Senior Manager, Central Operations & Analytics

The Senior Manager, Central Operations and Analytics provides strategic leadership and analytical oversight for Central Operations, ensuring operational alignment across all functions. This role develops the frameworks, tools, and insights that enable executional excellence, optimize processes, and drive profitable growth across WHSmith North America. Acting as the connective link between Finance, Field Operations, and Commercial teams, the Director transforms data into actionable intelligence that strengthens decision-making and performance at every level of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Planning & Performance

• Lead and oversee operational planning, analytics, and performance reporting for Central Operations.
• Design and evolve operational playbooks, standards, and processes that enhance efficiency and consistency.
• Partner with Finance and Field Operations to deliver operational KPIs and data transparency that drive accountability.
• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline workflows, reduce costs, and strengthen scalability.

Analytics & Reporting

• Develop and maintain performance dashboards and scorecards for KPIs, labor, shrink, compliance, and sales performance.
• Ensure integrity and accuracy of data inputs through standardized reporting and governance models.
• Translate analytics into meaningful insights to inform strategic business decisions.
• Support predictive modeling and forecasting processes to anticipate operational trends and financial outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Commercial, IT, and People teams to align operational analytics with enterprise priorities.
• Lead the development of automation, reporting, and workflow tools to improve visibility and responsiveness.
• Communicate insights and recommendations to senior leaders through clear, visual storytelling and data interpretation.

Key Metrics

• Operational KPI Accuracy (%): Validity and consistency of reporting.
• Process Efficiency (%): Reduction in manual workflows and redundant reporting.
• Reporting Timeliness (%): Delivery of performance reports and insights within defined deadlines.
• Data Adoption Rate (%): Utilization of tools and dashboards across teams.
• Savings & Value Creation ($): Impact of analytics-driven process improvement and optimization initiatives.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Analytics, or Operations; MBA preferred.
• 10 years of experience in operations strategy, analytics, or performance management.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale reporting systems and cross-functional collaboration.
• Expert-level proficiency in Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent analytics platforms.
• Strong communication and storytelling ability with data.
• Demonstrated success influencing executive stakeholders through analytics.

Skills & Competencies

• Operational performance management and analytics.
• Process optimization and continuous improvement.
• Data visualization and automation systems.
• Strategic problem-solving and scenario modeling.
• Change management and stakeholder alignment.
• Cross-functional leadership and communication.

Leadership Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a bias for clarity and simplicity.
• Data-driven leader who bridges analytics and execution.
• Collaborative and adaptable in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Trusted advisor who delivers insight, accountability, and measurable results.