Business Improvement Manager

Great Bear (Part of the Culina Group) provides distribution services to FMCG clients. Customer centric service focus is delivered through a site-level empowered culture.

At Culina we have a winning culture, we believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive… A place where you're valued, challenged, and inspired!

The Business Improvement Manager will be responsible for supporting regional leadership teams in initiating, completing, implementing and supporting improvement initiatives across all elements of warehouse and transport operations and support functions across the business.

This is a full time, permanent role. Working the hours of 09.00-17.30, Monday to Friday.

This is a flexible role, and can be based within the Midlands or North West. 

Key Duties of a Business Improvement Manager:

• Co-ordinate, influence and work with site senior leadership teams to identify improvement opportunities, which have a positive impact on operations performance across quality, cost, service and safety elements.
• Identify, agree and deliver improvement initiative objectives and timescales with site & regional leadership teams (including as appropriate, local C.I. Champions).
• Produce timely written operational improvement strategy proposals and communicate to the relevant stakeholders, including clients as required, ensuring consideration for the cost benefit and complexity of delivering the change.
• Liaise with key stakeholders and subject matter experts to ensure the creation of fully considered proposals.
• Responsible for ensuring sites maintain traction and deliver on the identified improvement projects for the region.
• Ensure savings generated through improvement initiatives are quantified and validated by Finance.
• Complete in depth and complex analysis to identify current performance and/or warehouse/transport trends used to support any improvements.
• Support the operational improvement implementation process; ensuring relevant operational teams have support + coaching throughout the change cycle.
• Utilise business central support teams including IT expertise to develop potential new ways of working as part of a depot / business improvement initiative.
• Complete analytical activity to measure potential and delivered positive benefits of any operational improvement proposal at either site, regional or business level ensuring capture of actual vs expected value.
• Provide regular communication updates on the progress of improvement initiatives at either depot, regional or business level.
• Support identifying best practice and facilitate information sharing across the business, ensuring “lessons learned” and best practice are identified and shared.
• Ongoing collaboration - sharing best practice and generating ideas for future projects across the GB business.
• Conduct audits across sites, in line with ‘Basics done Brilliantly’ minimum standards, to assist sites in identifying areas for improvement.

• The ability to apply Project Management and LEAN Methodologies to drive internal and external stakeholders to support the delivery of any given improvement initiative to completion.
• High level of communication and influencing skills required to ensure site RGM’s and GM’s deliver the required savings and productivity initiatives.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt with experience of the application of, and the ability to train out, Lean Six Sigma tools such 5S, 7 Wastes, TPM, Quality tools, FMEA and DMAIC.
• A proven track record managing project change within warehouse/transport operations.
• Ability to stay focused and proactively prioritise initiatives.
• The ability and drive to mould this opportunity in order to obtain the best results.
• Flexibility within the role to be able to contribute to a variety of areas within the operation.
• Able to demonstrate a high level of attention to detail.
• A strong operational warehousing/transport background.
• Able to work to tight deadlines.
• High level of expertise in MS Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.
• Literate in warehouse/transport management systems
• Excellent time management skills and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal, conciliation skills and the capacity to network at many levels.

As part of our drive to make Great Bear a great place to work. We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organisation where we are committed to employee development and recognising success for hard working performers.

Our dedicated learning and development programmes are open to every employee to give you the opportunity to shape your own future within logistics and continue to work in an environment where team culture thrives.

Our People are the driving force behind our success, which is why we offer a wide range of benefits which include:

• Annual Leave – Competitive holiday entitlement of 25 days plus the normal bank holidays.
• Company Bonus  – We do our best work to succeed together. When we achieve our goals you'll be rewarded through our bonus scheme 
• Private Medical Cover  – This gives you peace of mind, you have choice, flexibility and speed of access to the most clinically appropriate care via Bupa
• Pension scheme – we want colleagues to enjoy a comfortable retirement so we offer a great contribution of 5% employee and 8% employer
• Life Assurance - x4 your annual salary 
• Company car or car allowance - business need
• Wellness – Via our Employee Assistance Programme we offer immediate access to a confidential telephone counselling and legal information service that operates 24 hours a days, 365 days a year
• Eye Care Vouchers – We can provide you with substantial savings with free eye tests and discounts on prescription glasses
• Reward & Recognition – We recognise that employees have gone the extra mile via Employee of the month and year, special recognition and long service awards.
• Everyday discounts - via our benefit platform you will have access to over 50 retailer discounts for everyday savings!

If you meet the requirements for the above role and are looking for your next career opportunity please apply now and become a part of our #WinningTeam!