Control Room Manager

Job Purpose:

This role is in support of Cencora's wholesale distribution services in Europe operating through our Alliance Healthcare business.

Our team members are at the heart of everything we do. At Alliance Healthcare, a Cencora company, we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures, and every person here is essential to us being able to deliver on that purpose.

Please note that this is a fully onsite position.

Job Scale:

The Control Room Manager will oversee the core shift management of the warehouse control system (Knapp) and Manhattan warehouse management systems. The Control Room Manager will be responsible for leading a specialist team, ensuring optimal system performance, and maintaining efficient warehouse operations to meet our high standards of service and compliance. It plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the automated systems and the overall productivity of the warehouse, while following all regulatory and company safety standards, policies and procedures.

Principal Accountabilities:

Systems Management

• Provide core shift management of the Knapp and Manhattan warehouse management systems, ensuring seamless operation and minimal downtime.

• Monitor the system to ensure optimum throughput and system availability, identifying when performance deviates from target or acceptable levels.

• Coordinate with IT and other departments to resolve system issues promptly and efficiently.

Team Leadership and Motivation

• Manage, lead, and motivate a specialist team of direct reports, providing 24/7 cover, and oversee to Operational teams, to ensure the efficient running of all automation systems.

• Foster a positive and collaborative work environment, encouraging teamwork and promoting continuous improvement and development.

• Ensure direct reports foster a positive team culture by promoting teamwork, collaboration, building morale and continuous learning.

• Assist the team with resolving complex issues, ensuring the highest quality standards.

• Provide ongoing training and development opportunities for team members to enhance their skills and knowledge.

• Embrace and set a good example in the everyday, a culture that supports the company’s Guiding principles.

Workload Monitoring and Management

• Monitor the daily workload progress and take any systems, engineering, or operational actions necessary to ensure the work is completed on time.

• Track, monitor, and make decisions to adjust the outbound flow, including tactical workload reduction to ensure that all vehicles are loaded on time to meet the trunking delivery schedule.

• Assess the balance of the day's inputs and outputs to make decisions on required actions to ensure maximum fulfilment of all orders.

• Control all pick planning and re-profiling activity and associated pick resource estimates for the relevant areas to ensure maximum service level and efficiency within those warehouse areas.

Issue Resolution and Analysis

• Coordinate and drive engineering and system expertise to rectify issues at the earliest opportunity.

• Analyse issues post-resolution to accurately conclude the root cause and develop a clear action plan for resolution.

• Ensure issues and their resolution are documented accurately, and best practices are shared within the network.

• Prepare and present regular reports on system performance and issue resolution to senior management.

Communication and Reporting

• Communicate effectively with all levels of the organisation, providing updates on system performance and operational status.

• Prepare and present regular reports on system performance, operational efficiency, and team performance.

• Ensure department SOPs and KPIs are met to drive performance against service, compliance, productivity and cost in line with targets. Implement actions to reverse identified areas of under-performance.

Health and Safety and ESG

• Champion the health and safety culture which ensures safe processes, procedures and behaviours as well as continuous improvement through best practice activities.

• Ensure a culture of being safe, legal, compliant and continuous improvement.

• Conduct regular audits and inspections working with the H&S leader to maintain compliance and address any deficiencies.

Operational Efficiency

• To deliver operational strategy through effective communication and a proactive approach to the management of automation.

• Ensure that all Service Level agreements (SLAs) are met.

• Proactively seek innovative solutions and methodologies to ensure that the full potential of the system is realised.

• Oversight of technical resource development will involve creating long-term strategic plans to guarantee efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:

• Proven experience in warehouse control and management systems including automated technologies.

• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry is highly preferred.

• Proficiency in data analysis and performance metrics.

• Customer and results-orientated with excellent communication skills and a positive, professional attitude.

• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively across multiple functional departments.

• Strong organisational skills to manage time, tasks, and resources effectively, ensuring deadlines and targets are met.

