Warehouse Section Leader - (WSL.46)

At Gist, we're proud to be part of the M&S Group, the logistics engine behind M&S Food.

From our distribution centres to our transport operations and support functions, we connect people, technology and expertise to ensure the right products reach the right stores at the right time.

As we continue to invest in our people, technology and network, there's never been a more exciting time to join Gist and help shape the future of food logistics.

The Opportunity

Are you a people-focused leader who enjoys bringing out the best in a team while keeping a busy operation moving?

Our Lenziemill operation has an exciting opportunity for a Warehouse Section Leader to join our night team, leading approximately 11-13 colleagues across a fast-paced warehouse operation.

This is a hands‑on leadership role where you'll balance the needs of your people with the demands of the operation. You'll set clear expectations, support and develop colleagues, manage performance and make sure your area delivers safely and effectively throughout the night.

We're looking for someone who genuinely enjoys leading people , not simply just managing tasks. Previous warehouse or FMCG experience would be beneficial, but we're also open to experienced team leaders from other fast‑paced environments, including retail, who can demonstrate strong people management and operational skills.

You'll be joining a busy night operation, so you'll need to be comfortable spinning several plates at once, responding to challenges as they arise and keeping your team engaged and focused throughout the shift.

You'll work 4 nights out of 7, 20:00-06:00 , with one weekend on and one weekend off.

What you'll be doing

As Warehouse Section Leader, you'll take responsibility for your team and operational area, ensuring colleagues understand what needs to be delivered and have the support they need to succeed.

You’ll:

• Lead, support and motivate a team of approximately 11‑13 warehouse colleagues throughout your shift.
• Take ownership of a specific operational area, ensuring the daily plan is understood and delivered safely and efficiently.
• Set clear expectations and provide regular, constructive feedback to help colleagues perform at their best.
• Monitor operational service and performance KPIs, taking action where required to keep performance on track.
• Coach and develop colleagues, identifying training and development needs and supporting new starters through their induction.
• Manage day‑to‑day people activity including attendance, Return to Work conversations, wellbeing and performance.
• Confidently support people and employee relations matters, escalating and working with your manager where appropriate.
• Prioritise competing demands and respond quickly to operational challenges throughout the shift.
• Identify potential risks, resolve problems and escalation safety incidents, hazards or near misses appropriately.
• Champion health and safety, ensuring your team operates in a safe and compliant environment.
• Create an environment where colleagues feel comfortable sharing ideas and contributing to better ways of working.
• Work collaboratively with other leaders and operational teams to deliver a strong overall shift performance.

This is an opportunity to combine people leadership with hands‑on operational responsibility, making a visible difference to both your team and the performance of the warehouse.

What we're looking for

We're looking for an experienced team leader or manager who understands that great operational performance starts with great people leadership.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Previous team leadership or people management experience within a busy operational environment.
• A people‑focused leadership style with the confidence to coach, challenge and support colleagues.
• Experience managing performance, attendance and day‑to‑day people matters.
• The confidence to support employee relations issues and have sometimes challenging conversations when required.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage several priorities at once.
• A calm, practical approach to solving problems in a fast‑moving environment.
• Experience working with operational targets or KPIs and using them to drive performance.
• Good communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships across different teams.
• An understanding of warehouse operations or Warehouse Management Systems would be beneficial.
• Previous warehouse, logistics or FMCG experience would be advantageous, but isn't essential if you can demonstrate strong transferable operational and people leadership experience.
• Previous night‑shift experience would be beneficial, alongside an understanding of the challenges of leading teams overnight.

If you're a confident people leader who can keep a team motivated, manage competing priorities and deliver results in a busy environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Lead your people. Own your area. Drive performance. Make a difference.

Role details

Salary : £33,882.36 per annum + £4,500 shift allowance
Working pattern : 4 nights out of 7, with 1 weekend on / 1 weekend off
Hours : 20:00-06:00
Location : Lenziemill

What's in it for you?

As well as a competitive salary, you'll benefit from:

• 20% M&S discount on most things from furniture, fashion and food
• 20 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with length of service
• Discounted rates on healthcare cash plan
• Auto Enrolment Pension or competitive Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and life assurance of up to 4 times salary
• Amazing perks and discounts via our App to major restaurants and retailers
• Access to a wide range of wellbeing support, including our Employee Assistance Programme
• A first‑class welcome with a tailored induction and a wide range of training schemes to support your learning and development
• Cycle to work scheme

Why Gist?

When you join Gist, you're joining a business that plays a critical role within the M&S Group.

You'll have the opportunity to contribute to a fast‑paced operation, work alongside experienced leaders and play an important part in one of the UK's leading food supply chains.

Our culture is built around our values of being Progressive, Accountable, Collaborative and Ethical, creating an environment where people are trusted, supported and encouraged to grow.

Whether you're leading a team, improving performance or finding better ways of working, your contribution will make a real difference.

Our commitment to inclusion

At Gist, we believe our differences make us stronger.

We're committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to succeed. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know. We'll work with you to ensure you have the support you need.

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