Senior Transport Planner in Birmingham

Join a forward‑thinking global logistics leader shaping the future of supply chain – where you’ll support and continuously optimise transport activities for a key FMCG customer, ensuring smooth, efficient operations that make a real impact.

With 700+ employees across 17 international locations, Van den Bosch combines deep industry expertise with cutting‑edge data, technology, and automation to drive smarter, more sustainable transport solutions. As part of our mission to deliver meaningful, positive change, you’ll play a key role in evolving how the world moves goods while working with ambitious “Supply Changers” committed to innovation and impact.

The Role at a Glance

• Full Time
• Competitive Salary Depending on Experience
• Hours: 40 hours but due to the operational nature of the role, flexibility is required.

Company

Founded in 1984, Van den Bosch is an international logistics service provider with more than 700 employees. We are a top 10 player in European bulk logistics and operations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, moving 2.6 million tonnes of bulk product annually.

Pedigree

Awarded World Class Workplace 2024. Logistics partner to leading global players in the food and chemical industries.

Culture

International, collaborative, operationally focused with strong emphasis on continuous improvement.

Projects Include

Long‑term contract with a leading chocolate factory in the UK for all domestic intercompany bulk traffic.

Your Expertise

• Experience in bulk transport planning.
• Understanding of fleet operations, equipment and technical aspects.
• Strong communication skills and commercial awareness.
• Proactive, improvement‑driven and solution‑oriented mindset.
• Able to operate independently while working effectively in an international team.

About Us

Van den Bosch is a leading European bulk transport specialist, established in 1964, with a strong reputation for delivering reliable, efficient, and high‑quality logistics solutions. With a well‑established presence in the Netherlands and the UK, we operate across borders to support major industrial supply chains.

We work with customers across sectors such as construction and manufacturing, delivering tailored transport solutions through a modern fleet, experienced drivers, and a strong focus on safety, efficiency and sustainability.

At Van den Bosch, we combine deep logistical expertise with data, technology and automation to continuously improve how we operate, creating practical, real‑world impact for our customers. Our international teams collaborate closely to drive innovation, optimise performance, and evolve the way transport is delivered.

Own It. Improve It. Grow It.

This isn’t a desk job where you wait for problems to land in your inbox – it’s a senior leadership role where you take genuine ownership of a major customer operation within a fast‑moving international bulk transport business. You’ll drive planning, performance, and continuous improvement across a growing UK operation, working at the intersection of strategy and hands‑on delivery.

You’ll run the day‑to‑day coordination with UK and Netherlands planning teams, manage fleet utilisation, oversee driver operations, and act as the trusted operational contact your customer relies on. When challenges arise, you’re the one who resolves them. When inefficiencies emerge, you’re the one who fixes them. When there’s an opportunity to make the operation sharper, smarter or more profitable, you’re the one who spots it first.

Responsibilities

From tactical planning and cost control to compliance, fleet performance and long‑term operational success, you’ll shape and ensure smooth, safe and compliant operations in the UK.

Ideal Candidate

You’re not just a planner; you take ownership, think commercially, and get restless when things could run better. You understand the rhythm of bulk transport operations – the fleet, the drivers, the customers, the margins – and you know how to keep all of it moving in the right direction.

Requirements

• Solid experience in transport planning, ideally in a senior or coordinating capacity, with genuine understanding of fleet operations, equipment and the technical side of the business.
• A CPC qualification is a real advantage.
• Clear communication, quick thinking and ability to present to customers as well as handle operational crises at short notice.
• Ability to operate independently within a cross‑border team, building strong relationships across borders.
• Based within a reasonable distance of Bournville, ready to be present, visible and hands‑on.

The non‑negotiables

• Fleet operations knowledge – equipment, technical realities, the lot.
• Sharp communication skills and genuine commercial awareness.
• A proactive, solutions‑first mindset – you fix things, you don’t just flag them.
• The ability to operate independently within a cross‑border team.

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to shape and improve a key UK transport operation.
• A challenging and varied role within a leading bulk transport company.
• Ongoing development opportunities to grow into a bulk transport specialist.
• Collaborative, international working environment.
• Competitive salary and employment package based on experience.
• Dynamic and international teams.
• Plenty of room for development and growth.
• Leading the way together through innovation and digitisation.
• Work and private life always in balance.
• Named ‘World‑class workplace’.