Job Description

Job Purpose

Piglets Pantry is an award-winning food producer based in West Sussex. We supply handmade pies, sausage rolls, and other savoury and patisserie delights to corporate venues and customers across the UK and alongside an e-commerce platform selling directly to the public.

We are recruiting a Head of Distribution to lead our warehouse teams ensuring our products are accurately packed, labelled and prepared for dispatch. We are also preparing to adopt a new CRM system, Odoo, and this role will be involved in the implementation as we seek to automate areas of stock control and inventory management.

Responsibilities/Duties

Operations

Direct the daily activities of the B2B and B2C teams to ensure all orders are prepared and ready for the internal logistics team and external couriers. Oversee inventory management processes to maintain optimal stock levels, minimise losses, and ensure accurate reporting. Work closely with the Odoo implementation team to digitise our stock control system Identify opportunities for process improvement and cost reduction throughout the distribution chain, implementing best practices

Compliance and Quality Assurance

Ensure the critical control points are met, in relation to metal detecting and all areas of food safety Oversee product labelling to ensure accuracy on product ingredients and allergen information. Ensure all distribution practices adhere to relevant laws, regulations, and internal standards; support quality control procedures to maintain high service standards

Team Leadership & Development

Recruit, train, and motivate distribution staff at all organisational levels, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement Lead teams through organisational and technological changes, ensuring smooth transitions and ongoing engagement

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

Internal Collaboration: Collaborate with sales, procurement, production, finance departments and the people team to ensure alignment of distribution operations with broader business activities. Working closely with production to identify and resolve problems swiftly.

Customer Service

Service Delivery Excellence: Ensure high standards of customer satisfaction by maintaining reliable and responsive delivery services. Issue Resolution: Oversee the resolution of delivery exceptions, complaints, and incidents, ensuring timely and effective corrective actions.

Health, Safety & Environment

Workplace Safety: Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, foster a safe working environment, and promote a safety-first culture among all staff Housekeeping: Ensuring the team keep the areas clean and tidy Environmental Impact: Implement sustainability initiatives to reduce the environmental footprint of distribution operations, such as optimising routes, reducing waste, and ensuring responsible disposal of materials. Manage the forklift and related safety controls

Finance

Follow relevant finance procedures for invoice validation Work with the Board of Directors on the budget for your department

Essential Skills & Experience

Computer Literacy & Confidence. Experience managing a team, including delegation and development Understanding of Health and Safety Experience in the food industry (not necessarily in food production, but an understanding of food safety is essential) Excellent organisational skills with a high attention to detail Excellent communication skills at all levels Time management skills & experience managing conflicting priorities

Desirable Skills & Experience

Experience implementing or in using a CRM system Forklift qualified Quality Control Experience in food production or food distribution would be ideal Logistics experience IOSH Health and Safety Qualification
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 30,000.00-35,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person