Contract Manager Transport Operations

WR Logistics; Cawthorne; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

WR Logistics in Barnsley is seeking an experienced Contract Manager to own the day-to-day transport depot operations. You will lead the team, drive service excellence and protect contract profitability, while ensuring compliance and customer satisfaction.

This hands-on role requires a strong commercial mindset, the ability to manage costs, and close collaboration with customers, drivers and suppliers to deliver high standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in contract management for transport operations.
• Proven leadership of transport teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and cost management.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily transport operation and service delivery for the depot.
• Own operational performance, customer satisfaction and KPIs.
• Lead and develop transport teams to high standards of performance.
• Build strong customer relationships through regular communication.
• Work with customers to understand requirements and standards.
• Manage issues and corrective actions to protect customer relationships.
• Monitor and control costs, including driver hours, expenses and fuel.
• Capture additional costs to support contract profitability.
• Manage subcontractors to ensure cost-effective service.
• Ensure compliance with transport legislation and licences.
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and performance.

Job description

Contract Manager Transport Operations

Location: Barnsley, S75

Salary: £60,000

Working Hours: 48 hours per week - Monday - Friday

The Opportunity

We are supporting a leading logistics business in the search for an experienced Contract Manager to take ownership of a busy transport depot based in Barnsley.

This is a hands‑on operational and commercially focused role, offering the opportunity to manage the day‑to‑day performance of a key customer contract while leading a team, driving service excellence and protecting contract profitability.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the depot operates safely, efficiently and effectively, while building strong relationships with customers, employees and suppliers.

The Role

As Contract Manager, you will have full operational and commercial responsibility for the depot, ensuring customer expectations are consistently met while maintaining strong cost control and compliance standards.

This role requires a visible and proactive leader who is comfortable working closely with drivers, operational teams and customers, while also having the commercial awareness to improve performance and maximise contract margin.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing the daily transport operation and service delivery of the depot.


• Taking ownership of operational performance, customer satisfaction and contract KPIs.


• Leading, motivating and developing transport teams to achieve high standards of performance and engagement.


• Building and maintaining strong customer relationships through regular communication and a customer‑first approach.


• Working closely with customers to understand their requirements, quality standards and operational expectations.


• Managing operational issues, service failures and corrective actions to protect customer relationships.


• Monitoring and controlling operational costs, including driver hours, expenses, fuel, vehicle damage and supplier expenditure.


• Ensuring accurate capture of additional and recoverable costs to support contract profitability.


• Managing subcontractors and suppliers to ensure cost-effective and high‑quality service delivery.


• Ensuring compliance with transport legislation, including driver hours, tachograph requirements, working time directives and operating licence obligations.


• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and business performance.

About You

We are looking for an experienced Transport Contract Manager, Depot Manager or Transport Operations Manager who thrives in a fast‑paced operational environment.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience managing a transport operation, depot or dedicated customer contract.


• A strong understanding of transport operations, compliance and service delivery.


• Experience leading and developing operational teams.


• A hands‑on management style with the ability to get involved in the detail when required.


• Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing costs, budgets and contract performance.