Head of Funeralcare Logistics

Head of Funeralcare Logistics

£96,190 to £115,428 plus excellent benefits (Work level 4)

Hybrid way, splitting your time between home and our Manchester office, with regular visits to care centres and other operational sites (find out more at jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy )

In line with the Internal Mobility Policy, we'd like to make you aware that there is a preferred candidate who has been identified for this opportunity.

We're looking for a strategic, commercially astute and forward-thinking Head of Funeralcare Logistics to join Co-op Funeralcare. As client needs evolve and the market increasingly embraces direct cremation services, we're transforming our operational model to meet both direct and attended funeral service demands-at sustainable cost and with exceptional care.

In this role, you'll lead the creation and delivery of a logistics capability that underpins our physical infrastructure, assets, processes and systems-ensuring we deliver timely, dignified funeral services across the UK. You'll play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our Funeralcare Care Centre Location and Services Strategy, modernising our property and fleet assets, and optimising back-of-house operations to support growth and deliver best-in-class care for the deceased.

This is more than a leadership role-it's a chance to architect the future of funeral logistics, driving innovation and operational excellence in a sector that truly matters. If you're inspired by purpose, complexity and transformation, this could be the role for you.

What you'll do

• Lead the strategic development and delivery of a national logistics capability to support both direct cremation and attended funeral services, aligned to business growth, infrastructure investment and location strategy.
• Work collaboratively to scope, design, implement and maintain a fit for future operating model for the Care of Deceased, driving high performance, efficiency and service excellence.
• Own and optimise the Direct to Cremation Value Chain, ensuring sustainable profitability and national scalability.
• Develop and implement a lean, standardised logistics process, including forecasting, capacity planning, and cost-to-serve modelling.
• Lead the creation of a fleet management strategy, enhancing utilisation and enabling smarter routing and transport operations.
• Drive continuous improvement through data-led insights, regulatory readiness, and process optimisation using lean and six sigma methodologies.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to modernise care centre assets and ensure the highest standards of care for the deceased.
• Build, lead, inspire and partner teams, delivering consistently high service levels and developing a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Define and track KPIs to measure performance, risk, and commercial impact-including reduced time in care, improved fleet and asset utilisation, and enhanced stocking efficiency.

This role would suit people who have

• 10+ years of experience in a supply chain, FMCG or logistics role.
• A track record of leading large-scale operational and cultural transformation
• The credibility and presence to operate at leadership level, influencing and challenging senior stakeholders
• Significant experience aligning plans and activity with strategic imperatives.
• High degree of industry gravitas and the ability to effectively represent the business externally
• Demonstrated experience in process optimisation using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.

Why Co-op?

Here you'll do work that matters. We're a commercial organisation with a purpose beyond profit, you'll have an opportunity to help us build a stronger Co-op and stronger communities. You'll also get a package that includes:

• A company car or £6,000 car allowance
• Private healthcare for you and your family
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• Coaching and training to support your career development
• Wagestream - a money management app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Grocery Aid - 24/7 access to a range of emotional, financial, and practical support services for you and your family

Building a diverse environment
We're actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We're also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we'll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if they meet the minimum criteria for a job.
We'll ask whether you'd like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme when you apply.
If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we'll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.
You can find out more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process
You can find out more about the Disability Confident scheme and all our commitments to diversity and inclusion at colleagues.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-and-wellbeing

Please note that we may close applications for this role early.