Logistics Lead

About the Role

Join Our Team as a Logistics Lead – DS Smith, Belper

Are you an experienced logistics professional with a background in manufacturing or factory environments? At DS Smith Belper, we’re looking for a Logistics Lead to take ownership of our Despatch department, including internal transport and forklift trucks, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations while keeping safety, efficiency, and teamwork at the heart of everything you do.

This is a key role in the ongoing success of our site – if you’re ready to lead from the front, drive improvements, and be a point of expertise in logistics operations, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities include (but not limited):

• Own Health & Safety in the workplace transport department – lead by example, ensure compliance, and promote a culture of safety-first.

• Coach and support colleagues on best practices, especially around vehicle loading/unloading and safe operation.

• Take the lead on incident reporting, investigations, and corrective actions, making sure improvements are embedded.

• Oversee fleet operations – manage daily/weekly forklift truck checks, maintenance, usage, and liaise with supplier of moving and lifting equipment as required.

• Manage and control stock levels of pallets, packing cases, and reels – ensuring adequate supply and reordering when necessary.

• Attend and contribute to site performance hubs, helping to drive Despatch KPIs and lead improvement projects.

• Ensure strong communication between Logistics, Production, and other departments, both internal and external.

• Be hands-on when needed – provide on-shift FLT cover to support continuous plant operations.

• Become the site’s trainer for forklift truck and electric handling equipment – across multiple areas (despatch infeed, die press, corrugator, etc.)

• Develop and manage a staff training matrix to ensure multi-skilled coverage across the team in conjunction with Shift Managers

About you  

• Proven experience in logistics within a factory or manufacturing setting.

• Strong commitment to Health & Safety – you lead by example and influence others to follow suit.

• High levels of numeracy, literacy, and attention to detail.

• Understanding of the role logistics plays in fulfilling customer requirements.

• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and time management skills.

• A natural coach and mentor who can train and upskill others.

If you're looking for a role where you can make a real impact and lead a key department within a fast-paced, supportive environment – apply now and take the next step in your career with DS Smith.

Location: Belper

Salary: Competitive

Contract Type: Permanent

Benefits 

Additional benefits include:

• Competitive salary – dependent on experience

• Pension Scheme

• Life Assurance

• Income Protection

• 25 days holiday plus 8 Bank Holidays

• Employee Discounts Programme

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme

• EAP Support

• Long Service Award

About Us

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. 

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.