Role Overview
We are seeking a senior, commercially astute Transport Manager to provide strategic leadership and full operational ownership of our Whitchurch transport function. This is a newly created, high‑impact role with the autonomy to shape long‑term transport strategy, modernise systems and ways of working, and deliver measurable improvements across safety, service, cost, and capability.
Reporting into the site General Manager, with a dotted line to the European Head of Transport, you will be accountable for building a best‑in‑class transport operation that is safe, compliant, scalable, and commercially optimised. You will lead a large, multi‑disciplinary transport team and play a pivotal role in transformation initiatives, including a major Transport Management System (TMS) rollout.
This role requires a visible, credible leader who can operate at both strategic and operational levels—setting direction, influencing stakeholders, developing talent, and driving sustained performance improvement.
Key Accountabilities
Strategic & Operational Leadership
- Provide end‑to‑end leadership of the Whitchurch transport operation, setting clear strategic direction aligned to business objectives.
- Translate business strategy into feasible transport plans covering fleet, people, systems, subcontractors, and service delivery.
- Act as the senior transport authority on site, influencing operational, commercial, and safety decisions at leadership level.
Safety, Compliance & Governance
- Hold full accountability for transport safety, legal compliance, and governance in line with UK transport legislation, DVSA standards, and O‑Licence obligations.
- Establish robust compliance frameworks, controls, and assurance processes, ensuring audit readiness at all times.
- Lead serious incident, accident, and insurance investigations, driving root‑cause analysis and sustainable risk reduction.
Fleet, Asset & Cost Optimisation
- Own the strategic management of fleet and assets, including HGV and trailers.
- Ensure accurate, timely, and actionable fleet, compliance, and cost reporting to support data‑driven decision‑making.
Transport Planning & Service Performance
- Oversee transport planning and execution to deliver consistent, high‑quality service to customers and internal stakeholders.
- Partner with Operations to ensure effective resourcing, contingency planning, and disruption management.
- Embed performance management disciplines, using KPIs and insight to continuously improve service, cost, and efficiency.
People Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, develop, and inspire a large transport workforce including planners, compliance teams, supervisors, and drivers.
- Build a high‑performance culture through clear accountability, coaching, succession planning, and leadership development.
- Own recruitment strategy, onboarding, training, engagement, and performance management for the transport function.
Commercial & Strategic Development
- Own transport‑related commercial performance, contributing to P&L, budgeting, and cost control.
- Identify and develop new revenue opportunities through subcontractor strategy, external partnerships, and service innovation.
Transformation & Systems Leadership
- Lead major change initiatives, including compliance improvement programmes and the implementation of a new Transport Management System (TMS).
- Drive standardisation, automation, and continuous improvement across transport processes.
Qualifications
- Proven senior leadership experience within medium‑to‑large transport operations (40+ drivers).
- Strong expertise in transport compliance, fleet management, and operational governance.
- Demonstrated ability to lead large teams, manage complexity, and deliver sustained performance improvement.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience managing budgets, costs, and operational profitability.
Desirable Experience
- Experience within food, retail, or warehouse‑integrated transport environments.
- Multi‑site or network transport leadership exposure.
- Hands‑on involvement in TMS implementation or large‑scale operational transformation.
- CPC (National & International) – essential
- NEBOSH or equivalent – desirable
#J-18808-Ljbffr