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

To support HMPPS supply and logistics in delivering a cost-effective warehousing and distribution service for centrally required goods and services. This role ensures operations are within the agreed service level agreements, budgetary constraints, and performance criteria. The role involves managing, maintaining, and developing a safe, effective, and efficient warehousing operation for the Prison Service, ensuring compliance with Health and Safety regulations and effective training and development programs for both staff and prisoners. The manager will also help ensure the site’s maintenance and security, providing best value for money and supporting the Head of Supply Chain and Logistics, other managers, team leaders, and customers in achieving HMPPS goals.

Key Responsibilities

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

• Oversee operations staff, receipts staff, loading teams, and housekeeping staff (up to 25 industrial staff).

• Manage warehousing and distribution activities effectively and efficiently.

• Optimize utilization of staff and resources to meet service level agreements, customer requirements, and budgetary limits.

• Drive operational improvements within budgetary constraints and ensure deadlines are met.

• Set performance standards, build and maintain effective teams, and conduct performance appraisals.

• Implement new policies and strategies based on surveys and strategic business plans.

• Identify organizational opportunities and problems, set goals within areas of responsibility, and stay updated on best practices.

Customer Liaison:

• Maintain good relations with customers at HQ, Prison Service establishments, and the Private Sector.

• Address customer complaints and inquiries within prescribed time-scales.

• Provide advice and assistance to customers as needed.

Management Information:

• Generate management information reports covering budgetary aspects.

• Produce monthly analysis of group monitoring reports, overtime, and focus transaction reports.

• Ensure costs remain within budget and service level agreement limits.

Stock Accounting:

• Oversee the receipt, storage, and issue of approximately £16 million worth of stock, including raw materials, finished goods, plant, and machinery.

• Manage the storage of prisoners' personal property.

• Ensure stock accounting aligns with government accounting rules.

Health and Safety:

• Ensure Health and Safety management systems are effective.

• Implement training and development programs for staff and prisoners to maintain a safe working environment.

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)

• Proven and recent experience in warehouse and distribution 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.

• 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

• Excellent communication and customer service skills.

• Proficient in budget management and cost control.

• Knowledge of Health and Safety regulations.

• Ability to implement and manage training programs.

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

Desirable Criteria

• NEBOSH / IOSH

• Hold MHE licence

• Fire Warden/First Aid qualifications

• MHE training qualifications

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.