Compliance Lead (Transport) in Tonbridge

We are seeking a Compliance Lead to support our commercial vehicle fleet across all areas of the business and ensure we remain fully compliant. In this role, you will build a deep understanding of our activities to communicate core values, develop and implement procedures, and actively drive expected behaviours. You will design control systems to boost efficiency, conduct periodic planned and spot-check audits, and ensure strict adherence to all legal and safety regulations.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include developing and maintaining policies around driver hours, overseeing vehicle maintenance, and staying fully up-to-date on relevant legislation, including DVSA and tachograph regulations. This is a hands-on position that requires conducting regular site visits and audits in line with an agreed schedule. Additionally, you will organise regular team briefings to keep key stakeholders informed on audit feedback, compliance metrics, and the latest commercial fleet industry updates.

Main responsibilities:

• Conduct regular monthly inspections: Perform thorough fleet inspections and maintain comprehensive, auditable reports to ensure consistent standards.
• Enforce compliance standards: Establish and oversee robust operational procedures to ensure full adherence to all industry regulations and internal policies.
• Optimise fleet management systems: Manage and maintain fleet systems to ensure they remain fully compliant and aligned with operational requirements.
• Ensure regulatory adherence for staff: Monitor and manage organizational compliance regarding driver hours and transport safety, ensuring all staff and drivers operate within legal frameworks.
• Maintain regulatory awareness: Proactively monitor changes in transport legislation, updating internal policies and procedures while delivering briefings to key stakeholders.
• Manage regulatory engagement: Act as the primary point of contact for external audits, including handling DVSA requests, managing prohibition notices, and resolving associated penalties.
• Analyse performance data: Review driver and vehicle performance metrics to identify trends, mitigate risks, and produce actionable insights for leadership.

You’ll need:

• Water Hygiene Qualification desirable.
• Qualification in compliance in regards the management of a fleet.
• Expert knowledge of relevant industry legislation and regulatory frameworks (e.g., DVSA, tachograph rules), ensuring full compliance across commercial fleet operations.
• Strong influencing and communication skills, capable of conveying technical compliance updates to diverse stakeholders and fostering a culture of adherence.
• Proven track record in change management, with the ability to design and implement effective, scalable control systems to drive operational efficiency.
• Analytical mindset with exceptional attention to detail, ensuring robust auditing, reporting, and maintenance of organisational policies.
• Proactive problem-solving abilities, identifying potential compliance risks early and implementing preventative measures.
• Proven experience in managing regulatory compliance for commercial fleet operations, including the oversight of periodic audits and comprehensive record-keeping.
• Demonstrated success in interpreting and applying industry-specific legislation (e.g., DVSA, tachograph regulations, and operator licensing) to ensure operational adherence.
• Extensive experience in conducting planned and spot-check audits, producing actionable compliance reports, and identifying opportunities for operational improvement.
• Background in designing and maintaining robust policy frameworks, ensuring that procedures remain compliant with evolving legal and safety standards.
• Strong understanding of the water industry regulatory landscape, with specific qualifications in compliance management and water hygiene is desirable.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose. We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career’s website. It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water. Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks. If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, apply now!

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package:

up to £40,000 p.a. plus Company Van