Job Description

The National Distribution Centre

The National Distribution Centre (NDC) provides a critical logistics and supply chain service to all public sector prisons including the collection, storage and delivery of a wide range of products. Products stored and carried include goods from commercial suppliers, raw materials into workshops and a wide range of internally manufactured products.As part of the Ministry of Justice, the site also supports other front line delivered services where required.

The in-house NDC fleet is designed to operate on a specialised demount system which is largely governed by challenges that arise from physical vehicular access restrictions across the prison estate, necessitating a mix of vehicle types and heights. The fleet delivers to the public sector prison estate on a national 5 day working week basis, operating a single shift system, supported by nights out as and when required.

The current logistics and supply chain solution for prisons has been operating in much the same way for many years. Challenges including prison capacity increases, aging technology, limited space and sustainability pressures are all contributing to an environment where specific focus needs to be given to the future shape and scale of the logistics function, to deliver transformational change linked to the adoption of new technology and the efficiencies that can be delivered.

Commercial

The Logistics and Supply Chain function sits within the Commercial Directorate within the MoJ. The Ministry of Justice has one of the largest and most complex spending profiles in central government. Each year we spend more than £5 billion with our suppliers and it’s our job to help coordinate the sourcing of what we need. We support the management of our contracts across the department, its agencies and non‑departmental public bodies.

Commercial is responsible for coordinating procurement and contract management across the MoJ, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Commercial is organised into category teams, each with an interesting portfolio of contracts and diverse customers and suppliers to manage. We also have systems, programme management office, supplier relationship and risk management teams who work across all areas.

Role Summary

The Supply Chain and Performance Manager is responsible for optimising the end‑to‑end supply chain by driving operational performance across inventory, logistics, and fulfilment functions. This role ensures that stock availability, warehouse operations, transport efficiency, and supply chain processes consistently meet organisational targets for cost, accuracy, service, and speed.

Working closely with warehouse teams, procurement, logistics partners, and senior leadership, the role uses data-led insights to monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities, and implement solutions that enhance reliability, reduce waste, and strengthen overall supply chain resilience.

Key focus areas include performance reporting, continuous improvement initiatives, KPI development, inventory optimisation, logistics efficiency, risk mitigation, and cross‑functional collaboration. The Supply Chain Performance Manager plays a critical role in supporting operational excellence, enabling growth, and ensuring a high‑performing, customer‑focused supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Manage the day‑to‑day running of the Logistics Office.

• Carry out administrative tasks on behalf of the Operations Manager, including the creation and running of ad‑hoc reports.

• Ensure permanent and agency staff remain up‑to‑date with all paperwork, policies, and job‑related requirements.

• Ensure all daily Warehouse Management System (WMS) activities are completed and recorded accurately.

• Formulate and produce statistical information on operational performance.

• Respond promptly to issues raised by Logistics staff, Team Leaders, and Managers.

• Maintain clear and effective communication with Warehouse, Transport, and wider operational teams.

• Achieve the highest standards of quality, customer service, and operational excellence across all responsibilities.

• Monitor transactional activity and ensure all paperwork is completed, checked, stored, and forwarded appropriately.

• Provide daily line management to a team within logistics and administration.

• Manage Administration functions at the NDC to meet SLA requirements.

• Deliver a cost‑effective service to the Prison Service within agreed budgets.

• Manage Logistics team activities including order processing, receipts, inbound deliveries, stock checks, and discrepancy investigations.

• Oversee the Admin Support function providing administrative, clerical, HR, and purchasing support.

• Maintain close liaison with Warehouse Manager, Transport Manager, and their teams to ensure aligned operations.

• Manage stock checks in line with audit schedules and fully investigate discrepancies.

• Oversee the Warehouse Management System and associated IT requirements; provide management information systems to support NDC and wider HMPPS logistics operations.

• Ensure all administrative and operational staff are suitably trained and supported.

• Support new business implementation in conjunction with the Warehouse Manager, working closely with stakeholders to meet requirements.

• Attend customer/stakeholder liaison meetings and deliver presentations where required.

• Provide regular management information on team and operational performance.

