Munitions Transport Operations Manager

As part of the Contract Logistics team at Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in designing, managing, and optimizing solutions that keep goods moving efficiently. Your work ensures that our customers’ products are stored, handled, and delivered with precision. Following the retirement of a long-serving colleague, Kuehne+Nagel Government and Defence is seeking an exceptional Munitions Transport Operations Manager to lead our specialist transport operation across the UK. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering secure, compliant and customer focused munitions transport services, supporting critical defence operations nationwide.

Leading teams across multiple Munitions Operating Centres, you will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence, legislative compliance and the highest standards of safety and service delivery. As a key leader within the business, you will help shape the culture, performance and future direction. Combining strong leadership with exceptional coaching, communication and change management skills, you will drive continuous improvement, enhance operational efficiency and inspire teams to consistently exceed customer expectations.

Working within strict budgetary and manpower targets, you will ensure agreed service levels and KPIs are achieved while maintaining the integrity, reliability and professionalism that underpin our reputation as a trusted defence logistics partner. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact in a challenging, rewarding and highly visible leadership role.

How you create impact:

• Lead and inspire Transport Managers and operational teams across multiple UK sites, fostering a culture of safety, compliance, continuous improvement, and high performance.
• Hold and effectively manage the company's Operator's Licence obligations, ensuring full legal compliance, maintaining good repute, and supporting Transport Managers in meeting their own licence responsibilities.
• Oversee fleet and transport compliance, ensuring adherence to road transport legislation, driver regulations, vehicle maintenance standards, and operational best practice.
• Drive operational performance, ensuring service levels, customer KPIs, and delivery objectives are consistently achieved through effective resource planning and performance management.
• Manage a £4M operational budget, controlling costs, forecasting expenditure, and identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements and cost savings.
• Champion health, safety, wellbeing, and environmental standards, ensuring all colleagues receive appropriate training, equipment, and support to operate safely and effectively.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships, acting as a key interface with customers and stakeholders to deliver service excellence and continuously improve customer satisfaction.
• Conduct governance, compliance, and depot audits, regularly visiting operational sites to ensure legal compliance, adherence to procedures, safe systems of work, and continuous operational improvement.

What we would like you to bring:

• Essential to hold a Manager CPC National & International Road Haulage Certificate.
• Experience of managing a transport operating with specific reference to the movement of Class 1 to 9 (in particular class 1).
• Knowledge of quality, health, safety and environment (QSHE) requirements.
• Up to date knowledge of transport legislation.
• Dangerous Goods Supervisor (DGS).
• Knowledge and experience of managing a transport operating moving Ammunition, Sect 5, ITAR and PMM Movements.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal at all levels.

What's in it for you:

Join Kuehne+Nagel and build your future with us. We believe in recognising and rewarding the commitment, expertise and passion our people bring every day. In return, you'll enjoy a competitive benefits package, including 26 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with the opportunity to earn additional leave through length of service. You’ll also have access to our contributory Kuehne+Nagel pension scheme and our Route 2 Rewards programme, offering employee discounts, recognition initiatives, wellbeing resources and a dedicated wellbeing centre to support you both professionally and personally.

As a proud holder of the Gold Armed Forces Covenant Award, we are committed to being a forces friendly employer and actively welcome applications from service leavers, reservists and veterans. We recognise the valuable skills, experience and perspectives they bring to our business and are proud to support their transition into civilian careers.

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world. As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference.