Transport Manager in Portsmouth

This role provides strategic leadership for Portsmouth Transport and other designated sites as required. The position ensures full compliance with all legal, security, health & safety obligations, including JSP and civil authority regulations. The role holder is accountable for achieving agreed service levels and KPIs while maintaining budgetary control and effective manpower planning. Through strong day-to-day operational management and engagement of transport colleagues within Road Distribution Portsmouth, they will ensure that safety, compliance, service quality, and cost efficiency are consistently delivered. A key responsibility is to foster a positive working environment that enables operational excellence, upholds all legal and safety requirements, adheres to KN procedures, and supports the delivery of agreed transport service levels and KPIs.

How you create impact

• Conduct regular QSHE (Quality, Safety, Health & Environment) audits to maintain a safe, compliant, and efficient working environment.
• Lead fleet and operational compliance in line with company policy and O Licence responsibilities, ensuring vehicles meet all internal and external cleanliness and hygiene standards.
• Complete all required safety training and actively promote a culture that prioritises health, safety, wellbeing, and environmental responsibility.
• Carry out on-site and off-site assurance checks, safety observations, and Toolbox Talks (TBB), providing constructive and positive feedback to colleagues to continuously strengthen the safety culture.
• Manage and control budgets responsibly, overseeing and authorising all expenditure related to overheads, direct costs, headcount, overtime, and agency usage to ensure financial targets are met.
• Monitor and drive compliance through the analysis of driver performance using Microlise route, POD, and telematics systems, completing dispatch/debrief duties and delivering scheduled reports and briefings.
• Ensure full compliance with UK and EU transport legislation, including the Road Transport Working Time Regulations 2005 and EU Drivers Hours, supporting drivers to take required breaks and rest periods.
• Oversee colleague attendance, including holiday planning, absence reporting, and return-to-work processes, ensuring all records are accurately maintained and all conversations follow policy guidelines.

What we would like you to bring

• Ideally holds a current and valid Category B driving licence.
• Preferably holds a valid ADR Training Certificate (Categories 19 excluding 7, with 7x accepted packages).
• Essential: Holds a Manager CPC in International Road Haulage to fulfil the responsibilities of the named Operating Licence Holder.
• Strong understanding of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QSHE) requirements.
• Proven experience within an operational environment, demonstrating the ability to build, lead, manage, and inspire a high-performing team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently at all levels.
• Effective decision-making skills, demonstrating sound judgement in fast-paced operational settings.
• Demonstrates strong leadership qualities, with the ability to motivate others and build effective working relationships.
• Experience managing transport operations, including the movement of Class 1 to 9 materials. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of UK and EU transport legislation.

What’s in it for you

If you would like to become a valued member of our team, we will ensure you are rewarded for your commitment and expertise. You will receive 26 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, with the opportunity to earn additional days through service. You can join the contributory Kuehne+Nagel pension plan and benefit from our Route 2 Rewards scheme, which offers discounts, benefit information, recognition. As proud holders of the Gold Covenant, we are a forces-friendly employer who recognise the skills, expertise and value service leavers bring to our organisation.

Please be aware that by applying for this role, you are agreeing to participate in the employment screening process. This process will include criminal record checking and identity validation. This means that KN will ask successful applicants to provide certain information and documentation to enable these checks to be conducted. Any appointment will then be strictly conditional upon, and subject to, the receipt of satisfactory results of these checks.