Depot Cluster Manager Central Scotland

Depot Cluster Manager

Reports To: Logistics Manager

Based at: Edinburgh (Loanhead) / Kirkcaldy (Two-site responsibility)

Working Hours: Night shift 22:00 - 07:30 (4 nights per week)

Working nights: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

Time off: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday

Annual salary: £50k Per Annum and up to 10% performance-related bonus + 7k car allowance (EV Salary Exchange scheme available)

Position Overview: The Cluster Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and commercially successful operation of two distribution sites. The role provides leadership to operational teams, ensuring consistent delivery of service, safety, people, and financial objectives across both locations. The successful candidate will drive a high-performance culture through strong leadership, robust KPI management, proactive employee engagement, and an unwavering commitment to safety standards. They will ensure both sites operate efficiently while delivering exceptional service to customers and maintaining compliance with all company and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Provide leadership and strategic direction across two operational sites.
• Deliver consistent operational standards and best practice across both locations.
• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Ensure resources are deployed effectively to meet customer and business requirements.
• Lead regular operational reviews to identify opportunities for performance improvement.

KPI Management & Performance Delivery

• Take full ownership of all site performance metrics and operational KPIs.
• Analyse, challenge, and improve key measures including:
  • Service levels
  • OTIF (On Time In Full)
  • Fleet utilisation
  • Productivity
  • Labour efficiency
  • Vehicle damage and collision rates
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Attendance and absence
  • Cost control and budget performance
• Ensure robust performance management processes are in place to deliver sustainable improvements.
• Develop and implement action plans where performance falls below target.
• Use operational data and insights to drive informed decision-making.

Safety Leadership

• Champion a safety-first culture across both sites.
• Take visible ownership of all health, safety, fleet, and compliance activities.
• Lead accident and incident investigations, ensuring root causes are identified and addressed.
• Drive reductions in vehicle collisions, near misses, workplace incidents, and unsafe behaviours.
• Ensure full compliance with company policies, transport legislation, and health and safety requirements.
• Conduct regular site safety reviews, audits, and management walkarounds.
• Hold leadership teams accountable for safety performance and standards.

People & Engagement

• Create a highly engaged working environment where colleagues feel valued, supported, and accountable.
• Lead, coach, and develop Site Managers, Team Leaders, and operational colleagues.
• Drive colleague engagement initiatives and foster a positive site culture.
• Improve retention, attendance, and overall workforce stability.
• Conduct regular colleague forums, performance reviews, and communication sessions.
• Develop succession plans and identify high-potential talent within the operation.
• Ensure all managers actively manage performance and address behavioural concerns promptly.

Financial & Commercial Accountability

• Manage site budgets and deliver financial targets.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and operational efficiencies.
• Ensure effective control of labour, fleet, fuel, maintenance, and operational expenditure.
• Balance customer service requirements against operational cost management.

Key Experience, Knowledge and Skills

Experience & Qualifications

Essential Experience

• Significant management experience within a logistics, transport, distribution, warehouse, FMCG, or multi-site operational environment.
• Proven track record of delivering and improving operational KPIs.
• Demonstrable experience leading large teams through direct and indirect management structures.
• Strong experience managing health and safety performance within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Experience driving colleague engagement, culture change, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Proven success managing operational budgets and delivering commercial objectives.
• Experience leading continuous improvement programmes and operational transformation.

Essential Skills

• Strong analytical and KPI management capability.
• Excellent leadership and coaching skills.
• Ability to influence and engage teams at all levels.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Resilient decision-maker with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.

Success Measures

• Safety performance and collision reduction.
• KPI achievement across both sites.
• Customer service and OTIF delivery.
• Labour productivity and cost control.
• Employee engagement and retention.
• Compliance and audit performance.
• Continuous improvement delivery.
• Overall operational and financial performance of the cluster.