At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a multi-site business unit, driving sales and managing operations.
- Company: Join Watson Fuels, a respected fuel supplier with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonus, car allowance, and private medical cover.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team focused on safety and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Take ownership of a significant role with real career progression opportunities.
- Qualifications: Proven sales management experience and strong people leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
A senior leadership role with full commercial and operational ownership. If you are an experienced manager ready to lead a multi-site business unit for one of the UK's most respected fuel suppliers, Watson Fuels wants to hear from you. Niche Recruitment is proud to be partnering with Watson Fuels to recruit an Area Manager covering Braintree and the surrounding depots. This is a significant leadership role with genuine breadth, combining commercial accountability, operational oversight, and people leadership across a busy and important region for the business. This is a field-based role suited to someone equally comfortable driving sales performance and managing day-to-day depot operations.
You will lead a team of six, comprising three Account Executives, one Key Account Manager, and two Operations Supervisors, taking full ownership of the commercial and operational performance of your business unit. With almost 70 years of history and over 200 red tankers on the road, Watson Fuels has built its reputation as one of the UK's most determined and supportive fuel suppliers. The culture is one where strong leaders are trusted to run their patch, supported by a business that genuinely invests in its people and takes long-term development seriously.
What the role involves:
- Taking full P&L ownership for the business unit, managing volume, margin, cost, and profitability across multiple depot sites.
- Leading and developing a high-performing team of Account Executives, a Key Account Manager, and Operations Supervisors to exceed sales and operational targets.
- Driving sales performance through customer retention, new business growth, and margin optimisation across the region.
- Overseeing day-to-day depot operations across Braintree and the surrounding areas, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient delivery.
- Overseeing planning, scheduling, and resource deployment to maximise driver and asset utilisation.
- Acting as a visible leader and advocate for HSSEQ standards, promoting a safety-first culture across all sites.
- Ensuring full compliance with driver hours, vehicle standards, transport regulations, and company policies.
- Managing high-profile customer relationships and supporting cross‑selling across the product and service portfolio.
- Driving continuous improvement in service, cost, and operational performance.
- Supporting succession planning, team development, and a culture of accountability and collaboration.
- Working closely with regional, supply, finance, and HSSEQ teams to deliver against business objectives.
What Watson Fuels is looking for:
- A proven background in sales management, with experience leading and developing field-based sales teams to exceed targets and KPIs.
- Operational experience in a depot-based or logistics environment, with an understanding of planning, driver management, and compliance requirements.
- Experience managing high-profile customer accounts and driving commercial performance at a senior level.
- Full P&L accountability and confidence managing budgets, costs, and margin in a fast‑paced environment.
- Strong people leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, and hold a diverse team accountable.
- A safety-first mindset and working knowledge of HSSEQ standards and transport regulations.
- Experience handling investigations, disciplinaries, and performance management.
- Fuel, distribution, or logistics industry experience is strongly preferred, as is familiarity with regulatory bodies such as HMRC, VOSA, and the Environment Agency.
What's on offer:
- Competitive salary.
- Performance-related bonus.
- Car allowance.
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Matched pension contributions.
- Private medical and dental cover, with single cover paid by Watson Fuels.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Perkbox rewards, savings, and wellbeing perks.
- Cycle to Work and Home and Tech schemes.
- Free annual flu jab and eye care.
- Long service awards.
Why this role could be your next step:
This is a rare opportunity to take genuine ownership of a multi-site business unit within a well-established, growing business that has the scale to offer real career progression. If you are a commercially driven leader with the operational credibility to manage people, performance, and delivery across a busy region, and you are ready for a role where your impact will be visible and your contribution genuinely valued, we would love to hear from you. Apply now with your up-to-date CV and a member of the Niche Recruitment team will be in touch to discuss next steps.
Area Manager in Braintree employer: Niche Recruitment Ltd
Watson Fuels is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees, offering a supportive culture where strong leaders are empowered to excel. With competitive salaries, performance-related bonuses, and comprehensive benefits including private medical cover and a matched pension scheme, employees can thrive both personally and professionally. The role of Area Manager provides a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic team in a well-established company, ensuring your contributions are recognised and valued in a thriving industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Area Manager in Braintree
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We think you need these skills to ace Area Manager in Braintree
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
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Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of Niche Recruitment Ltd. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Niche Recruitment Ltd
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