliance with ISO 9001:2015 quality management standards
• Undertake any other reasonable duties required to support the successful operation of the depot

Requirements

We are looking for an experienced operational leader with a strong background in aggregates, recycling, waste, construction materials, manufacturing, or a similar heavy industrial environment.

You will be an effective people manager who can motivate and develop teams, whilst maintaining a strong focus on health and safety, quality, and operational performance. You’ll be comfortable making decisions, solving problems, and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced production environment.

The successful candidate will be commercially aware, highly organised, and capable of identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance depot performance. Above all, you will lead by example and promote a positive safety culture throughout the operation.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Previous experience managing operations within a depot, production, recycling, aggregates, waste, manufacturing, or industrial environment
• Strong people management and leadership skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
• Self-motivated with a flexible and hands-on approach
• Good understanding of fixed and mobile plant, machinery, and operational equipment
• Strong knowledge of health, safety, and environmental responsibilities within an operational setting
• Experience implementing and maintaining operational procedures and standards
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Experience planning workloads, managing resources, and driving operational efficiency
• Understanding of quality management systems and continuous improvement principles

Desirable

• Experience within the aggregates, construction materials, recycling, or waste management sectors
• Knowledge of Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) processing operations
• Experience maintaining ISO 9001:2015 quality systems
• WAMITAB qualification
• Experience managing planned maintenance programmes
• Knowledge of stock management and production planning
• Experience leading operational change and performance improvement initiatives