At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve transport operations for a growing beer distribution company.
- Company: Exciting importer and distributor of high-quality beers across the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a motivated team focused on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in logistics while enjoying a dynamic work environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in transport management and strong leadership skills required.
Location: Brighouse NDC (with UK travel)
Reporting to: Operations Director
Direct Reports: NDC Drivers and Transit Site Team Leaders, and the Planning Team (London and South West)
Fleet Size: 25 Vehicles
Salary: £48-50K per annum
My client is an importer, distributor and brand builder of beers. They pride themselves on delivering exciting and high-quality beer experiences to a diverse customer base, including bars, restaurants, retailers and wholesalers across the UK. As the business continues to grow, they are focused on strengthening their transport and logistics operations to support improved service, efficiency and scalability. This role will play a key part in ensuring consistent, high-performing transport operations across our national network.
Role Overview
Reporting to the Operations Director the Transport Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management and continuous improvement of transport operations across the National Distribution Centre (NDC) and associated transit sites. The role oversees route planning, driver performance, legal compliance, fleet management and health & safety, ensuring safe, efficient and high-quality delivery to customers. This position combines operational leadership with continuous improvement, focusing on building a high-performing transport team and delivering a best-in-class multi-drop service.
Transport Operations & Planning
- Oversee the planning team to ensure scheduling and optimisation daily delivery routes to meet customer demand
- Plan and supervise distribution from the NDC and transit sites
- Continuously improve transport processes at the NDC and align ways of working across transit sites nationally
- Develop and maintain customer delivery profiles to improve route efficiency and service levels
- Ensure fair and effective route planning while minimising excess hours and unnecessary cost
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, motivate and develop the driver and planning team to create a professional and engaged transport function
- Support Transit Site Team Leaders in achieving transport KPIs and operational standards
- Build a culture of teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement through driver engagement
- Encourage and act upon driver feedback to improve delivery performance and consistency
- Manage recruitment of permanent drivers and coordinate agency drivers during peak periods
- Address driver concerns, complaints and delivery issues in a timely and professional manner
- Lead continuous improvement in departmental systems and processes.
Compliance & Health & Safety
- Ensure full compliance with UK transport legislation, driver hours and vehicle safety standards
- Maintain Transport Manager CPC oversight and ensure all legal obligations are met
- Deliver driver inductions and annual refresher training, including safe working practices
- Promote and maintain high standards of health & safety across all transport operations
Fleet & Maintenance Management
- Oversee vehicle maintenance, servicing schedules and defect reporting processes
- Coordinate with external maintenance providers to ensure vehicle availability and compliance
- Support fleet investment planning and continuous improvement of fleet utilisation
- Contribute to future fleet strategy, including vehicle replacement and specification
Customer Service & Operational Support
- Support the customer service team in resolving delivery-related issues and complaints
- Ensure timely and professional resolution of delivery disruptions
- Process parking fines and Notices of Intended Prosecution in line with company procedures
Cost & Performance Management
- Monitor transport costs and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements
- Ensure cost-effective use of fleet and labour resources
- Drive improvements in route optimisation, delivery performance and service reliability
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver a safe, efficient and compliant transport operation
- Maintain high levels of service performance and customer satisfaction
- Build and sustain a motivated, high-performing driver team
- Ensure consistency of transport operations across all sites
- Support business growth through scalable and efficient transport practices
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Strong knowledge of UK transport legislation and compliance requirements
- Experience in managing transport operations within a multi-drop distribution environment
- Proven ability to lead and motivate teams across multiple locations
- Strong organisational, planning and administrative skills
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Experience managing fleet operations, maintenance and compliance
Desirable Qualifications
- Transport Manager CPC
Personal Attributes
- Professional, reliable and highly organised
- Strong leadership style that is caring, honest and appropriately direct
- Proactive and solution-focused approach
- Able to build strong working relationships across teams and locations
- Interest in contributing to fleet strategy and transport development
- Takes pride in building and leading a high-performing team
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- On-time-in-full (OTIF) delivery performance
- Route efficiency (e.g. drops per route, miles per drop, vehicle utilisation)
- Transport cost performance (e.g. cost per drop, cost per case delivered)
- Driver hours compliance and reduction in infringements
- Vehicle compliance and maintenance adherence (e.g. defect resolution times, service completion)
- Health & safety performance (e.g. incidents, near-miss reporting, audit outcomes)
- Customer service metrics relating to delivery performance and complaints
- Timely processing of fines, Notices of Intended Prosecution and related administration
Measures of Success
- Consistently high delivery performance with strong OTIF results
- Efficient and cost-effective transport operation with reduced waste and overtime
- Fully compliant transport function with no significant regulatory breaches
- A motivated, engaged and high-performing driver and site leadership team
- Clear and consistent operating standards across NDC and all transit sites
- Measurable improvements in route optimisation and service reliability
- Strong collaboration with customer service and other internal teams
- Effective control and continuous improvement of transport costs
- Well-maintained, compliant fleet with high levels of availability
- Positive contribution to wider logistics and fleet strategy
Hours and Conditions
This role is primarily based at the Brighouse site, with flexibility to work from home where appropriate. Working hours will typically align with business needs, with some flexibility required to engage with operational teams.
