Transportation Operations Manager

Transport Operations Manager

About the Company

We are a premium, highly specialist logistics and time-critical transport company, providing bespoke trailer logistics and complex haulage services to some of the UK’s most prestigious commercial, live events, and high-profile corporate sectors.

Operating at significant pace and scale, we place world-class professionalism, elite asset care, and absolute reliability at the heart of our culture. To support our ongoing expansion and international scaling ambitions, we are strategically investing in our leadership team by appointing a high-calibre operations professional.

The Role

Driven by sustained commercial growth, our fleet footprint and scheduling complexities are expanding rapidly. This newly created position is designed to provide dedicated, high-level operational support to the senior transport management team, ensuring we handle increased scale with total confidence.

Reporting directly to the Transport Manager, you will assume day-to-day operational ownership while spearheading business improvement, technology adoption, and digital automation projects. You will act as a pivotal anchor point across the business, directly shaping how we streamline, standardise, and scale our operations.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Culture

• Personnel Management: Provide clear tactical direction, daily oversight, and performance management for a large, distributed team of professional drivers.
• Escalation Point: Act as the primary point of contact for driver queries, complex routing adjustments, and real-time on-road incidents.
• Performance Culture: Foster a high-performance, safety-first team culture grounded in mutual accountability, respect, and clear standards.
• Engagement: Conduct regular driver briefings, performance reviews, and structured one-to-one mentoring sessions.
• Growth Support: Lead the onboarding, training, and integration of new driving personnel as the business expands.

Regulatory Compliance, Health & Safety

• Standards Champion: Enforce and champion rigorous health, safety, and environmental standards across the entirety of our transport footprint.
• Legal Compliance: Ensure absolute adherence to all UK and EU transport legislation, including drivers' hours, tachograph regulations, and vehicle roadworthiness.
• Risk Management: Lead and review risk assessments, accident investigations, and near-miss reporting.
• Audit Readiness: Maintain, update, and govern all safety and compliance documentation to ensure systems are permanently audit-ready.

Daily Operations & Fleet Execution

• Schedule Oversight: Oversee the execution of a demanding, high-utilisation daily schedule across a substantial multi-vehicle and trailer fleet, securing flawless execution across a broad geographic network.
• Network Optimisation: Apply advanced geographic and routing knowledge to mitigate logistics bottlenecks, reduce empty mileage, and resolve live operational challenges.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Liaise directly with high-value corporate clients, venue teams, and site managers to guarantee seamless service delivery.
• Operational Continuity: Provide formal leadership cover for the Transport Manager during periods of absence, maintaining regulatory compliance.
• On-Call Support: Deliver weekend and out-of-hours on-call cover as part of a shared management rota to handle time-critical contingencies.

Operational Improvement & Technology Integration

• Project Delivery: Lead and execute operational improvement projects designed to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce waste.
• Standardisation: Map existing processes and author scalable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support multi-site operations.
• Data Analytics: Define, track, and present core operational KPIs to drive data-led continuous improvement.
• Systems Automation: Partner with senior leadership to evaluate, deploy, and accelerate the adoption of advanced Transport Management Systems (TMS) and digital automation tools.

Strategic Growth & Market Expansion

• Infrastructure Scaling: Ensure the operational infrastructure, workflows, and personnel capabilities scale seamlessly ahead of projected volume growth.
• Market Entry: Contribute operational data and feasibility insights to support the company’s expansion into new sectors and international markets.
• Commercial Support: Assist in the preparation of high-value commercial quotes and formal corporate tenders.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Sector Expertise: Proven operational leadership experience within the commercial transport, haulage, or high-tempo logistics sector, managing fleet operations at scale.
• Leadership Track Record: Strong people management capabilities, with a demonstrable history of directing, motivating, and developing large operational field teams.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of UK transport legislation, Working Time Directives, and Operator's Licence undertakings.
• Licence Undertakings: Direct experience operating under a Standard International licence, including exposure to cross-border or European freight movements.
• Qualifications: Must hold a valid CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) in Road Haulage (National & International).
• Project Management: Proven experience planning, executing, and landing change management or operational improvement projects on time and within scope.
• Tech Literacy: Strong experience driving the adoption of digital tools, fleet software, or transport technologies to improve reporting and data integrity.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; highly credible when engaging with drivers, executive management, and premium corporate clients.
• Temperament: Calm, measured, and highly analytical under pressure, with the tactical judgement required to make swift decisions in rapid environments.
• Vetting: Right to work in the UK and willingness to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Desirable Criteria

• Licences: Possession of a valid HGV Class 1 (Category C+E) driving licence.
• Education: Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification in Logistics, Supply Chain, or Business Management.
• H&S Qualifications: A formal health and safety accreditation (e.g., IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH).
• Project Qualifications: A recognized project management methodology framework (e.g., PRINCE2, APM, or PMP).
• Commercial Exposure: Experience dealing with operational budgets, cost control, or commercial tender processes.
• Niche Logistics: Prior background in high-tempo, time-critical, or specialist event haulage enviro