Transport Operations Manager

J O B D E S C R I P T I O N Transport Operations Manager Experienced operational support to help a specialist transport business run smoothly today and scale for tomorrow. Job Title Transport Operations Manager Department Transport Operations Reporting To Transport Manager Location Bognor Regis, West Sussex Contract Full-time, permanent Team Size 40 drivers + Subcontractors + Agency Drivers Fleet Size 40 trucks and 160 trailers About Paul Mathew Transport Paul Mathew Transport Limited is a specialist entertainment and production transport company, providing trailer logistics and haulage services to some of the UK's most prestigious theatre, sports, arts, and live events clients. We operate at pace and at scale, with high standards of professionalism, reliability, and care at the heart of everything we do. As we continue to grow, we are investing in our management team to match our ambitions. The Role Paul Mathew Transport is growing, and with that growth come a larger fleet, more complex schedules, and higher expectations from our clients. This role exists to give the transport management team the dedicated, experienced support it needs to handle that scale with confidence. Reporting to the Transport Manager, you will take ownership of day-to-day operations and lead the improvement and automation projects that prepare the business for its next phase of growth. You will work closely alongside the Transport Manager and the wider team, playing a central role in how we operate, improve, and expand. Key Responsibilities Team Leadership • Day-to-day management of a team of 40 professional drivers, providing clear direction, support, and performance oversight. • Act as the first point of escalation for driver queries, operational issues, and on-road incidents. • Foster a high-performance, safety-first team culture grounded in mutual respect and accountability. • Conduct regular driver briefings, performance reviews, and one-to-one meetings. • Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of new drivers as the team grows. Health and Safety • Champion and enforce health and safety standards across all transport operations. • Ensure full compliance with all relevant transport legislation, including drivers' hours, tachograph regulations, and vehicle roadworthiness requirements. • Conduct and review risk assessments, incident reports, and near-miss investigations. • Maintain and update safety documentation, ensuring records are audit-ready at all times. • Liaise with relevant regulatory bodies as required. Daily Operations • Oversee the planning and execution of a demanding daily schedule across a 40-truck, 160-trailer fleet, ensuring on-time, efficient delivery across a wide geographic network. • Apply strong geographic knowledge to optimise routing, reduce mileage, and resolve logistics challenges in real time. • Coordinate with clients, venues, and production teams to ensure seamless delivery of service. • Monitor live operations and proactively manage disruptions, delays, or resource conflicts. • Maintain accurate operational records and ensure data integrity across transport management systems. • Provide cover for the Transport Manager during periods of leave or absence, maintaining continuity of service and compliance. • Provide weekend and out-of-hours on-call cover as part of a shared rota, responding to urgent operational issues outside normal working hours. Operational Improvement and Automation • Lead and deliver operational improvement projects, identifying inefficiencies and implementing practical solutions. • Document processes and build scalable standard operating procedures as the business grows. • Define, track, and report on operational KPIs, using data to guide continuous improvement. • Work with the Transport Manager to evaluate and implement transport management software and related technologies. • Drive the adoption of automation tools and digital systems to streamline scheduling, reporting, and communication. Growth and New Markets • Support the business in preparing for significant volume growth, ensuring operational infrastructure, people, and processes scale accordingly. • Contribute to the company's strategy for entering new markets, providing operational insight and feasibility input. • Identify partnership, subcontractor, and capacity opportunities that support growth ambitions. • Help build the operational systems, management capacity, and ways of working needed to support a larger, multi-site, and increasingly international operation. • Support the preparation of quotes and tenders, and help build strong, lasting relationships with clients. • Represent the company professionally with clients and external stakeholders. Person Specification Essential • Proven experience in the transportation and haulage industry, with a solid understanding of how fleet and driver operations work at scale. • Strong people management skills, with a track record of leading and developing operational teams. • Thorough knowledge of UK transport legislation, including drivers' hours rules, the Working Time Directive, and roadworthiness obligations. • Hands-on experience of operating under an Operator's Licence and maintaining its undertakings and compliance systems, ideally including a Standard International licence and cross-border European operations. • Strong working knowledge of health and safety in a transport environment, with a track record of owning H