At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead depot operations, manage teams, and drive business growth in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join DFDS, a diverse team focused on driving change and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy life assurance, pension scheme, free ferry travel, and extensive health support.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of diversity and inclusivity while growing your career.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your leadership skills in logistics.
- Qualifications: Experience in logistics or depot leadership with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 51000 - 65000 £ per year.
<div><h2>About the Role</h2> <p>As General Manager, you’ll be accountable for the end to end operational and commercial performance of the Aberdeen depot.
You’ll lead a team of around 27 colleagues, oversee a fleet of 14 HGVs, and act as the senior on site representative for customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.</p> <p>As part of the Scottish Senior Management Team, you’ll ensure the depot operates safely, efficiently, and in line with business strategy while driving continuous improvement and growth.</p> <h2>You Will Be Responsible For</h2> <ul> <li>Leading all depot operations across transport, warehouse, planning, and yard activities</li> <li>Managing and developing teams through coaching, performance reviews, and workforce planning</li> <li>Overseeing fleet performance, ensuring compliance, utilisation, and cost efficiency</li> <li>Owning commercial performance, including P&L inputs, cost control, and margin improvement</li> <li>Acting as the senior customer contact, ensuring high service levels and resolving issues proactively</li> <li>Driving business growth and continuous improvement across operations</li> <li>Managing compliance, planning, reporting, and stakeholder collaboration to meet operational and strategic targets</li> </ul> <h2>About You</h2> <p>You’ll bring strong experience in logistics, transport, or depot leadership, with proven ability to manage both operational delivery and commercial performance.
You’ll have a solid understanding of transport compliance, including O‑Licence responsibilities, driver hours, and Working Time Directive regulations.</p> <p>You’ll be commercially minded, confident managing budgets, and able to interpret operational data to drive improvements.
Strong leadership capability is essential, you’ll be able to motivate teams, hold people accountable, and build a high‑performance culture.</p> <p>You’ll thrive in this role if you’re a confident, structured, and proactive leader who can balance day‑to‑day operational control with strategic thinking.
You’ll be a strong communicator, able to build trust with teams, customers, and senior stakeholders, and remain calm when making decisions in a fast‑moving environment.</p> <p>We think the strongest teams are built on diversity and inclusivity.
Contrasting opinions, varied skills and strong characters bring out the best in us all.
And we cannot wait for you to join.</p> <h2>Working at DFDS</h2> <p>Join the movement and grow with us.
Be a valued member of a diverse team at DFDS and help drive change together.
While you’re with us, we want you to develop.
At DFDS, we believe that development happens first and foremost through activities in the workplace.
We will also offer training courses that can support you in your role, if needed.</p> <h2>Benefits</h2> <ul> <li>Life assurance cover</li> <li>Contributory company pension scheme</li> <li>Holiday Purchase Scheme</li> <li>Free ferry travel for up to 4 guests between Dover and Calais / Newcastle and Amsterdam with no limit on trips</li> <li>Full employee assistance programme including:</li> <li>Proactive financial, emotional, mental, and physical health care support including face to face counselling, fast 24/7 access to a GP, a second medical opinion and legal support for colleagues and their family.</li> <li>Huge range of retail discounts from high street and online retailers</li> <li>Access to my Strength, our Wellbeing platform, which has plenty of content to support and improve your mental wellness needs.</li> <li>Access to mental health first aid and opportunity to join support webinars with a focus on all areas of positive wellbeing.</li> <li>Cashback on health care including dental, optical, physiotherapy, prescriptions, specialist consultations and much more.</li> </ul></div> #J-18808-Ljbffr
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
Logistics and supply chain are all about networking, so hit up those trade shows and local meetups. Places like the UK's Logistics and Supply Chain conference can be goldmines for connecting with potential employers like DFDS and learning about the latest trends in the industry.
✨Leverage Online Communities
Join forums and LinkedIn groups specifically for logistics professionals. Share your insights and ask questions to get noticed. Being active in these spaces can help you establish credibility and might just lead to an opportunity at DFDS!
✨Showcase Your Skills with a Portfolio
Even if it’s a full-time gig, having a portfolio can really set you apart. Include case studies or projects that demonstrate your understanding of supply chain management, logistics software, or solving operational challenges. You’d be surprised at how much this can impress hiring managers.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don't forget the power of applying directly through our website! A lot of companies like DFDS keep job postings exclusive to their sites. This way, you can easily keep track of your applications and ensure your profile is in front of the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:In your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight your understanding of logistics and supply chain management principles. Mention any relevant courses you've taken or tools you've used, like inventory management software or data analysis platforms, to showcase your skills and keep up with best practices in the industry.
Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your previous work experience, remember to use numbers wherever possible. Did you improve delivery times by a specific percentage? Did you help reduce costs? These kinds of quantified achievements not only catch the eye but also demonstrate your capability in the logistics sector.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to DFDS:This is your chance to really connect with the team at DFDS. In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about supply chain logistics and how your goals align with the company’s mission. A little personalisation goes a long way!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you've got any certifications related to logistics or supply chain management—like APICS or Six Sigma—make sure you flaunt them! These show that you're committed to your professional development and can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at DFDS
✨Know Your Logistics Tools
Make sure you're familiar with key logistics software and tools like SAP or Oracle ERP. These are often used in the industry, and being able to demonstrate your knowledge or experience with them can really set you apart during your interview with DFDS.
✨Perfect Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to tackle scenarios that showcase your problem-solving skills. Think about past experiences where you've had to optimise supply chains or handle logistics challenges. Have a few examples ready to discuss how you made decisions that led to improvements.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Supply chain roles heavily rely on teamwork and communication. Be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with others in previous roles. Maybe share a time when you coordinated with a team to resolve a logistical hiccup. This can show DFDS that you're a team player!
✨Understand the Big Picture
Be ready to talk about the broader logistics and supply chain trends. Having insights into current challenges in the industry, like sustainability or lead times, can impress the interviewers at DFDS. Show them you’re not just focused on the day-to-day but also have a strategic mindset!