Welcome to Hovis. We are the proud guardians of over 130 years of baking experience that make up our iconic and much-loved brand. We produce bread and bakery products created with Hovis goodness at the heart of each. We deliver around 1.3million loaves, every day of the week throughout the UK and Ireland, where we also make Mothers Pride and Ormo products. 

We are 2,800 people working within 8 bakeries, 1 flour mill, and 2 regional distribution centres across the UK. Our success is a result of the hard work of our people;  they are experts in their field whether it’s baking, manufacturing, logistics, engineering, or the many departments within the central functions team based in our head office in High Wycombe. We are a values-led business and expect our colleagues to live, breathe, and embed Quality, Accountability, and Trust into their ways of working.

We’re looking for a strong, people-focused Front Line Manager – Despatch to lead our team within a fast-paced 24/7 operation in Bradford. In this key leadership role, you’ll manage, develop and motivate your team to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality dispatch operations in line with Hovis Supply Chain requirements and site performance targets.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & People

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of shift/day operatives

• Set objectives, review performance and deliver training plans

• Drive a culture of teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement

• Support recruitment, succession planning and headcount management

• Deliver clear, regular team briefings and communications

Operational Excellence

• Deliver KPI performance across safety, quality, cost and customer service

• Ensure full compliance with legal and company standards (safety, hygiene, environment and food safety)

• Drive continuous improvement and year-on-year performance gains

• Maintain accurate performance reporting and data integrity

• Act as deputy for the Logistics Operations Manager when required

About You

Essential:

• Proven leadership and people management experience

• Relevant logistics/manufacturing industry experience

• Strong commitment to Health & Safety

• Experience working with KPIs and performance management

• IT literate with good numeracy and communication skills

• Experience working in a Trade Union environment

• Ability to build strong cross-functional relationships

Desirable:

• Self-motivated and able to work on own initiative

• Flexible and adaptable within a 24/7 operation

Why work for us and our benefits:

At Hovis, we understand the importance of looking after our colleagues, so we provide a variety of benefits in addition to their salaries. The benefits we provide at Hovis are as varied as the people who receive them but they are offered with the intention of creating value to them personally over and above their salaries

• There is a range of colleague benefits available, which individuals can select based on their needs.

• Our benefits scheme is called Hovis Choice, which offers a variety of savings and cashback offers on day to day living and much more including eyecare vouchers, and a healthcare scheme to suit everyone.  It also includes our Cycle to Work scheme where you can obtain a brand new bike at a significant saving

• We offer competitive annual leave entitlement and flexibility where possible in order to create a healthy work-life balance

• We celebrate loyalty with our generous long service and colleague recognition schemes

• We offer three levels of pensions

Hovis values diversity and is committed to promoting equal opportunities in the workplace. Every job applicant, employee or worker will be treated fairly and equally with dignity and respect regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, social class, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, union membership, political opinion, sex, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.