Customer Case Investigator Team Lead

Howdens are recruiting a Customer Case Investigator Team Lead to lead our Customer Case Investigation Team at Howden Work Surfaces. This role is central to ensuring complex customer cases are managed fairly, consistently, and in line with policy, while also developing a high‑performing team of investigators.

At Howden Work Surfaces, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional quality, robust governance, and an outstanding customer experience. As Customer Case Investigator Team Lead, you will combine people leadership, case management expertise, and quality assurance, shaping both the day‑to‑day performance of the team and the long‑term direction of the function.

This opportunity is ideal for a confident and credible leader who can balance operational delivery with sound judgement, continuous improvement, and strong stakeholder engagement.

Location | Normanton, West Yorkshire

Shift | Monday - Friday, Full-time, predominantly on-site (4 days per week)

Hiring Manager | Senior Team Leader

Why Join Howdens:

Joining Howdens means being part of a business built on strong values, long‑term thinking, and doing the right thing. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Lead with purpose – Coach and develop a team of investigators handling sensitive and complex cases.
• Influence outcomes – Ensure investigations are thorough, fair, and consistent, protecting both the customer experience and the business.
• Drive improvement – Identify trends, risks, and process gaps to continuously enhance investigation quality and efficiency.
• Develop your leadership – We invest in our leaders, offering support, autonomy, and development to help you build a future‑ready team.

If you’re motivated by ownership, accountability, and making a meaningful impact, this is a role where you can truly add value.

What Will You Be Doing:

As Customer Case Investigator Team Lead, you will take ownership of both people leadership and case quality, ensuring investigations are handled to a high standard and in line with best practice.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of case investigators.
• Monitor team performance against SLAs, KPIs, and quality standards.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and development conversations.
• Act as an escalation point for complex, high‑risk, or sensitive cases.

Case Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Review investigator decisions to ensure accuracy, fairness, and compliance.
• Ensure investigations follow internal policies, procedures, and best practice.
• Maintain consistency in outcomes and written correspondence.
• Provide constructive feedback to improve investigative capability and decision‑making.

Continuous Improvement & Insight

• Identify trends, risks, and learning points from case data.
• Highlight process gaps and recommend practical improvements.
• Support the development of training materials, guidance notes, and decision frameworks.
• Contribute to policy development and procedural changes where required.
• Work closely with stakeholders across the business to reduce repeat issues and improve the overall customer journey.

This is a hands‑on leadership role requiring strong judgement, attention to detail, and the confidence to make balanced decisions in a fast‑paced environment.

What Do You Need to Qualify:

We’re looking for a capable and credible leader with a strong investigative mindset. You’ll bring:

• Proven experience leading or supervising a team within a service, investigation, compliance, or case‑management environment.
• Strong investigative and analytical skills, with sound judgement under pressure.
• Experience coaching, developing, and performance‑managing others.
• Excellent written communication skills, particularly for case summaries and customer correspondence.
• Strong stakeholder management and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Confidence working with data, KPIs, and quality measures.
• High levels of accuracy, attention to detail, and organisation.
• The ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Knowledge of solid surfaces or manufacturing processes (advantageous but not essential).
• A proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and doing the right thing.

What Can We Offer You:

• Competitive salary plus bonus
• Pension plan with up to 12% company contribution
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, with the option to buy more
• Staff discount
• Free meal at our on‑site canteen
• Ongoing training, development, and career progression
• A friendly, supportive environment with strong recognition and rewards

About Us:

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. With an ambitious and credible growth plan, we continue to build on our £2.4 billion sales made last year.

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 as one of the 10 Best Big Companies to Work For.

How to Apply:

We are building a future where world-class service, innovation, and sustainability are embedded within our DNA. If Howdens sounds like the kind of place where you can build and develop your career as a Customer Case Investigator Team Lead, then we are keen to hear from you.

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 recruitmentteam@howdens.com with the job title and location, and we will be happy to help you.

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