Service Manager - Fleet and Transport in Gateshead

Do you want to lead the fleet and transport services that keep our borough moving, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient vehicles that support frontline services across Gateshead? These roles form part of a wider organisational redesign to ensure the Council is structured to deliver high‑quality, efficient and sustainable services for the people of Gateshead. This reflects our ongoing work to modernise how we operate, strengthen accountability and ensure we are well positioned to meet future service demands, while continuing to put residents at the heart of everything we do and enabling everyone in our borough to thrive.

What You Will Get To Do

• Lead and manage the Council’s fleet operation, ensuring full compliance with the Operator’s Licence, transport legislation, regulatory requirements and insurance standards.
• Oversee fleet maintenance, inspections, testing and availability of vehicles, plant and equipment, ensuring optimum performance and safety at all times.
• Manage and develop the MOT testing facility, ensuring compliance for the Council fleet and delivering a commercial MOT offer for external users including licensed taxis.
• Provide expert advice across the Council on vehicle and transport options, statutory and regulatory requirements and cost‑effective solutions including home-to-school and SEND transport needs.
• Lead fleet procurement activity, producing business cases, determining leasing or purchase options, and managing key contracts to ensure compliance and best‑value performance.
• Manage fleet and transport contracts, ensuring compliance, performance standards and effective use of resources.
• Manage the Council’s CoWheels carshare scheme, ensuring high utilisation, improved efficiency and demonstrable value for money.
• Lead the development and expansion of electric vehicle (EV) use, securing funding opportunities and supporting EV charging infrastructure across the fleet.
• Implement robust performance management arrangements, including data capture, analysis, benchmarking, audit and reporting on utilisation, emissions, costs and other operational KPIs.
• Develop a business partner and cost‑centre fleet management model to strengthen governance, accountability and financial transparency across all services.
• Manage the fleet improvement plan, ensuring delivery of agreed actions, effective risk escalation, progress reporting and continuous service development.
• Provide assurance to senior managers and Members through high‑quality reports and briefings on fleet performance, compliance, value for money and efficiency.
• Lead service improvement through system and process reviews, customer feedback, data‑driven decision‑making and evidence‑based changes to enhance productivity and value for money.
• Support emergency planning requirements relevant to fleet and transport services.

What You Will Bring

• Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in Transport Management.
• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline.
• Strong knowledge of fleet and transport service delivery, statutory compliance and regulatory standards.
• Significant experience managing complex income and expenditure budgets within a regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of health and safety policy and practice, with evidence of driving performance improvement.
• Excellent communication, influencing and conflict‑resolution skills, with the ability to engage colleagues, Members, partners and service users effectively.
• Ability to analyse and use data to improve systems, processes, productivity and value for money.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We invest in your future too.
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work‑life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions – a cost‑effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our Commitment to You

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

How to Apply

You can apply online using the apply now button below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications. We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role you are applying for. Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications. Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high‑volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.