Operations Management

Our Operations Managers help us to consistently deliver for customers by achieving maximum productivity from the processing, delivery and collections centres. Across the three areas of Processing, Delivery and Collections, they co-ordinate and guide their teams, ensuring everybody feels supported to have a big impact every time they come to work.

We're in a period of transformation, focusing on a more digital and automated approach, and our managers have a key role to play in that growth. By staying curious and informed about new ways of working, they help their team succeed and make the most of every opportunity. They also need to be adaptable to solve problems at a fast pace as we rely on our Operations Managers to foresee and overcome potential obstacles. If you're interested in making an impact as an Operations Manager, keep reading below for more information.

Relevant Jobs

What we look for

Leading a team to face every challenge

Our operations are broken down into three key areas: Processing, Delivery and Collections. With each stage comes a different working environment and unique challenges, but they are all critical in ensuring mail reaches customers quickly and efficiently. Below, we've provided plenty of information about each stage, so that you can decide which one you’re best suited to, based on your skills and experience. The skills you develop in each department are incredibly transferable across the business, so there's plenty of opportunities for you to move between the three during your career.

Leading a team to face every challenge

Our operations are broken down into three key areas: Processing, Delivery and Collections. With each stage comes a different working environment and unique challenges, but they are all critical in ensuring mail reaches customers quickly and efficiently. Below, we've provided plenty of information about each stage, so that you can decide which one you’re best suited to, based on your skills and experience. The skills you develop in each department are incredibly transferable across the business, so there's plenty of opportunities for you to move between the three during your career.

Processing

Supporting your team and keeping things moving

Processing roles are based at our large mail centres, where we bring mail to be sorted. This kind of environment will be familiar to anyone who’s worked in manufacturing; although, we’re interested in hearing from people from other backgrounds like FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) and retail too.

Supporting your team and keeping things moving

Processing roles are based at our large mail centres, where we bring mail to be sorted. This kind of environment will be familiar to anyone who’s worked in manufacturing; although, we’re interested in hearing from people from other backgrounds like FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) and retail too.

  • Plant Manager

    You'll run one of our busy mail centres, providing leadership and guidance for the management team and looking for opportunties to optimise and transform your site into a world-class operation.

  • Production Control

    You'll play a key role in the  running of a mail centre, forecasting demand, defining resource requirements, and driving the improvement of standards and performance.

  • Shift Manager

    You'll lead a multi-disciplinary team of line managers and engineers, helping them on a day-to-day basis. You'll also play a role in developing their careers, supporting them with coaching and mentoring and identifying opportunities for improvement.

  • Work Area Manager

    You'll take responsibility for a diverse, experienced team on a specific mechanical or manual work area, helping them reach their full potential and upholding the standards that our customers expect.

Delivery

Leading by example and achieving your goals

Delivery managers work across our 1,400 delivery offices, where processed mail is taken for final sorting and distribution. Similar to warehouses, they provide essential services to the community and usually offer collection counters. Collaboration is key in our delivery offices, which is why you'll need the skills to thrive in a challenging and fast-paced setting, as well as experience of managing a team in an operational environment.

Leading by example and achieving your goals

Delivery managers work across our 1,400 delivery offices, where processed mail is taken for final sorting and distribution. Similar to warehouses, they provide essential services to the community and usually offer collection counters. Collaboration is key in our delivery offices, which is why you'll need the skills to thrive in a challenging and fast-paced setting, as well as experience of managing a team in an operational environment.

  • Customer Operations Manager

    Full accountability for the Delivery team, you’ll work through the morning into the afternoon and ensure the smooth running for all deliveries. You'll lead and inspire a team of front-line colleagues to work efficiently and provide excellent service at the doorstep.

  • Parcel Customer Operations Manager

    You’ll ensure our smooth operation carries on to the evening and across the weekend. With full accountability for the team who deliver the later parcel operation, you'll lead and inspire a team of front-line colleagues to work efficiently and provide excellent service at the doorstep.

