Head of Warehouse and Distribution Systems, Technology

Job content

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head of Warehouse and Distribution Systems. This role will be based at our London and Frating office.

You will be primary responsibility is to manage the strategic direction, development, test, support, and smooth operation of Penguin Random House’s Warehousing and Distribution function. You will lead, inspire and manage the Warehouse and Distribution Centre of Excellence to provide operational stability, direction, innovative solutions, and collaboration with other Technology functions. Support is also provided to many Third Party Client Publishers who use Penguin Random House Systems. Senior stakeholder management will be a key aspect of this role, keeping liaison clear and frequent between Business and Technology management. Significant participation in programme delivery, portfolio management, strategy alignment, budget and operational planning is also required.

You will report into Director of Enterprise Systems.

Your Key Responsibilities & Duties required for this role:

• Develop and deliver Technology solutions, ensuring that we follow best practice in terms of time, cost, regulatory adherence and quality standards
• Ensure business solutions are fit for purpose.
• Manage the participation and engagement of the CoE with significant developments and programmes of change, whilst ensuring operational stability.
• Manage operational support for all applications within the Warehouse and Distribution remit, providing cover for essential systems within agreed hours and to service levels/availability agreements
• Vendor management for the suppliers of all platforms within this CoE, in conjunction, as required, with Commercial Management and Legal
• Provide leadership, direction and guidance to the CoE managers and team, developing skills and capabilities. Ensuring that succession and development plans are created and followed.
• Provide regular communication to key business stakeholders, reporting on key initiatives and the progress of projects
• Resource management – identify and manage resourcing levels for all project/development/support requirements
• Manage the departmental budget.
• Collaborate with Senior Technology Leadership and Business stakeholders, to define the strategic direction for the platform and services, and construct a clear roadmap for all systems and functions

You will also need:

• Previous experience in implementation of new Warehouse Management Systems ( such as Blue Yonder) and warehouse automation
• Significant experience of leading and managing teams.
• Project management experience in an APM, AGILE or PRINCE2 environment
• Experience of managing teams involved in the delivery of transformational technology programmes, potentially involving Business change
• Good experience of senior stakeholder management and communication
• Experience of working in a service delivery environment, preferably with some ITIL experience.
• Successful experience, knowledge and delivery of business critical Technology services to significant numbers of users.
• Awareness of / experience of working in an agile team environment
• Experience of managing, developing and improving the cycle of analysis, development, deployment and support of Technology platforms
• Skills to recognise, plan, and manage the interactions of Warehouse and Distribution systems within the broader organisational technology ecosystem

About you:

• Excellent communication skills
• Strong leader with clarity of focus
• Takes on ownership and accountability
• Strategic mindset, with the ability to build out a three year roadmap
• Calm under pressure and can meet tight deadlines
• Self-motivated
• Developmental and supportive management, to achieve and maintain a highly performing team
• Pragmatic approach to problems with a can-do, solution focused attitude
• Open and collaborative in style. Able to work in an agile, fast paced environment
• Builds bridges between teams, and stakeholders

Salary: Competitive salary, dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

If you’d like to apply, please submit a CV and Cover Letter. All CV’s will be considered on rolling basis.

W*hat you can expect from us: *

Our employees are the heart of our business. We have a range of benefits to reflect our commitment to our employees, some of which are:

• 25 days paid holiday entitlement in year one, plus bank holidays
• Medical cover
• Life assurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Personal Learning Allowance
• Generous pension scheme
• Summer working hours (role dependent)
• Volunteering policy and charity matching
• Employee Assistance programme
• Mentoring programme
• Extended Parental Leave policy
• 60% Discount on Company books
• Each site has trained mental health first aiders
• We plant a tree for every new employee to our business

Our creativity is inspired by different perspectives, so we want our culture to be one of belonging, where everyone feels welcome and where differences are celebrated.

We partner with The Book Trade Charity, who provide financial assistance for people looking to get into the publishing industry; you can find more information and talk directly here: http://booktradeentrysupport.org/

Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Childcare
• Company pension
• Flexible schedule
• Private medical insurance
• Wellness programmes

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work remotely:

• Temporarily due to COVID-19