• Undertake warehouse‑based duties when required, including physical stock checks.

• Develop, maintain, and report against supply chain KPIs including inventory accuracy, fulfilment rates, logistics efficiency, and service performance.

• Analyse operational data to identify performance trends, risks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational excellence, reduce waste, and enhance service quality.

• Conduct root‑cause analysis of stock variances, process failures, delays, and operational incidents, implementing corrective action plans.

• Improve supply chain visibility through dashboards, reporting tools, and regular performance reviews.

• Support forecasting, planning, and resource management using performance data.

• Ensure ongoing compliance with audit standards, SLAs, and contractual obligations.

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Warehouse, Transport, Procurement, and external partners to ensure consistent supply chain performance.

• Identify supply‑chain risks and implement mitigation strategies to support resilience.

• Support digital improvement, systems development, and WMS enhancements to improve accuracy and reporting.

Team Management

• Complete performance monitoring returns accurately and on time.

• Manage all staff within area of responsibility including:

• Performance management

• Development and training

• Annual appraisal

• Sickness absence monitoring

• Disciplinary procedures (where required)

• Recognition and reward of high performance

• Foster a positive, motivated, and high‑performing team culture.

Health, Safety and Welfare

• Responsible for creating a safe working environment for staff, visitors and contractors by adhering to Health and Safety legislation, ensuring Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) and Risk Assessments (RA) are followed, and by reporting any incidents to the Operations Manager

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alternations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Criteria

• Please note this is a full‑time, onsite only position (no remote or hybrid options)

• Experience in logistics, warehousing, supply chain, or operations management.

• Strong leadership and people‑management skills.

• Experience managing administrative and operational teams.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and produce reports.

• Proficient in Warehouse Management Systems, stock control processes, and performance monitoring.

• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.

• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills

• Ability to plan and manage workload and resources, to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

• Ability to prioritise workload and to share information and resources with others

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence at all levels

• The ability to quickly build positive relationships with stakeholders, colleagues and suppliers

• Advanced IT skills

• Excellent judgement combined with the ability to spot and manage risk, and bring solutions to problems

• Excellent communication and engagement skills, with the ability to persuade and influence others

Desirable Criteria

• Familiarity with the use of Warehouse Management Software, and reporting tools

• Previous warehousing operations experience

Application Stage

An initial sift will be performed against the following elements and will be assessed against the Civil Service success profiles framework:

Experience

• CV

• Statement of Suitability (up to 750 words): this should be based around your experience the key responsibilities and essential criteria

Behaviours

We will assess your application on the following behaviours (250 words). Please use the STAR method in your examples.

• Managing a Quality Service

• Leadership

• Making effective decisions

Please note in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift against CV, Statement of Suitability and lead behaviour of “Managing a Quality Service".

If shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview and will be assessed on the selected success profile elements at the interview stage.

Interview stage

The interviews will be held at National Distribution Centre, Burton Road, Branston. DE14 3EG.  The site is shared with B&Q distribution, please follow the road signs for MoJ once entering the site and report to the security gate where you will be directed to the reception to sign in.  The interviews will be held on an Industrial Site and all staff and visitors are required to wear Hi-Vis Vests whilst moving around site; these will be provided by security on arrival, please ask for a vest if not offered one.

There is one interview stage for this vacancy which will be held in person and as part of the interview process you will be required to provide evidence on the following, and will be assessed against the Civil Service success profiles framework:

Behaviours

• Working together

• Changing and Improving

• Delivering at pace

Experience

At interview there will be questions around your similar experience of managing a service and leading a team.

Strengths maybe assessed at the interview, and these are not shared in advance.

To learn more about the Civil Service success profiles framework and how they are assessed please click here.

Please use STAR approach to structure your examples for both the application and interview for behaviours. Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did, and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.

Situation: Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.

• Where are you?

• Who was there with you?

• What had happened?

Task: The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.

• What was the task that you had to complete and why?

• What did you have to achieve?

Actions: What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I" rather than “we" to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.

Results: Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.

• What results did the actions produce?

• What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your goals?

• Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience?

Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.