Despatch Team Leader (Nights)

Despatch Team Leader 

We’re excited to offer an excellent opportunity for a Despatch Team Leader to join our dedicated team at our site in Market Drayton.

About The Compleat Food Group

At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to create Food to Feel Good – great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.

We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio, we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products, continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.

With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape the future of food for the better.

We are backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners.

Working Hours: 4on 4off: 6pm – 6am

Location: Market Drayton

Salary: £34,000 – £38,000 per annum DOE

Job Purpose:

As Despatch Team Leader, you’ll be responsible for leading and supporting your team to deliver a safe, efficient and high-quality despatch operation. You’ll help drive performance against key business objectives, including Health & Safety, customer service, productivity and continuous improvement.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

To actively promote a safety culture within section, ensuring that all health and safety requirements are met and maintain a safe working environment.

•   Ensure all audits and actions are completed on time. 

•   Complete accident/near miss investigations 

•   Actively promote/encourage H&S improvements across site 

•   Search for suitable Safe ways of working that maintain operational integrity 

•   Complete SSOW/RA training, and review effectiveness 

•   Encourage Near Miss reporting 

•   Participating in departmental H&S strategy 

•   Swiftly address any behaviour that may represent a H&S risk.

To ensure that quality standards are delivered in line with customer Codes of practice and site standards, whilst always seeking to improve

•   Ensure that paperwork compliance & Accuracy are maintained to the required standard.

•   Analyse operational data to identify improvement opportunities 

•   Ensure staff are trained to undertake all tasks in line with site COP/CCP/QCCP&TCCP

•   Always challenge standards, driving improvement, (avoid complacency) 

•   Ensure system compliance in your area e.g. Pre start up sheets.

•   Ensure high standards of GMP are maintained

•   CAYG is driven into the daily routine ensuring all areas are maintained to Audit green standards. 

•   TAYG/Panel attendance is maximised, encouraging diverse, regular attendance

•   Brief your team on the departments current customer service performance

To Maximise the efficient operation of the Despatch and goods in areas, Control of staff deployment.

•   Customer Service level is always maintained to the highest level 

•   Communication is fluid across all levels in your function 

•   Lean principles, CI techniques and best practise are progressed and incorporated into standards · Through effective KPI’s monitor and drive performance improvements

•   Weekly review of individual Pick rates aimed at increasing productivity · Weekly review of individual level of accuracy to drive out errors

Manage with your available resource, and optimise operational performance

•   Effective stock takes are completed regularly and reviewed 

•   Accuracy of stock checks are verified prior to adjustments being made.

Customer Service is maintained to the highest possible standard whilst maintaining budgets 

•   Area costs are understood and managed 

•   Labour utilisation is always cost effective through forward planning 

•   Overtime should be used only when absolutely necessary.

People – To listen, communicate, and acknowledge our employees making our working environment an area to be proud of.

•   To ensure the site Disciplinary and Grievance procedure is followed, carrying out investigations and/or hearings when appropriate 

•   Employee welfare – Conformance to ethical policies & OH advice 

•   Agency management – inc AWR regulations followed 

•   Return to work and Absence management with return to work interviews being completed on the first returning shift. 

•   To maintain and deliver Training plans/development/skills matrix 

•   Ensure systems are in place to allow effective Holiday and succession planning 

•   Daily Communication through team briefs always ensuring information is shared regarding business developments and daily challenges. 

•   To ensure we share best Practice cross functionally.

Other responsibilities – Engaging with the broader business to deliver overall site objectives

•   This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to support other functions in line with any business needs 

•   Ensuring we operate in a fair and consistent manner at all times 

•   Supporting Environmental improvements, utilities, recycling etc 

•   Promote a team culture across site to support business needs. 

•   Conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times, being open and honest and approachable. 

•   To always question why. Always seeking to improve 

•   To demonstrate an achievement drive, with a ‘can do’ attitude, setting an example to your team 

•   Drive self-improvement 

•   Undertake the necessary training for your role

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Hold a management H&S qualification.
• Have experience in FMCG environments.
• Preferably have an understanding of Transport management.
• Be conversant with and worked with WMS.
• Has been responsible for managing a workforce of more than 10 people.
• Be able to demonstrate a practical logic based approach to problem solving.
• Able to understand the need for good customer service through OTIF.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Be able to understand KPI driven targets.
• Possess a good working ability on Microsoft packages.

Why Join Us?

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing and career growth:

Financial & Lifestyle Benefits:

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
• Annual leave with the option to purchase extra
• Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform
• Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
• Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
• EV charging points – available at selected sites

Health & Wellbeing:

• 24/7 access to Grocery Aid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
• Physical Wellbeing Hub – free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
• Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
• Online wellbeing support – from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
• Financial wellbeing tools – including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid

Career Growth & Development:

• Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
• Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
• Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
• Company Mentoring Scheme  to add depth and really support your career journey
• Recognition through Club Compleat rewards

Community & Culture:

• 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
• Charity initiatives and fundraising events
• Team socials to connect and celebrate together
• Employee networks & support groups – including Women @ Compleat
• New baby gift for new parents

What You Should Know About How We Recruit

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe great teams are built on difference. We create an inclusive, respectful environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and are able to be themselves at work.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect. If you need a reasonable adjustment at any stage of our recruitment process, just let us know, we’ll support you — confidentially and with care.

We hire the best people for our roles, not the same people. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, we focus on what you do and the impact you could make in our business. Our recruitment process is fair, accessible, and designed to give everyone an equal chance.

You’ll also find benefits that support people at every life stage, plus active internal networks — including Women @ Compleat, LGBTQIA+, and Neurodiversity