Depot Operations Manager in Bristol

Commercial & Customer Management

• Support achievement of depot revenue and profitability targets in line with company budgets.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships through excellent service delivery and account management.
• Visit existing and prospective customers to maximise rental and contract opportunities.
• Support negotiation of rental rates and commercial agreements within delegated authority limits.
• Resolve customer issues, operational concerns, and service queries professionally and efficiently.
• Ensure adherence to company customer visit procedures and documentation standards.

Support reduction of operational errors, damage costs, and unnecessary credit note generation.

Depot Operations

• Support the day-to-day management of depot operations, rental fleet activities, and transport operations.
• Manage vehicle allocation, utilisation, collections, deliveries, and customer fleet requirements.
• Minimise vehicle off-road (VOR) time through effective monitoring and daily EDJ management.
• Ensure maximum fleet availability and operational efficiency.
• Coordinate breakdown response and vehicle recovery activities.
• Support management of driver resources on a daily basis, ensuring all legal and operational requirements are met.
• Ensure adherence to Operator Licence (O Licence) regulations and transport compliance standards.
• Provide out-of-hours operational support on a rota basis where required.
• Oversee depot incident management processes and ensure incidents are appropriately investigated and recorded.

Compliance, Health & Safety

• Promote and maintain a safe working environment across all depot and workshop activities.
• Ensure compliance with DVSA regulations, Operator Licence requirements, health & safety legislation, and company procedures.
• Ensure servicing, inspections, MOTs, refrigeration maintenance, and compliance activities are completed within required timescales.
• Conduct depot checks, audits, and operational inspections.
• Ensure all accidents, incidents, near misses, and defects are reported and investigated appropriately.

Promote a culture of operational discipline, compliance, and continuous improvement

Customer Service & Account Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers and key stakeholders.
• Deliver high levels of customer satisfaction and service performance.
• Support customer retention and growth through proactive account management.
• Ensure achievement of targets set in relation to customer visit programmes.
• Resolve customer concerns and operational issues quickly and professionally.
• Work collaboratively with sales and operational teams to support business growth

Leadership & People Management

• Support the leadership, motivation, and development of depot and workshop teams.
• Assist with appraisals, absence management, performance reviews, coaching, and target setting.
• Communicate effectively with operational, workshop, transport, and commercial teams.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, and high performance standards.
• Support training and development initiatives to improve operational capability and customer service standards.
• Lead by example with professionalism, integrity, and a customer-focused approach.

Measures of Success

• Achievement of depot revenue and operational targets
• Reduction in vehicle off-road (VOR) time
• Workshop productivity and repair quality
• MOT pass rates
• Vehicle inspection and servicing compliance
• Customer satisfaction and retention
• Employee engagement and team performance
• Internal audit and compliance results
• Health & safety performance
• Adherence to customer visit procedures and KPI targets
• Fleet availability
• Compliance audit score

Essential

• Experience within depot, transport, fleet, workshop, or vehicle rental operations.
• Good understanding of commercial vehicle operation, maintenance, and compliance.
• Strong commercial awareness and customer service skills.
• Experience managing operational priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Organised, self-motivated, and adaptable approach.
• Experience of transport compliance and Operator Licence requirements.
• Current UK Driving Licence.

Desirable

• Experience within refrigerated vehicle rental or temperature-controlled transport operations.
• Knowledge of refrigeration systems and refrigerated fleet maintenance.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Knowledge of transportation and logistics industry.
• Strong PC literacy and operational systems experience.
• CPC qualification.
• IOSH or other health & safety qualification.
• Experience of goods vehicle operation and maintenance.

Personal Attributes

• Hands-on and proactive approach
• Strong operational focus
• Customer-centred mindset
• High attention to detail
• Reliable and dependable
• Strong work ethic and positive attitude
• Able to balance operational demands with commercial priorities
• Calm and professional under pressure
• Driven by operational excellence and continual improvement

Key Leadership Behaviours

• Planning and organisational capability
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Accountability for operational results
• Commercial awareness
• Customer-focused mindset
• Problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Positive and motivational leadership style
• Adaptable and resilient under pressure
• Professional and solutions-focused approach
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• Strong personal standards and integrity.