Summary
This role is ideal for an experienced transport professional who combines strong operational expertise with people leadership and a continuous improvement mindset. It offers the opportunity to play a key role in enhancing transport performance and supporting the ongoing growth of their national distribution network.
Transport Manager in Brighouse employer: Unity Personnel
As a leading importer and distributor of high-quality beers, our company offers an exceptional work environment for the Transport Manager role based in Brighouse. We pride ourselves on fostering a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic logistics operation. With a focus on employee engagement and a commitment to health and safety, we ensure that our team members are supported and empowered to deliver outstanding service across our national network.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Transport Manager in Brighouse
✨Connect with Local Logistic Groups
Dive into local transportation and logistics groups on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn. Show up to their meetups if you can – it's a great way to network with industry pros who can share insights, job openings, or even refer you to their own company.
✨Get Behind the Wheel of Job Boards
Look for job boards specific to transportation and logistics, like Logistics Job Site or TransportJobs. These platforms often have listings that you won’t find on general job boards, so they’re worth checking out regularly!
✨Leverage Internships & Graduate Schemes
Many companies in transportation and logistics offer graduate schemes and internships that can pave the way to full-time positions. Don't shy away from applying; even a short stint can make a solid impact on your CV and get your foot in the door at companies like Unity Personnel.
✨Apply Directly with Us!
When you find openings at great companies, make sure to apply directly through our website. It not only shows your initiative but also helps us to help you get noticed by Unity Personnel. Every application gets us one step closer to landing that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Transport Manager in Brighouse
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:When you're applying for a role in the transportation and logistics sector at Unity Personnel, make sure to highlight any relevant experience. Whether it's moving goods, coordinating schedules, or using transportation management software, give us the lowdown on your past gigs. It'll paint a clearer picture of what you're capable of!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in logistics! If you've optimised routes, reduced delivery times, or improved customer satisfaction, mention those incredible stats in your CV. This gives us concrete evidence of your impact and showcases your problem-solving skills.
Tailor That Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a formality—let it breathe your personality and passion for logistics! Explain why you're excited about the role at Unity Personnel and how you can contribute to our team. Don't forget to tie in specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.
Research and Reflect:Before you hit 'submit,' spend some time digging into Unity Personnel. Understand our mission, values, and the specific challenges in the logistics industry. This will help you craft a targeted application that shows you truly want to be part of our crew, setting you apart from the rest!
How to prepare for a job interview at Unity Personnel
✨Know Your Logistics Basics
Get familiar with the key principles of transportation and logistics, like supply chain management, inventory control, and route optimisation. You might get asked practical questions about how to improve efficiency, so brush up on your problem-solving skills and be prepared to discuss any relevant software tools you've used.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In logistics, employers love to gauge how you'd handle real-life situations. Expect scenario-based questions where you’ll need to demonstrate your decision-making skills, like how to manage delays or coordinate shipments during a crisis. Practise outlining your thought process clearly and logically.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Experience
Full-time roles in logistics often require collaboration with various teams, so don't forget to showcase your teamwork experience. Think of examples where you've used communication and collaboration to ensure smooth operations, and get ready to elaborate on how you can facilitate teamwork in a busy environment like at Unity Personnel.
✨Show Off Your Attention to Detail
In our world of logistics, missing a small detail can lead to big problems. Be prepared to discuss instances where your attention to detail saved the day, whether it was engaging with clients, managing documentation, or tracking shipments accurately. This will help demonstrate how you can be a reliable asset to Unity Personnel.