Our Distribution team is looking for an experienced Order Wave Manager to join our growing team in Frating, Colchester. 

Reporting to the Distribution Operations Director, you’ll be responsible for overseeing the daily management of order downloads and processing through Blue Yonder waves, ensuring total alignment with distribution carrier requirements. You’ll lead across the allocation of stock, manage the replenishment and release and ensure that waves are picked and completed according to the transportation dispatch plan. You’ll work collaboratively with various internal teams, from Sales, Technology and Production to Finance, Inventory Stock Management and Warehouse Distribution.

As a key part of the Frating Operations leadership team, you’ll strive to achieve best-in-class standards and will introduce robust contingency and peak plans for quick wave release and completion. As an advocate for continuous improvement, you’ll develop plans to smooth wave flows, reduce risk, and improve overall customer service. 

The role

Key responsibilities:

•    Coordinate the timely release of orders, ensuring they are ready for sale.  
•    Prioritise orders in alignment with the Sales team during high demand periods and collaborate with the Warehouse Operations Manager and Logistics Manager to address issues affecting waves.  
•    Manage the immediate reporting of distribution and delivery issues, planning and managing key account orders, and preparing reports on wave successes and failures with recommendations for improvement.  
•    Manage auditor requirements to verify wave completion. 
•    Coordinate with Technology to resolve issues with orders in the Blue Yonder system, address waves reverting from release to allocated status, investigate order flow issues from SAP to BY via AIS, and liaise with system colleagues on performance issues. 
•    Work with the Logistics Manager to control the flow of order management and to coordinate and deliver waves for Not Yet Published (NYP) titles. 
•    Plan and control the release of waves for high security titles, including special downloads. 
•    Coordinate with the Warehouse Operations Manager and Logistics Manager to manage daily transportation requirements for outbound loads, ensuring efficient planning and distribution, especially during peak trading periods. 
•    Handle the download, planning, and efficient allocation of Amazon loads, aiming for same-day processing. 
•    Responsible for the production of metrics and reporting tools to aid transparency and improve operational efficiency. 
•    Provide first-line resolution for departmental and site queries, using knowledge and experience to identify, respond to, and escalate problems.
•    Ensure daily communication of key information through team briefings, provide necessary reports and feedback, and act as the main stakeholder for Sales, Customer Services, and Technology on waving-related matters. 
 

What you’ll bring
  
Essential criteria:

•    Previous experience of using Blue Yonder, with specific wave management and planning experience.
•    Excellent analytical skills for the preparation and validation of workflows, as well as product and inventory management issues.
•    Ability to communicate at all levels and build relationships with the wider team quickly and effectively.
•    Flexible, proactive, self-driven and responsive to changing deadlines and priorities.
•    Experience of managing and leading teams within a planning control and distribution environment.
•    Excellent IT skills, notably MS Office suite.
•    Detailed knowledge of stock investigations and control.
•    Ability to understand material flow through a distribution site, from Goods Receiving through to storage, picking, consolidation, packing and despatch. 

Preferred criteria:

•    IOSH Managing Safely
•    Qualification in Continuous Improvement or a very strong background / experience in working within such an environment. 
•    Specific logistical qualifications, gained in a nationally recognised institution. 

Application instructions
 
Please apply with your CV by 23:59 on Sunday 7th September 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the advert may close at any time. We would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please note we are looking for someone to join the team as soon as possible, but we are also happy to accommodate a reasonable notice period for the right candidate.
 
Salary
 
The salary band for this opportunity is c.£42,000-£60,000, depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits. 
 

Hybrid working
 
 
While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect that you will work from our Distribution centre in Frating, Colchester 2-3 days per week, with the other days to be worked remotely. However, in the initial months of employment and during peak periods you will be required on site more frequently, to be discussed and agreed with your Line Manager.

The recruitment process: You can read about our recruitment process at https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/how-we-hire/

As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we're part of the offer an interview scheme. This is where disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can opt in to get to the next recruitment stage. There may be some situations where volume of applicants means we can't take all eligible candidates to interview.

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.

Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.

 Company: The Random House Group Limited | Job ID: 282142