Transport Operations Manager in Croydon

Job description – Transport Operations Manager – South London

Who we are

An exciting opportunity has arisen as part of a rapidly developing convenience food-to-go manufacturer due to the fast organic growth of the business. The company is a private family-owned food-to-go manufacturer in London supplying retail clients and foodservice operators with a range of chilled ready to eat products.

Transport Operations Manager Overview

Our Transport Operations Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring that Simply Lunch works towards its vision of becoming a leading Food to Go supplier in the U.K. We must ensure that as a business our Customer Service is notably better than any of our competition and the timely and quality delivery of our goods is instrumental in our overall service to our customers. Simply Lunch is known for its reliable service and this is something that we must maintain. Your overall responsibility is to ensure our orders are delivered at the correct time and at the correct quality. You also have a range of other responsibilities, listed below, which ensures the successful running of our Transport department. As a food business, the cleanliness and presentation of our vehicles and staff must be impeccable and it will be your responsibility to ensure this happens. As the Transport Operations Manager, you act as a role model to all our staff therefore it is imperative that your conduct and attitude around the business is first class.

Key Responsibilities-

• Orders are delivered on time and at the required quality as agreed in OKRs.
• Routes are planned and communicated to delivery drivers on a weekly basis with amendments updated accordingly.
• All vehicles (inside & out) are kept clean and tidy.
• A thorough procedure is put into place and carried out for Road Traffic Accidents and completed on the day of the accident.
• Act as a direct contact for all delivery drivers and designate a deputy for holiday periods and calls through the night.
• Support the Fleet Manager to ensure the maintenance of our fleet of vehicles which includes servicing, MOT\’s and general repairs. All repairs to be signed off by Senior Management prior to work going ahead.
• Ensure all Technical and training paperwork is filled out and stored correctly.
• Proactive in ways of reducing costs and improving our delivery systems in line with the agreed budget and forecasts.
• Put into place an end of day checklist for the fleet of vehicles and ensure an end of shift report is sent on a daily basis.
• Provide leadership to all delivery drivers. Monitor employee progress and support their development at Simply Lunch. Conduct a weekly Transport meeting with your team.
• Work closely with Senior management and Directors to achieve company policies and goals.
• Maintain a well organised and efficient Transport operation throughout the business.

Key Competencies –

• Strategic Thinking – Able to design and implement long-term plans in line with company growth
• Leadership – Proven ability to inspire, coach and develop others
• Operational Excellence – Committed to high standards in quality, safety, and efficiency
• Customer-Centric Mindset – Ensures logistics operations align with service expectations
• Collaboration – Works cross-functionally and builds strong internal/external relationships
• Sustainability Awareness – Supports environmental goals through logistics planning
• Accountability – Takes ownership of performance and delivery outcomes.

What will you get in return

Throughout your time at Simply Lunch, you will be supported with on-the-job training and development opportunities to further your career. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

· Free Lunch and beverages

· Christmas and summer parties, staff barbecues and sweet treat days, pizza delivery and ice cream van days (we do love a party)

· Access to 1000\’s of retail and service discounts through our \”salary extras\” online portal

· Cycle to work scheme

· Pension scheme

· Gym Scheme

· Financial and wellbeing services

· Access to mental health champions

· Discounted car repairs and MOT

· Regular Training sessions

· Sponsored staff Development

· One paid Charity day per annum for you to volunteer at a charity of your choice

· 30 days annual leave

· Long Service Awards

· Cash Plan

Inclusivity and Diversity

Like many other organisations, we are considering with renewed focus what Diversity means to us. What may have been acceptable a short time ago is not sufficient for the future, so we are dedicating a lot of time and resources to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected, especially those who are often excluded or underrepresented.

if you feel that you do not see yourself represented either in the cultural sector or in this professional area because of any part of your identity that makes you special, we would especially like to hear from you.