Head of Logistics in Sheffield

Location: Doncaster

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm

Contractual Hours: 42.5 hours per week

Pay: £65k

Reports to: Directors

Travel: Travel to other company sites may be required in line with business needs

Holiday: 33 days inclusive of bank holidays

About the Company

From precision manufacturing to smart pallet repair and innovative supply chain solutions, we help our customers solve challenges they haven't even discovered yet. Our mission goes beyond products. We are committed to expanding our operations responsibly and developing a circular-economy model that reduces waste, reuses resources and creates long-term value. As we continue to grow, we are looking for talented and passionate people who want to make a real impact and help us build a more economic and sustainable ecosystem.

The Role

We are looking for a commercially minded Head of Logistics to take overall responsibility for the company's logistics operation, ensuring transport activities are safe, efficient, compliant and commercially effective. You will lead the logistics and maintenance functions, including Transport Managers, the Maintenance Manager and their teams, Transport Coordinators and Drivers. You will also have responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of a fleet of approximately 25 vehicles and 75 trailers, ensuring compliance, reliability, availability and minimal downtime. Reporting directly to the Directors, you will provide strategic leadership while remaining closely connected to the day-to-day operation. You will take ownership of fleet utilisation, route planning, compliance, service levels, cost control, team development and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Logistics Strategy & Leadership: Develop and implement the medium- and long-term logistics strategy. Align fleet, people, systems and operational performance with wider business objectives. Lead and develop the transport and maintenance departments. Build a strong, accountable and high-performing logistics team. Identify skills gaps and develop training and upskilling programmes. Work closely with Directors and senior management to support business growth.
• Transport & Fleet Operations: Oversee the day-to-day transport operation and fleet performance. Ensure effective route planning, scheduling and fleet utilisation. Maintain high service levels across the pallet network. Monitor vehicle availability and minimise downtime. Ensure vehicles, trailers, machinery and hand tools are maintained, serviced and repaired in a timely manner. Ensure maintenance activities meet legal requirements and company standards. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce wasted mileage and resources.
• Compliance & Safety: Maintain a safe, legal and fully compliant transport operation. Ensure compliance with Operator Licence requirements. Maintain oversight of driver hours, Working Time Directive requirements and tachograph management. Ensure vehicle inspections, servicing, repairs and maintenance are completed appropriately. Promote a strong safety-first culture throughout the logistics and maintenance functions. Ensure appropriate health and safety standards are maintained across the department.
• Commercial & Financial Performance: Manage logistics budgets and operational costs. Monitor cost-to-serve and identify opportunities for cost reduction. Improve resource allocation and fleet efficiency. Identify commercial opportunities that support profitable growth. Monitor market trends and respond proactively to changing customer and operational requirements. Balance customer service, compliance, efficiency and profitability.
• Systems, Data & Continuous Improvement: Establish meaningful KPIs to measure logistics performance. Use operational data and fleet information to improve decision-making. Produce accurate performance reports for Directors. Identify operational inefficiencies and implement practical improvements. Lead process improvement and operational change projects. Improve visibility, accountability and consistency across the logistics operation. Make effective use of business management, CRM and ERP systems.
• People Management: Provide strong leadership to Transport Managers, Maintenance Managers, Coordinators and Drivers. Coach and develop managers to improve departmental performance. Manage performance, absence, employee relations, disciplinary and grievance processes where required. Promote effective communication and teamwork. Build a positive, accountable and engaged working culture.

Measures of Success

• A clear and effective logistics strategy aligned with the company's commercial objectives.
• Improved visibility and accountability through meaningful KPIs and regular performance reporting.
• Improved service levels, route planning and delivery reliability.
• Increased fleet utilisation and reduced unnecessary mileage, downtime and operational costs.
• Strong control of Operator Licence, driver hours, tachograph, maintenance and health and safety compliance.
• A capable, well-structured and high-performing logistics team.
• Stronger leadership and accountability across Transport Managers and Coordinators.
• Improved employee engagement and development across the department.
• Logistics becoming a strategic enabler of business growth and the company's circular-economy ambitions.

About You

You will be an experienced and credible senior logistics leader with the confidence to operate strategically while remaining close enough to the operation to understand the detail. You will be commercially aware, people-focused and highly organised, with the judgement and resilience required to manage a busy transport and maintenance function.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Qualifications & Compliance: CPC Transport Manager qualification. Strong knowledge of UK transport legislation and Operator Licence requirements. Strong understanding of driver hours, Working Time Directive, tachographs and vehicle compliance.
• Transport & Fleet Operations: Extensive experience managing transport, logistics or haulage operations within a fast-paced commercial environment. Proven experience managing a sizeable fleet. Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams, including drivers, managers and coordinators.
• Commercial & Performance Management: Experience managing budgets, KPIs, operational performance, service levels and cost control. Strong commercial awareness and the ability to balance service, compliance, efficiency and profitability.
• Leadership & People Management: Strong leadership and people management skills. Experience with coaching, performance management, absence management and employee relations. Experience handling disciplinary and grievance processes. Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills. Confident working closely with Directors and senior business leaders.
• Systems & Continuous Improvement: Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills. Ability to make sound decisions under pressure. Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Outlook. Experience using business management, CRM or ERP systems. Experience leading operational change, process improvement or system implementation projects.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of heavy vehicle maintenance requirements and fleet availability planning.
• Experience within a pallet network, multi-drop, haulage or time-critical distribution environment.
• Experience using NetSuite.

Benefits

• 33 days' holiday, inclusive of bank holidays
• Monday - Friday working pattern
• Senior leadership position reporting directly to Directors
• Opportunity to shape and develop the company's logistics strategy
• Opportunity to contribute to the company's long-term growth and circular-economy objectives

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced logistics professional looking to take ownership of a significant transport and fleet operation and play a key role in the continued growth and development of the business.