Warehousing, Fulfilment & Stores Strategy Manager

Warehousing, Fulfilment & Stores Strategy Manager

3 - 6 month initial contract

Hybrid working - Birmingham and remote

Up to £510 per day inside IR35 via umbrella

About the Role

This role sits within a newly established Supply Chain function and leads a Future Stores & Fulfilment Operating Model review.

The successful candidate will define the future operating model required before long-term estate, partner or technology decisions are made. The role brings together warehousing, fulfilment, staging and configuration, returns, customer requirements, security, property and technology dependencies to create a robust, scalable and cost-effective future-state solution.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the Future Stores & Fulfilment Operating Model review and define requirements, principles, options and recommendations. Assess current warehousing, fulfilment, staging, configuration, returns and refurbishment activities, including volumes, costs, service levels and risks. Identify customer, operational, security and resilience requirements. Evaluate internal, outsourced and hybrid operating models using operational, financial, customer, risk and implementation criteria. Translate the preferred operating model into clear technology and systems requirements. Develop the decision-making framework, procurement strategy, mobilisation plan and implementation roadmap. Coordinate stakeholders across Property, Technology, Security, Procurement, Finance and Operations. Identify opportunities for short-term operational improvement while maintaining long-term strategic flexibility.

Key Decisions

Define the evidence and evaluation criteria required to support operating model decisions. Recommend the preferred Stores & Fulfilment strategy through governance processes. Establish future requirements covering warehousing, fulfilment, staging, configuration, returns and refurbishment. Determine which near-term improvements can be implemented without constraining future strategic options.

Success Measures

A fact-based and approved Future Stores & Fulfilment Operating Model supported by a clear business case. Customer, security, resilience, estate and operational requirements successfully incorporated into the future design. Technology and systems requirements aligned to the agreed operating model, reducing unnecessary rework and investment. A clear mobilisation and transition roadmap that protects customer service and operational continuity.

Skills & Experience

Essential

Significant experience in warehousing, fulfilment, logistics strategy or operating model development. Strong current-state assessment, option appraisal and business case development skills. Comprehensive understanding of warehouse operations, staging, returns processes and outsourced partner models. Ability to translate complex operational, property and technology requirements into clear strategic recommendations and delivery roadmaps. Strong commercial, financial, programme management and risk management capabilities.

Desirable

Experience of warehouse systems or major technology-enabled transformation programmes. Experience assessing outsourced, insourced and hybrid operating models. Experience managing large-scale warehouse or multi-site transition programmes.

Ideal Candidate

You will be an experienced supply chain, logistics or fulfilment transformation professional with a proven track record of designing operating models, evaluating strategic options and leading complex business change initiatives. You will be comfortable engaging senior stakeholders, building evidence-based business cases and translating strategy into practical delivery plans.

This is an excellent opportunity to influence the future design of a large-scale warehousing and fulfilment operation while driving meaningful operational and commercial improvements