Assistant Depot Manager
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
As an Assistant Depot Manager, you will support your Depot Manager with the day-to-day running of the depot, and you will always identify and suggest new opportunities to grow sales. The support you offer your Depot Manager can range from reviewing the P&L to recruiting, leading by example, and motivating the team in order to achieve and exceed sales targets by building strong working relationships with the local trade.
The pace is fast, and the environment is competitive and demanding but also incredibly rewarding financially and in our strong sense of team spirit that makes us different from the rest.
This is a fantastic environment for you to soak up everything there is to know about becoming a Depot Manager in the future, and if you pair that with our extensive online and face-to-face training that we offer, you will have the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful Asisstant Depot Manager and one day manage your own depot.
Skills and attributes you need to be a successful Assistant Depot Manager:
- Management experience
- Inspirational leader
- Sales focused
- Problem-solving skills
- Target-driven
- Effective communicator
- Ambition and drive
- Customer service
- Thrive in fast-paced environments
What you get from us as an Assistant Depot Manager:
- Competitive base salary
- Monthly depot bonus OTE
- Team incentives and outings
- Competitive Pension Plan with a maximum company contribution of 12%.
- 24 days holiday, rising to 26 days after 5 years
- Staff discount on Howdens products
- Buy as you earn share scheme
About Howdens:
Howdens Joinery is the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier providing thousands of products across kitchens, joinery, and hardware. We have over 900 depots throughout the UK and Europe – making us the first choice for more than 460,000 loyal trade professionals. Last year our sales reached circa 2.3bn, and we have an ambitious growth agenda.
There is a strong entrepreneurial ethos and the opportunity to develop within a fast-paced and commercial environment. That, along with a competitive salary, development opportunities, and exciting rewards, are among the reasons why our people enjoy working for Howdens – and why we have been named one of the 10 Best Big Companies to Work For.
How to apply:
When you apply, you will need to attach a CV. If this is your first time applying for a role with us, you will need to activate your account when you apply for this role. Please check your email carefully to ensure that you have completed this step. We are unable to view your application if you have not activated your account. Good luck with your application.
Howdens is founded on the principle of being Worthwhile for ALL concerned. We’re working hard to ensure we provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. We will do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, please email with the job title and location, and we will be happy to help you.
Please note that candidates applying for this role must have a valid right to work in the UK, we do not offer sponsorship of employment for any depot positions at this time. We appreciate your understanding.
#LI-LO1
#Reed
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your management experience prominently as Howdens specifically requires this for the Assistant Depot Manager role
📊 Quantify your sales achievements: 'Exceeded monthly targets by 15%, driving £180k additional revenue'
🏢 Emphasise any trade or construction industry experience as Howdens serves 460,000 trade professionals
🎯 Showcase P&L management skills as you'll be reviewing financial performance with the Depot Manager
🤝 Demonstrate team leadership examples as you'll be motivating staff to achieve sales targets
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Led 8-person sales team to achieve 118% of monthly targets, generating £240k additional revenue through improved trade customer relationships
- •Managed P&L analysis for 3 retail locations, identifying cost savings of £15k annually whilst maintaining service standards
- •Recruited and trained 12 new team members over 18 months, reducing staff turnover by 25% through effective leadership and motivation
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
We've drafted a cover letter for Howdens Joinery. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to Howdens Joinery
Dear Hiring Manager,
Howdens Joinery's position as the UK's leading trade kitchen supplier makes this Assistant Depot Manager role in Aylesbury exactly the career progression I'm seeking. My management experience and sales-focused approach align perfectly with your requirements for P&L management and team leadership.
My background in retail management and target-driven sales environments has prepared me to support depot operations whilst building the strong trade relationships that drive Howdens' £2.3bn annual success.
Free signup, no card needed. Export to PDF/Word requires a £1.99 trial (14 days).
Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you analyse a depot's P&L to identify growth opportunities?
- ›What strategies would you use to build relationships with local trade customers?
- ›How would you approach recruiting new team members for a depot?
- ›What methods would you use to track and exceed sales targets?
- ›How would you handle inventory management in a fast-paced depot environment?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you motivated a team to exceed their targets
- ›Describe a situation where you had to solve a problem under pressure
- ›Give an example of when you provided exceptional customer service
- ›Tell me about a time you had to adapt quickly to changing circumstances
- ›Describe how you've handled conflict within a team
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you motivated a team to exceed their targets
Describe a situation where you had to solve a problem under pressure