Head of Branches North

• The ideal candidate brings strong operational leadership, commercial drive, financial acumen and an uncompromising commitment to safety and environmental standards ideally across a multi site operation within a chemical, industrial manufacturing, or high-pressure gas distribution environment.
• Safety Leadership: Proven track record of leading, auditing, establishing, and upholding strict safety protocols in high-risk environments.
• Business & Financial Acumen: Strong capability in P&L analysis and branch sales growth.

• Bachelor Degree optional but not essential. Equivalent combination of experience and/or training and education will be considered.

Air Liquide is currently searching for a proactive Head of Branches to join the team and be responsible for branch operations in northern England.

The accountabilities :

In this role, you will hold ultimate accountability for branch operations including safety, customer experience, employee experience, branch efficiencies and profitability, PG Distribution (including HG's), retail showroom and trade counter, warehouse activities, internal sales and sales growth.

• Culture of Safety: Establish and enforce an absolute safety-first culture across all branch activities, ensuring compliance to process, laws and local dangerous goods regulations.

• Hazard & Audit Management: Ensure routine safety inspections are carried out, audit actions completed, adherence to ADR regulations, near miss reporting and incident investigations.

• Road Safety: High focus on road safety, driver training, driver and vehicle compliance and fleet management alongside the Road Safety team

• P&L Management: Own the operational budget, sales revenue, capital expenditure (CapEx), and cost-control initiatives for the branch.

• Asset & Cylinder Logistics: Ensure management of inventory, PG storage, and local route planning to optimize delivery efficiency and customer experience.

• Continuous Improvement: Streamline store/warehouse operational workflows, order fulfillment, and counter sales procedures to raise

• productivity and lower cost-to-serve.

• Revenue Generation: Encourage collaboration with field sales reps and key account teams to drive sales of industrial gases and hardgoods.

• Customer Relationship Management: Collaboration with Customer Experience and Customer Service teams to ensure customer retention.

• Direct Management: Lead, recruit, coach and mentor a multidisciplinary branch team consisting of Branch Operations Managers, distribution teams including delivery drivers, branch operatives, internal sales specialists and yard operatives.

• Performance Development: Conduct regular performance reviews, foster technical training programs and promote career succession planning.

• Retail & Customer Service: Oversee the training and mentoring of the branch counter teams to ensure fast, expert technical support for walk-in industrial and trade customers.

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Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

P&L, Operations & Supply Chain

• Commercial Growth & Customer Experience

• Team Leadership & People Operations

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