Head of Customer Service in Leeds

Head of Customer Service in Leeds

Leeds Full-Time 66000 - 88000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Zenith Vehicles

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and innovate customer service strategies for a top vehicle solutions provider.
  • Company: Zenith, the UK's largest independent vehicle solutions provider.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, extensive leave, and health insurance.
  • Other info: Join an award-winning, inclusive culture with strong growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of customer service in a sustainable and innovative environment.
  • Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in automotive or fleet management required.

The predicted salary is between 66000 - 88000 £ per year.

At Zenith, we have been leading the transition to sustainable vehicle solutions for over 30 years. As the UK's largest independent vehicle solutions provider, we are proud of our people, our award-winning service, and our bold ambitions to make mobility smarter, greener, and better for everyone. Our Corporate division sits at the centre of this mission, supporting a fleet of around 58,000 vehicles, and partnering with some of the UK’s leading blue-chip businesses to deliver premium in-life services, tailored funding strategies, and end-to-end fleet operation support.

We operate across vehicle funding, maintenance, accident management, consultancy, short-term rental and fully outsourced fleet solutions. We are also a long-established market leader in salary sacrifice schemes, running more than 140 programmes and enabling thousands of employees to access fully maintained and insured vehicles. At the heart of this operation is our Corporate Customer Services function, ensuring customers and drivers experience a seamless, reliable service throughout the life of their contract.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Head of Customer Services to guide the strategic direction, growth and performance of our Corporate Customer Services function. This is a senior, high-impact role with significant scope – shaping the customer strategy, developing a high-performing function, and ensuring we deliver service that is consistent, efficient and continually evolving.

What You’ll be Doing

  • Own and deliver the customer services strategy for the Corporate division, setting clear objectives and service standards.
  • Guide a team of approximately 170 FTE across multiple hubs, shaping functional design, operational training, development and colleague experience across multiple disciplines.
  • Lead digital and operational improvements—enhancing processes, systems, reporting and customer touchpoints to create efficient, intuitive experiences.
  • Build strong working relationships with technology, finance, operations, marketing, new business and people teams to enable joined-up customer delivery.
  • Oversee capacity planning, forecasting and operational MI to optimise resources and ensure smooth service delivery.
  • Manage a people budget of around £6m and ensure cost control, productivity optimisation and informed decision-making.
  • Define and maintain consistent customer contact strategies, channels and service levels.
  • Lead risk identification and mitigation across operational, people, system and process requirements with strong governance.
  • Play a key role in shaping our digital-first target operating model, ensuring solutions empower colleagues and support long-term growth.

What You’ll Bring

  • Senior leadership experience in automotive, leasing or fleet management.
  • Experience leading large customer-facing or operational teams in B2B or B2C environments.
  • Proven experience managing and delivering a significant operational budget.
  • Strong commercial and analytical capability, with an understanding of leasing value chains.
  • A track record of delivering major change and transformation programmes involving cross-functional teams.
  • Experience developing functional strategies informed by external trends.
  • Ability to interpret data, build business cases and present insights that inform decisions.
  • High support / high challenge leadership style — able to stretch performance while maintaining a positive culture.
  • Able to develop and strengthen management layers, ensuring capability and clarity.
  • Clear communicator who brings clarity, direction and consistency.
  • Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills across senior and cross-functional teams.
  • Creates a compelling vision and purpose that aligns and inspires.
  • Committed to developing others and championing personal growth.
  • Promotes an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives shape decisions.
  • Calm, resilient and comfortable working in ambiguity, removing barriers to performance and progress.

What’s in it for You

  • Base salary of up to £82,000 per annum + car allowance and annual bonus.
  • 24 days annual leave plus your birthday off, with the option to buy more.
  • Private Medical Insurance, Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Dental and Health Cash Plans.
  • Tech Scheme, Car Sacrifice Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loans.
  • Development opportunities through our MyGPS personal development framework.
  • Perks at Work - discounts on everyday essentials.
  • Onsite GP, Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders.
  • Sports and social clubs, company activities, and team events.
  • Inclusive culture with colleague-led equality networks.
  • Free onsite parking.

Why Zenith?

  • Award-winning - with recognition for leasing excellence and diversity.
  • Sustainability-led - with 41% of our fleet made up of BEVs and carbon-neutral operations.
  • Innovators - Investing £25 million in transformation, with a thriving fleet of 169,910 vehicles and consistent revenue growth.
  • Inclusive - with colleague-led diversity networks and a culture where every voice matters.
  • A place to develop - with access to clear learning pathways through our MyGPS personal development framework.

Sound Like the Right Opportunity for You? Apply Now!

We want to positively encourage differences in Zenith and believe it is critical to our success as a company. Zenith is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

Head of Customer Service in Leeds employer: Zenith Vehicles

At Zenith, we pride ourselves on being an award-winning employer that champions sustainability and inclusivity. Our vibrant work culture fosters personal growth through our MyGPS development framework, while our competitive benefits package, including private medical insurance and a generous annual leave policy, ensures our employees feel valued and supported. Join us in shaping the future of mobility with a team that is committed to innovation and excellence.

Zenith Vehicles

Contact Details:

Zenith Vehicles Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Customer Service in Leeds

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the automotive and fleet management sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching Zenith’s values and recent achievements. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your experience aligns with our mission to make mobility smarter and greener. Tailor your responses to highlight your leadership style and customer service expertise.

Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your vision for the Corporate Customer Services function. We want to hear how you plan to enhance processes and improve customer experiences. A clear, confident presentation can set you apart from the competition.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. It’s also a great opportunity to reiterate why you’d be a perfect fit for leading our customer services strategy.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Customer Service in Leeds

Strategic Leadership
Customer Service Management
Operational Budget Management
Change Management
Cross-Functional Team Leadership
Data Interpretation
Stakeholder Engagement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that match the Head of Customer Service role. Highlight your leadership experience in automotive or fleet management, as well as any relevant achievements that align with Zenith's mission.

Showcase Your Strategy Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to develop and implement customer service strategies. Share examples of how you've successfully led teams and improved service delivery in previous roles, as this will resonate with our focus on high-performing functions.

Be Data-Driven:Since the role involves managing a significant operational budget, include any experience you have with data analysis and decision-making. Show us how you've used data to drive improvements and optimise resources in past positions.

Communicate Clearly:Your written application is your first chance to impress us, so make it clear and concise. Use straightforward language and ensure your passion for customer service shines through. Don’t forget to apply through our website for the best chance of success!

How to prepare for a job interview at Zenith Vehicles

Know the Company Inside Out

Before your interview, dive deep into Zenith's mission and values. Understand their commitment to sustainability and how they lead in vehicle solutions. This knowledge will help you align your answers with their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.

Showcase Your Leadership Experience

As a Head of Customer Service, you'll need to demonstrate your senior leadership experience. Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully led large teams, managed budgets, and delivered change. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly.

Emphasise Your Analytical Skills

Zenith is looking for someone with strong commercial and analytical capabilities. Be ready to discuss how you've interpreted data to inform decisions in previous roles. Bring examples of how your insights have led to improved customer service or operational efficiency.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle ambiguity. Think about potential challenges in customer service and how you would address them. Practising these scenarios will help you articulate your thought process and demonstrate your high support/high challenge leadership style.