Head Of Plant And Fleet in Stockport

IES Utilities Group Ltd is a leading UK utility provider delivering end‑to‑end infrastructure solutions. Our teams operate across Power, Gas, Water, Telecoms, District Heating and Renewables, supporting survey, design, construction, and maintenance services nationwide. Headquartered in Manchester, we are committed to innovation, safety, quality, and sustainable delivery across all operations. Our plant and fleet capability is critical to the safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of our infrastructure services.

The Senior Plant & Fleet Manager is responsible for the leadership, governance, performance, and continual improvement of the Plant & Fleet function across the IES Utilities Group. This role ensures that all vehicles, machinery, specialist tools, lifting equipment, and mobile plant are safe, compliant, well‑maintained, and efficiently deployed to support multi‑disciplinary construction and maintenance projects. The role provides strategic direction for plant and fleet operations, drives compliance with statutory requirements, embeds robust asset management processes, and ensures effective commercial control of the company's plant, vehicle and equipment portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy: Lead and develop the Plant & Fleet function, including workshops, maintenance teams, regional coordinators, and asset management roles. Define plant and fleet strategy aligned with business growth, operational requirements and sustainability goals. Develop capability plans covering fleet modernisation, telemetry, emissions reduction, and digital asset management. Embed a culture of safety, compliance, efficiency and customer service across all plant & fleet operations. Lead on innovation, including alternative fuels, EV fleets, and sustainable plant technologies.
• Governance, Compliance & Assurance: Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation including PUWER, LOLER, Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations, lifting regulations, road transport law, O‑licence conditions, DVSA requirements, VCA standards and environmental regulations. Act as the company's technical authority for plant, lifting equipment, fleet operations and equipment safety. Maintain the Plant & Fleet Management System, policies, procedures and assurance controls. Oversee LOLER inspection programmes, statutory testing, maintenance regimes and asset certifications. Ensure robust defect reporting, investigation, and close‑out processes across all operations. Chair or participate in audits, compliance reviews and safety‑critical meetings related to plant and fleet operations.
• Plant & Equipment Management: Oversee procurement, allocation, maintenance and lifecycle management of all plant, tools, machinery and specialist equipment. Ensure all equipment is issued, tracked, returned, inspected and maintained to the required standards. Lead the strategy for owned vs hired plant, ensuring value‑for‑money and operational efficiency. Manage relationships with plant suppliers, hire companies and maintenance providers, ensuring SLAs and performance targets are met. Oversee lifting plans, lifting equipment registers and lifting gear certification processes. Ensure safe and compliant operation of all mobile plant (excavators, MEWPs, compaction equipment, cable winches, etc.).
• Fleet Management & Transport Compliance: Oversee all fleet activity, including light commercial vehicles, HGVs, trailers, specialist vehicles and driver operations. Ensure O‑Licence compliance, including maintenance scheduling, driver checks, tachograph compliance, inspections, and record‑keeping. Implement fleet safety standards, vehicle specifications, and modification controls. Lead fleet renewal planning to optimise whole‑life cost, sustainability and operational efficiency. Manage telematics, fuel performance, vehicle utilisation and incident reduction programmes. Ensure appropriate controls for towing, driver competence, licence checks and grey‑fleet management.
• Performance, Commercial & Financial Management: Manage plant & fleet budgets, including purchase, hire, repair, fuel, maintenance and compliance costs. Conduct cost analysis, utilisation reviews, and value‑for‑money assessments. Lead negotiations and framework agreements with suppliers, manufacturers and hire partners. Ensure effective cost recovery through accurate allocation, charging, and commercial reporting. Drive continuous improvement in cost efficiency, asset utilisation and downtime reduction.
• Systems, Data & Information Management: Lead digital asset management, including fleet management systems, plant registers and inspection platforms. Ensure robust data integrity, version control, traceability and record maintenance. Oversee digital defect reporting, maintenance scheduling and telematics reporting. Use data insights to drive evidenced‑based decisions, performance improvement, and compliance assurance.
• Operational Support & Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with Operations, SHEQ, Engineering and Project Delivery to ensure plant and fleet meet operational needs. Provide technical advice and operational support during tenders, mobilisation and project planning. Engage with clients, auditors, and regulatory bodies on plant, fleet and equipment matters. Support incident investigations, root‑cause analysis and technical improvement actions related to vehicle or plant events.

Professional Qualifications & Experience

• Significant experience managing plant, fleet and transport operations in utilities, infrastructure, construction or civil engineering.
• Strong working knowledge of PUWER, LOLER, transport law, DVSA requirements, O‑licence compliance and relevant codes of practice.
• Proven experience managing large and diverse asset portfolios, workshops, maintenance teams, and external suppliers.
• Experience of fleet safety, compliance, telematics and digital asset systems.
• IOSH/NEBOSH or equivalent health & safety qualification (desirable).
• Transport Manager CPC (desirable but not essential).
• Background in mechanical, plant or automotive engineering advantageous.

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic Leadership: Able to set vision, establish controls and lead a multi‑disciplinary asset function.
• Operational Excellence: Strong focus on safety, compliance, performance and reliability.
• Commercial Acumen: Able to manage budgets, analyse cost drivers, and negotiate supplier arrangements.
• People Leadership: Capable of developing high‑performing teams and coaching technical and operational staff.
• Decision Making: Evidence‑based, accountable and proactive in risk management.
• Communication: Clear, influential communicator able to engage with operations, clients and senior leadership.

Technical Competencies

• Compliance Management (PUWER, LOLER, O‑Licence, DVSA, lifting operations).
• Asset & Fleet Management Systems.
• Planned Maintenance & Statutory Inspection Management.
• Lifting Operations, Equipment & Accessories Control.
• Plant & Equipment Technical Knowledge.
• Transport Safety, Vehicle Tracking & Telematics.
• Risk Management & Incident Investigation.
• Supplier & Contract Management.