• Ability to lead and motivate a team (including managers/leaders) in a fast-paced environment.

• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office 365 applications.

• Excellent analytical, attention to detail and problem-solving skills, including the ability to deal with ambiguity.

• Demonstrated ability to prioritise and multi-task various and conflicting responsibilities.

• Ability to work in a warehouse environment, including standing and walking for extended periods.

• Ability to lift and move materials as needed. We have a "lead by example" culture, and as such, you might be expected to carry out manual work occasionally.

• Comfortable working in varying temperatures within the warehouse environment. 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience with Manhattan and/or Knapp

• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and quality standards in pharmaceutical distribution.

• Experience working in a highly regulated and audited environment, ensuring compliance with all standards.

What Cencora Offers:

• Be one of the first to join a brand-new operation where you’ll play a key role in shaping and establishing best practice ways of working from the ground up.

• Manage and oversee a highly automated warehouse, using advanced systems and equipment to drive efficiency and innovation.

• Work with cutting edge technology at one of the most automated pharmaceutical sites in the world

• Be integral to the business’s success by ensuring smooth operations and delivering exceptional customer service through proactive problem-solving and system optimization.

• Work closely with systems, operations, and other cross-functional teams to align processes, improve workflows, and ensure seamless communication.

• Thrive in a dynamic environment with the ability to take ownership of challenges and take initiative.

• Use data and trends to identify root causes, solve problems, and lead continuous improvement efforts to optimize warehouse performance – identify and drive metrics to improve site throughput and service levels.

• Enjoy a role that blends working with people, managing complex systems, and refining processes for maximum efficiency.

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Some UK travel required, with overnight stays and attendance at meetings or conventions outside of normal business hours, including some evenings and weekends.

All people leader roles within the Central Logistics Centre will need to be “on call” for emergency orders and alarm call outs.

All people leader roles within the Central Logistics Centre will need to participate a weekend working rota.

An agreed element of flexibility may be required.

All staff are expected to understand the principles of Good Distribution Practice of Medicinal Products for Human Use (Human Medicines Regulations 2012, as amended) which is reflected in the SOPs – REF Chapter 1 AHDL GDP 1.4 and 1.5. It will be a requirement for all staff to be trained in one of these SOPs and have a periodic refresher. All other GDP training will be job specific and as per your personal training matrix.

You will be expected to support our business objectives by championing quality and enhancing customer experience. We value team members who can commit to:

Providing exceptional service and exceeding customer expectations.

Contributing actively to quality assurance processes to achieve the highest standards.

Collaborating to enhance customer satisfaction and business performance.

Proactively addressing customer needs for a positive experience.

Our mission is to maintain a culture of excellence and customer focus at every level of our organisation.

Manual Handling:

Manual handling tasks, such as lifting and bending, are a part of this role. Cencora Alliance Healthcare is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and ensuring the safety and well-being of all team members.

If a team member’s ability to carry out manual handling tasks changes due to health or other reasons, they should inform their people leader. This ensures that everyone can work safely and effectively.

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What Cencora offers

​Benefit offerings outside the US may vary by country and will be aligned to local market practice. The eligibility and effective date may differ for some benefits and for team members covered under collective bargaining agreements.

Full time

Affiliated Companies

Affiliated Companies: Alliance Healthcare Management Services Limited

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cencora is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or membership in any other class protected by federal, state or local law.

The company’s continued success depends on the full and effective utilization of qualified individuals. Therefore, harassment is prohibited and all matters related to recruiting, training, compensation, benefits, promotions and transfers comply with equal opportunity principles and are non-discriminatory.

Cencora is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the employment process which are consistent with legal requirements. If you wish to request an accommodation while seeking employment, please call 888.692.2272 or email [email protected]. We will make accommodation determinations on a request-by-request basis. Messages and emails regarding anything other than accommodations requests will not be returned