Ham Hill Depot – Operations Lead in Snodland

The Depot Operations Lead is responsible for the overall management, performance, and security of the depot, ensuring the safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of drainage and environmental services. As the nominated Transport Manager and CPC Holder, the role is accountable for maintaining compliance with Operator Licence requirements, transport legislation, vehicle maintenance standards, and driver management obligations.

The post holder will lead depot teams, manage fleet and operational resources, and ensure services are delivered safely, efficiently, and profitably. They are responsible for fleet compliance, vehicle roadworthiness, health and safety performance, customer satisfaction, cost control, and employee development. The role also oversees depot and key security, ensuring that vehicles, equipment, fuel, keys, access controls, and site facilities are secured and managed in accordance with company procedures.

• Lead the day-to-day management of the depot, ensuring the safe, efficient and compliant delivery of Planned Sludge Tankering Delivery and Grit & Screenings contract.
• Manage operational planning, scheduling and resources to maximise productivity, fleet utilisation and service performance.
• Ensure customer service standards, contractual requirements and business objectives are achieved.
• Monitor and manage depot performance, budgets, costs and profitability, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and business growth.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with customers, contractors, local authorities, utility companies and other stakeholders.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels, skills and resources are in place to meet operational requirements.
• Act as the nominated CPC Holder and Transport Manager, maintaining compliance with Operator Licence undertakings, transport legislation, DVSA requirements and company policies.
• Oversee vehicle maintenance, inspections, servicing, MOTs, defect reporting and compliance records to ensure fleet roadworthiness and availability.
• Manage driver compliance, including Drivers’ Hours, Working Time Directive, Driver CPC, tachograph/logbook regulations and company standards.
• Monitor and review telematics, driving performance, fuel usage and compliance data, implementing corrective actions where required.
• Investigate transport-related incidents, accidents, near misses and compliance issues, ensuring appropriate remedial actions are taken.
• Lead, motivate and develop depot employees, promoting a positive, high-performing and safety-focused culture.
• Manage recruitment, induction, training, performance management and succession planning activities.
• Conduct and support HR processes including investigations, disciplinary hearings, grievance hearings, absence management and performance-related matters in line with company policies and employment legislation.
• Ensure all employees understand and adhere to operational, compliance, health and safety requirements.
• Manage depot, fleet and key security arrangements, ensuring vehicles, equipment, fuel, keys, access controls and site facilities are secure at all times.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety and environmental standards and promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability across the depot.

Staff have a duty to take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work. Staff must co-operate, report unsafe conditions and comply with the company management systems and safe systems of work as well as co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirement.

Key Skills:

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Knowledge of Operator Licence compliance, DVSA requirements and transport legislation.
• Understanding of Drivers’ Hours, Working Time and Tachograph Regulations.
• Experience managing HGV fleets and specialist operational vehicles.
• Strong planning, organisational and resource management skills.
• Ability to analyse operational data and implement improvement actions.
• Effective communication, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.
• Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and costs.
• Proficient in transport management systems, telematics and Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of health, safety and environmental requirements.
• Ability to manage investigations relating to accidents, incidents and employee relations matters.
• Knowledge of drainage, utilities, wastewater or environmental services operations.
• Experience using fleet management and scheduling systems.
• Experience managing emergency response services.
• Understanding of contractual KPIs and service level agreements.
• Project management and continuous improvement experience.