Join to apply for the First Line Manager (VNA) - 2pm - 10pm role at Hachette Learning Professional Development
Be among the first 25 applicants.
Closing date: Saturday, 29th November 2025.
Location: Hely Hutchinson Centre, Milton Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
Salary: £31,604 per annum.
About Hachette UK Distribution
Hachette UK Distribution is a leading book distribution company in the UK and part of the Hachette UK publishing group. We ship over 60 million books globally each year.
What you'll be doing
* Lead, motivate and develop the VNA team (Team Leader & Drivers), ensuring high performance, engagement and adherence to company policies.
* Plan, forecast and monitor daily, weekly and monthly VNA operations to achieve targets, KPIs and organisational objectives.
* Collaborate with internal departments and external partners (e.g., Linde Material Handling, Körber, Jucie, Renovotec) to ensure smooth operations and effective issue resolution.
* Analyse performance and process data (using Excel, Plancise etc), identify trends, and proactively drive improvements and opportunities for optimisation.
* Oversee the management of MHE licences, maintain fleet records, ensure accurate and timely data via fleet management system and ensure highest standards of housekeeping.
* Convey clear and accurate information across the operational team via correct communication channels; support audit counts, third-party relations and data requirements.
* Lead change initiatives from planning, testing through implementation, embrace continuous improvement and challenge existing processes.
* Manage employee related activities: recruitment, performance reviews, development plans, 1:1 meetings, training (H&S, SOPs) and maintain accurate records.
* Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety legislation, company policies, environmental management and internal audit standards.
* Provide flexible support to cover all areas of operations as required, working collaboratively with other operational managers.
Who we are looking for
The successful candidate should be a strong leader with a can‑do attitude, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and experience working across a multi‑departmental function. This role blends team leadership, strategic planning and delivery, and requires a high degree of planning and team management with the ability to motivate, coach and develop others.
Benefits
* 34 days annual holiday including Bank Holidays
* Pension Plan and Life Assurance schemes
* Company enhanced family policy including maternity, paternity and shared parental
* Reward programme giving discounts, savings and cash back at numerous retailers
* 2 Community Days per year
* Cycle to Work scheme
* Eye care vouchers
* Generous discounts on books we publish
* Mental Health First Aiders / Champions and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
* Wide‑ranging training library
* Development Programmes including Mentoring
* Staff Events
* Many employee networks to join
* Free onsite parking
* Free tea and coffee
Commitment to diversity
Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a broad base as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio‑economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.
If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for interview, please let us know.
We will notify all candidates of the outcome of their application.
Apply now.
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