Automation and Facilities Manager

Package

Salary & Hours

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• 37.50 hours per week worked over 5 days from 7

Employee Benefits

• Full-time employees receive 28 days of annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays), increasing to 33 days after 5 years of service. Annual leave is pro-rated for part-time or alternative working arrangements.
• Contributable company pension scheme
• 10% store discount at all our retail stores
• Onsite subsidised Health and Fitness Centre
• Onsite canteen
• Death in Service Benefit
• Long service recognition scheme
• MyHB colleague benefits platform with access to:
• Discounts UK wide on retail, leisure, hospitality venues
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 confidential counselling and advice line
• Low cost voluntary insured health cash plans and cancer cover

Job Introduction

We’re looking for a highly capable and forward-thinking Automation and Facilities Manager to lead the 24/7 Automation and Facilities function at our Axis Distribution Centre and Head Office in Liverpool.

This is a key leadership role with wide-reaching responsibility, reporting to the Head of Automation & Engineering and overseeing a large team supporting automation performance, facilities standards, and operational continuity.

You will be responsible for delivering a proactive, high-performing engineering and facilities function that ensures all infrastructure, cleaning, automation systems, and maintenance activities run safely, efficiently, and to standard.

Working collaboratively with internal teams and third-party providers, you will take ownership of strategic planning, resource allocation, continuous improvement, and full compliance with HSE and regulatory requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior professional with the experience, technical knowledge, and leadership capability to shape automation and facilities performance in a modern, fast-paced, and technology-driven logistics environment.

Job Overview

• Leadership & People Management

Lead and develop the onsite Automation and Facilities team, embedding a high-performance and safety-first culture through coaching, performance reviews, and team empowerment.

• Operational Excellence

Transition the department from reactive to proactive maintenance, managing PPM schedules and ensuring compliance through CMMS and CAFM systems.

• Facilities Management

Oversee cleaning, infrastructure, utilities, and site-wide services to support business continuity and statutory compliance, while leading emergency response planning and environmental controls.

• Automation Systems Management

Monitor automation asset lifecycle, plan upgrades, and coordinate technical support to optimise uptime and system reliability.

• Health & Safety Compliance

Champion health, safety, and environmental best practice, ensure SOPs are implemented, and drive adherence to legislative and internal standards.

• Stakeholder & Contractor Engagement

Manage relationships with third-party suppliers and collaborate across departments including Procurement, Property, PMO, and Operations.

• Strategic Reporting & Decision Making

Track KPIs, report on performance, make informed decisions on resource deployment, and lead projects that drive engineering and operational excellence.

• Procurement & Budget Ownership

Manage the £5M+ annual spend across Opex, labour, and service support. Oversee procurement processes to maintain critical stock and materials availability.

Minimum Criteria To Apply

• HNC/HND or equivalent experience in Engineering or Facilities Management.
• Proven leadership of multi-skilled Engineering and Facilities teams within a warehouse or FMCG environment.
• Strong working knowledge of automation systems (SCADA, PLC), infrastructure, and facilities operations.
• Experience with CMMS, CAFM, and BMS tools and software.
• IOSH/NEBOSH or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
• Deep understanding of UK building compliance, environmental laws, and safety regulations.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, and service providers.
• Effective communicator with strong influencing and decision-making skills.
• Proactive, organised, and capable of driving cultural and operational change.

About The Company

TJ Morris Limited trading as Home Bargains is a privately owned family run discount retailer selling top brands at the lowest possible price on the UK high street.

Having started 50 years ago in Liverpool our customers continue to be at the heart of everything we do and throughout our 600+ stores we have over 5 million customers each week.

With plans to increase our store portfolio to 1,000 stores throughout the UK we are a fast-paced retailer opening 50 stores a year (nearly one every weekend) - and we wouldn't have it any other way!