Control Tower Manager - Bulk Logistics

Tarmac; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Enhanced holiday entitlement

Contributory pension

Employee Assistance helpline

Employee Communities

Training and development opportunities

Forces-friendly employer

Job summary

Tarmac is seeking an experienced Planning & Service Manager for its Bulk Cement operation, based in Buxton, Derbyshire. You will lead a centralised Planning & Service function, delivering safe, efficient and cost-effective transport planning while ensuring an outstanding customer experience.

You will coach and develop a high-performing team, optimise fleet utilisation, manage disruption, and drive continuous improvement across a critical supply chain area.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a transport planning, logistics operations or customer service team within a complex, time-critical environment.
• Strong practical understanding of transport planning and fleet optimisation.
• Proven experience coaching, developing and leading people.
• Experience using operational data to improve performance and inform decision-making.
• Experience managing operational disruption and challenging customer service situations.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the Planning & Service team to deliver exceptional operational and customer outcomes.
• Managing transport planning activity, ensuring effective responses to operational disruption, capacity challenges and changing customer demands.
• Driving customer service performance through proactive, accurate and timely communication.
• Optimising fleet utilisation and supporting effective deployment of third-party capacity where required.
• Developing team capability through coaching, succession planning, skills development and cross-training.
• Embedding standard operating procedures and consistent ways of working across the function.
• Identifying opportunities to simplify, standardise, automate and digitise planning and order-management processes.
• Using operational data and performance metrics to identify trends, drive improvements and deliver business objectives.
• Building strong relationships across operational, commercial and supply chain teams.

Skills

Transport planning

Fleet optimisation

People leadership

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

TMS software

Job description

Planning & Service Manager - Bulk Cement

Location: Buxton, Derbyshire

Business Area: Tarmac Cement

Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Benefits

At Tarmac, who you are matters. We are looking for an experienced and people-focused Planning & Service Manager to lead our centralised Planning & Service function within the Bulk Cement business. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop a high-performing team responsible for delivering safe, efficient and cost-effective transport planning while providing an outstanding customer experience. You'll play a key role in driving operational excellence, embedding consistent ways of working, and leading continuous improvement across a critical part of our supply chain operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the Planning & Service team to deliver exceptional operational and customer outcomes.
• Managing transport planning activity, ensuring effective responses to operational disruption, capacity challenges and changing customer demands.
• Driving customer service performance through proactive, accurate and timely communication.
• Optimising fleet utilisation and supporting effective deployment of third-party capacity where required.
• Developing team capability through coaching, succession planning, skills development and cross-training.
• Embedding standard operating procedures and consistent ways of working across the function.
• Identifying opportunities to simplify, standardise, automate and digitise planning and order-management processes.
• Using operational data and performance metrics to identify trends, drive improvements and deliver business objectives.
• Building strong relationships across operational, commercial and supply chain teams.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience leading a transport planning, logistics operations or customer service team within a complex, time-critical environment.
• Strong practical understanding of transport planning and fleet optimisation.
• Proven experience coaching, developing and leading people.
• Experience using operational data to improve performance and inform decision-making.
• Experience managing operational disruption and challenging customer service situations.

Technical Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of transport planning, routing, scheduling, capacity management and fleet utilisation.
• Knowledge of transport planning systems (TMS) and opportunities for process automation and optimisation.
• Ability to analyse data, identify trends and translate insight into action.
• Understanding of operational improvement methodologies, root cause analysis and standardisation.
• Knowledge of road transport legislation and its implications for fleet operations.
• Strong leadership, coaching and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Experience leading teams through significant organisational or operational change.
• Experience working within a centralised planning or control tower environment.
• Experience implementing or improving transport management systems.
• Transport CPC qualification.
• CILT qualification or professional membership.
• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent experience.

Why Tarmac

Alongside this role, you’ll have access to industry-leading rewards, development opportunities, and a culture that puts people first, including:

• Bonus scheme
• Enhanced holiday entitlement
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to the Tarmac Reward website with discounts on retailers, holidays, etc.
• Access to our Employee Assistance helpline for free and confidential advice
• Access to our Employee Communities, where you can network, learn from others, and increase your awareness of the support available to you.
• Training and development opportunities
• Tarmac iscommittedto being aForces‑friendly employer.

Employee Communities

• Health and Wellbeing
• Inclusion and Identity
• Personal Growth and Development

Tarmac iscommittedto being aForces‑friendly employer. If you’re coming from a military background, we’ll support your transition and help you build a successful career with us.

We’re proud to be part of CRH, and even prouder to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and arecommittedto creating an inclusive environment for everyone.

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know, we’re here to support you.