Overview of role

📍 Location: Gateshead
💰 Salary: £46,355
🕒 Shift Pattern: 4 over 7 – Nights | 42 hours | 5:30pm – 4:00am

Lead, Inspire & Drive Performance at Allied Bakeries

At Allied Bakeries, home to some of the UK's best-loved bread brands, we're proud of our people, our heritage and the vital role our logistics teams play in keeping the nation fed.

With a strong culture of development, continuous improvement and internal progression, we're looking for a Depot Front Line Manager to join our Gateshead operation on a permanent night shift.

This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for overseeing both our despatch operation and delivery fleet, ensuring products are loaded, dispatched and delivered safely, efficiently and on time. You'll lead a team of 28 colleagues across despatch and transport, creating a positive culture while delivering operational excellence in a fast-paced, 24/7 environment.

Your Leadership Impact

You'll have responsibility for leading and developing:

• 14 Despatch Operatives
• 14 Class 1 and Class 2 Delivery Drivers

As a key member of the depot leadership team, you'll be responsible for delivering operational performance, maintaining compliance standards and creating an engaged, high-performing team.

What You'll Be Doing

🚚 Leading, motivating and developing despatch and driver teams to deliver outstanding service

✅ Ensuring full compliance with Driver Hours, Tachograph, Operator Licence, Health & Safety and food safety requirements

📦 Managing the night-time depot operation, ensuring all routes are loaded accurately and depart on time

📊 Monitoring operational KPIs, including service, compliance, safety, attendance and productivity

🌱 Coaching, developing and supporting colleagues to build capability and performance

🔄 Driving continuous improvement initiatives across transport and despatch operations

🛠️ Managing day-to-day operational issues, making timely decisions to minimise disruption and maintain service levels

🤝 Working closely with planning, manufacturing and customer teams to ensure a smooth end-to-end operation

📋 Conducting investigations, return-to-work meetings, performance reviews and other people management activities as required

💡 Promoting a positive culture that reflects our values of Aim High, Work Together, I Do What I Say and Everybody Matters

The Right Person

• Experience within logistics, transport, distribution, warehouse or despatch operations
• Previous experience leading operational teams in a fast-paced environment
• Strong understanding of transport compliance and health & safety requirements
• Experience managing drivers, warehouse or despatch colleagues
• A proactive leader who can motivate teams and drive performance
• Ability to make decisions quickly and confidently under pressure
• Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills
• Confident using Microsoft Office and operational systems
• National CPC qualification is desirable but not essential

Shift Pattern – Built Around the Operation

This role operates on a 4 days over 7 night shift pattern, working 42 hours per week from 5:30pm to 4:00am.

As the operational leader on shift, you'll play a critical role in ensuring products leave site safely, efficiently and on schedule while supporting colleagues throughout the night operation.

Why Join Allied Bakeries?

At Allied Bakeries, we don't just offer a job – we offer the opportunity to build a rewarding career in a business that values its people and invests in their development.

We are committed to being The Best We Can Be, guided by our values:

• Aim High
• Work Together
• I Do What I Say
• Everybody Matters

What We Offer in Return

✨ 6.6 weeks' annual leave

🩺 Healthcare cash plan, eye care and wellbeing support

🔐 Pension & Life Assurance – up to 10% employer contribution

🛍️ Retail discounts at 500+ major retailers

📚 Ongoing learning and leadership development opportunities

💸 Financial wellbeing support and affordable loans

🚴 Electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes

🎉 Recognition and reward programmes

❤️ Payroll Giving supporting Save the Children

Next Steps

If you're an experienced logistics, transport, warehouse or despatch leader looking for an opportunity to lead a critical night operation and make a real impact within a well-established business, we'd love to hear from you.

Join Allied Bakeries and help us deliver some of the UK's favourite bakery brands to customers every day.