Location: Whitefield, Manchester (M45)
Salary: Competitive (based on experience) + team performance-based commission
Job Type: Full-time, permanent
About Us
JPS Chartered Surveyors is a fifth-generation family business and a trusted national provider of valuation, asset management and auction services. Since 2004, we have supported insolvency practitioners, lenders, and private companies in maximising asset value and facilitating business recovery.
Following significant growth and continued investment in our operations and Auction Centre in Whitefield, we are now recruiting a Senior Auction Operations Lead to strengthen our team and drive operational excellence across the business.
This is a standout opportunity for a capable, forward-thinking leader to help shape the future of our operational processes, digital tools, and service delivery.
The Role
As Senior Auction Operations Lead, you will oversee the end-to-end operational delivery of our asset collection, cataloguing, and auction preparation activities. Alongside managing day-to-day operations and leading a small, dedicated team, you will play a strategic role in reengineering workflows, improving safety management, enhancing customer experience, and contributing to the development of improved digital systems, bringing a fresh pair of eyes.
This is a hands-on leadership position, perfect for someone who combines operational capability with people management skills, commercial awareness, and a continuous improvement mindset.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Oversee the planning and delivery of operational activities, including asset collection, transport, cataloguing, photography and auction setup.
- Ensure smooth, efficient, and high-quality execution of auction preparation from start to finish.
- Lead, support, and motivate operational staff to meet targets and uphold company standards.
Continuous Improvement & Operational Reengineering
- Analyse existing workflows and identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, and enhance service quality.
- Contribute to the implementation of new processes, tools, and best practices across operations.
- Work closely with senior leadership to standardise procedures and implement operational controls.
Digital Tools & System Development
- Contribute to discussions and decisions around the enhancement of auction software, CRM systems, asset tracking tools, and internal digital workflows.
- Collaborate with developers and internal stakeholders to shape effective, user-centric system improvements.
Health & Safety Management
- Hold responsibility for the business’s Health & Safety functions, including compliance, policies, risk assessments, training, and audits.
- Ensure safe working practices across all sites, including off-site client locations.
- Drive a proactive safety culture, reducing incidents and improving hazard awareness.
Customer & Client Experience
- Ensuring client instructions and requirements are fulfilled to a high standard.
- Oversee on-site customer experience during viewings, inspections, and collections.
- Resolve any operational or customer issues promptly and professionally.
Team Management
- Line-manage operational staff, ensuring clear communication, support, development, and performance oversight.
- Organise staff workloads, rota planning, and resource allocation.
- Lead by example with a hands-on approach while providing guidance and direction.
Essential Requirements
- Proven operational leadership or supervisory experience, ideally in auctions, logistics, warehousing, facilities, or asset-based industries.
- Strong organisational and workflow-planning skills.
- Ability to manage, coach, and motivate teams in a practical environment.
- Excellent communication skills with confidence engaging clients and customers.
- Strong understanding of Health & Safety compliance and best practice.
- Competent with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word.
- Comfortable contributing to digital transformation initiatives.
- Full UK driving licence (max 6 points).
- Physically fit and able to perform manual handling tasks.
- Willingness to travel nationally, with occasional overnight stays.
Desirable
- Experience working with auction systems, CRM platforms, or inventory management tools.
- Prior involvement in operational reengineering or continuous improvement projects.
- IOSH or NEBOSH qualification (or willingness to obtain).
- Fork lift truck experience.
Benefits
- Competitive salary + team performance-based auction commission.
- 28 days’ annual leave including bank holidays.
- Private medical insurance.
- Company pension.
- Death in service cover.
- On-site parking.
- Health & wellbeing programme.
- Leadership development and training support.
- Opportunity to shape evolving systems and influence future operational strategy.