  • Customer Operations Support Manager

    A key role, you’ll be the person who picks up the action while our permanent manager is on annual leave. You’ll oversee the Delivery operation, ensuring the smooth running of the delivery team. Our operation needs to be resilient, and we need the flexibility to be able to keep things running smoothly when our permanent managers are unavailable. You’ll play an integral part in building trust with customers.

Collections

Making key decisions and putting customers first

Collections fleets are based at hubs across the UK. Building relationships with businesses all over the country, our collection drivers collect business mail from their premises and get it into our network quickly. We need our facilities to run as efficiently as possible, so we look for people with a positive and proactive attitude and experience working to SLAs and business KPIs.

Making key decisions and putting customers first

Collections fleets are based at hubs across the UK. Building relationships with businesses all over the country, our collection drivers collect business mail from their premises and get it into our network quickly. We need our facilities to run as efficiently as possible, so we look for people with a positive and proactive attitude and experience working to SLAs and business KPIs.

  • Collection Sector Manager

    You'll maximise staff productivity and drive excellent customer service relationships within collections through exceptional resource planning.

  • Collection Hub Manager

    You'll coach team members through an extensive knowledge of operational standards and compliance implementation. 

Playing our part

Managing a team in a bustling depot requires strong communication skills to build trust with every team member, supporting them to deliver great service. Our Operations Managers are visible and approachable and play an essential role in keeping things running smoothly in a high profile, fast-paced environment. They are brilliant leaders who lead from the front and they help their teams to realise their own ambitions, while supporting them through any challenges along the way.

Playing our part

Managing a team in a bustling depot requires strong communication skills to build trust with every team member, supporting them to deliver great service. Our Operations Managers are visible and approachable and play an essential role in keeping things running smoothly in a high profile, fast-paced environment. They are brilliant leaders who lead from the front and they help their teams to realise their own ambitions, while supporting them through any challenges along the way.

Day to day life

Life in the depot is fast paced, with lots of moving parts and a continuous goal of ensuring each stage of the process is completed on time. Our Operations Managers need to be adaptable and alert, whether that's solving problems on the go, or working with the team to optimise processes.

Day to day life

Life in the depot is fast paced, with lots of moving parts and a continuous goal of ensuring each stage of the process is completed on time. Our Operations Managers need to be adaptable and alert, whether that's solving problems on the go, or working with the team to optimise processes.

Our People

Day to day life

Meet the team

We speak to Casey-Jazz, Toni and Nicola about how proud they are to work as an Operational Manager for Royal Mail. From personal progression, translating the long-term goals of the business into reality, to inspiring their teams every day, they embody just what it means to deliver for the nation.

Meet Mel

Mel is the Plant Manager in Swindon which means she oversees over 600 people. For her, the role is about translating the business strategy into reality and helping everyone in her team understand and implement change. That’s not possible without using everyone’s ideas. Watch her film and find out more about her day-to-day role.

Benefits

Make your money go further with our corporate discounts on groceries, tech, cars, days out, holidays and more.

It all adds up, save for your future with our contributory pension scheme.

You’ll be eligible for our Cycle to Work scheme and save 25% off the price of a new bike & accessories.

Holiday starts at 22.5 days a year, the longer you’re with us, the more days you’ll get.

You’ll have excellent options to develop your career with Royal Mail, we’ll share your aspirations and help you go further.

Our First Class health and wellbeing programme includes access to a confidential helpline, a wellbeing portal for hints and tips across a range of subjects and access to gyms in our larger sites.

Related Links

Temporary Jobs

We get extremely busy at certain times of year and are always looking for flexible workers to help us ensure everybody’s mail arrives on time.

Find out more

Frequently Asked Questions

We might be able to help with some of your straightforward queries, check our Frequently Asked Questions page for lots of helpful answers.

Find out more

Job Search

Got a specific job that you’re interested in, or looking for a particular location? Our Job Search can help you find the role that’s ideal for you.

Find out more