Transport Manager

Role Overview: Wynnstay Group is seeking an experienced and operationally focused Transport Manager to lead a designated area of our logistics operation, ensuring the safe, compliant and efficient movement of goods across our supply chain. Reporting to the National Transport Manager, you'll take ownership of the day-to-day transport operation within your area, leading drivers and operational colleagues while ensuring Wynnstay continues to meet the standards required under its Operator Licences. As one of the Company's Transport Manager CPC holders, you'll play an important role in protecting our operator compliance and maintaining high standards across the operating centres under your responsibility. You'll combine strong operational leadership with a continuous-improvement mindset, looking for opportunities to improve routing, fleet utilisation, service levels and cost effectiveness. From planning driver resource and monitoring performance to reviewing distribution processes and responding to operational issues, you'll help ensure our transport network operates effectively and delivers a reliable service to our customers. Safety and compliance will be central to the role. You'll lead standards across vehicle maintenance, drivers' hours, Working Time requirements, risk management and operational procedures, while creating a culture where colleagues understand their responsibilities and consistently work to the required standards. You'll also work closely with colleagues across Logistics and the wider Wynnstay Group, providing operational guidance, sharing performance information and supporting projects and improvements across the business. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced transport professional with a Transport Manager CPC, strong people-leadership capability and a detailed understanding of transport compliance to take ownership of an important operation within Wynnstay's supply chain. Responsibilities: Act as one of Wynnstay Group's designated Transport Manager CPC holders, effectively monitoring the operating centres within your area of responsibility and supporting continued compliance with the Company's Operator Licences. Lead the safe, compliant and efficient day-to-day transport operation across your designated area. Manage and optimise the transport network and fleet within your area, ensuring vehicles and resources are utilised effectively and cost efficiently. Plan and schedule drivers and operational colleagues to ensure appropriate resource is available to meet operational and customer requirements. Monitor and review routing and distribution arrangements, introducing improvements that reduce duplication, improve consistency and maximise operational efficiency. Ensure deliveries are planned and completed efficiently and on time, with transport activities accurately documented and reported. Lead transport compliance within your area, ensuring appropriate standards are maintained in relation to Operator Licence requirements, vehicle maintenance, drivers' hours, Working Time requirements and relevant transport legislation. Maintain appropriate oversight of vehicle safety, maintenance arrangements and associated compliance records. Promote a strong health and safety culture across the operation, ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are followed, risks are assessed and incidents are appropriately investigated and managed. Act as a key point of contact for drivers, providing effective briefing, debriefing, guidance and operational support. Lead, manage and develop colleagues within your area of responsibility, setting clear expectations and supporting high standards of performance and compliance. Support the development of trainees and ensure drivers maintain the knowledge, training and competence required to undertake their responsibilities safely and compliantly. Monitor agreed operational and performance indicators, keeping the National Transport Manager informed of performance, risks, issues and opportunities for improvement. Identify operational issues promptly and ensure appropriate escalation where matters require wider or senior management intervention. Provide management-level operational cover when required, acting as a key contact for bulk or non-bulk transport operations. Work closely with other sites, departments and teams across Wynnstay to ensure the effective coordination of Group activities and a consistently high level of customer service. Provide transport and operational guidance to subsidiary and joint-venture businesses where required. Support and lead relevant operational projects and continuous-improvement initiatives. Maintain high standards of site organisation, operational discipline and cleanliness within your area of responsibility. Respond to operational and stakeholder enquiries in a timely, professional and effective manner. Meet agreed performance objectives and operate in accordance with Wynnstay policies, procedures and expected standards. What we're looking for: Essential: Strong knowledge of Operator Licence requirements and the responsibilities associated with maintaining compliant transport operations. Practical experience within transport, distribution or logistics operations, with responsibility for drivers, vehicles and day-to-day operational delivery. A strong understanding of relevant transport legislation, including drivers' hours, Working Time requirements, vehicle maintenance and associated record keeping. Experience leading and managing drivers and/or operational teams, with the confidence to set standards, address performance issues and develop colleagues. A strong understanding of transport health and safety requirements, including risk management, incident investigation and safe working practices. Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to coordinate people, vehicles and operational requirements effectively. A commercially aware approach, with the ability to balance customer service, compliance, operational performance and cost effectiveness. The ability to analyse operational performance and identify opportunities to improve routing, fleet utilisation and distribution efficiency. Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to work across sites, functions and management levels. The ability to make sound operational decisions, manage competing priorities and appropriately escalate significant risks or issues. Good IT, administrative and record-keeping skills, with the ability to maintain accurate transport and compliance information. Desirable: Previous experience managing a depot, transport operation or operating centre. Experience being formally named on, or holding responsibility for, an Operator Licence. Experience managing multiple operating centres, sites or a geographically dispersed transport operation. Experience improving routing, fleet utilisation, distribution processes or transport cost efficiency. Experience within agriculture, feed, manufacturing, bulk haulage or another operationally complex distribution environment. Experience managing both bulk and non-bulk transport operations. Experience contributing to transport projects, operational change or continuous-improvement initiatives. Benefits: Competitive salary package Employee Assistance Programme with BUPA Company profit-related pay scheme. Life assurance of twice your salary following successful completion of probation. 25 days' annual leave plus UK bank holidays. Employee discount at Wynnstay Stores. Opportunity to join an established agricultural business and take ownership of a key area within Wynnstay's logistics operation