Logistics and Operations Manager

Job summary

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies. This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence. For further information about the NAD Group, please visit: National Armaments Director Group - GOV.UK

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work for you.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

As a Logistics and Operations Manager within Defence Munitions, you will lead the safe, secure and efficient management of weapons, explosives and associated equipment that support UK Defence operations across the globe. You will be accountable for the end-to-end management of warehouse and logistics activities, including the receipt, inspection, storage, distribution and disposal of high-value and highly regulated inventory. This includes ensuring that military equipment and munitions are available, serviceable and ready to meet operational demands while maintaining strict compliance with safety, security, environmental and transport regulations.

You will lead teams of logistics operatives, providing clear direction, coaching and performance management to deliver operational outputs safely and effectively. The role carries responsibility for planning and executing complex logistics and processing activities, balancing customer requirements, workforce capacity, storage constraints and operational priorities to ensure delivery against demanding timescales. You will have direct responsibility for the safe operation of warehouse, explosives storage facilities, acting as a custodian for infrastructure, equipment and government assets.

Working within a highly regulated environment, you will be responsible for ensuring all activities are conducted in accordance with relevant quality, health & safety and security regulations. This includes assessing operational opportunities and risks, developing and implementing safe systems of work and assuring workforce competence. The role requires sound judgement and the ability to make operational decisions that balance safety, compliance, customer requirements and business performance.

You will collaborate extensively with military units, delivery teams, engineers, supply chain specialists, customers, suppliers and senior leaders across Defence, providing authoritative advice on munitions management, logistics operations, ammunition safety and inventory governance. You may represent Defence Munitions at safety panels, project reviews and stakeholder forums, contributing specialist expertise to support future capability, operational readiness and risk management activities.

We would welcome applications which can demonstrate transferrable skills from various alternative industries. Training will be provided on specific industry regulations.

Please note that this is a 37 hour a week full-time role and carried out fully on-site 5 days a week.

What you’ll be doing

• Demonstrate strong leadership skills that can develop team commitment delivering receipt, storage, maintenance and issue activities for Weapons Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (WOME).
• Manage complex logistics and warehouse operations, ensuring delivery against operational priorities and customer requirements.
• Act as the focal point for safety, security and compliance within your area of responsibility.
• Lead risk assessments and implement safe systems of work in highly regulated environments.
• Manage operational facilities, ensuring compliance with explosives, health and safety, environmental and security regulations.
• Provide advice to customers, stakeholders and senior managers on WOME logistics and operational activities.
• Drive continuous improvement through effective planning, problem solving and performance management.
• Lead investigations into incidents, inventory discrepancies and operational issues, ensuring lessons are identified and embedded.
• Support major operational activities, including large-scale ammunition movements and replenishment operations.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Leadership and management of a team in a regulated environment – Lead Criterion
• Experience of working with stakeholders to deliver high-quality operational outcomes
• Demonstrable IT skills, including the use of the MS Office Suite
• Background in logistics, transport or material accounting

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Communicating and Influencing – CSBC 3
• Core Behaviour 2: Working Together – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: Managing Support, Supplier and Customer Networks – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: Making Evidence-Based Decisions – Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,429 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a s