Depot Area Manager

Cotteswold Dairy Ltd.; Great Mitton; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Cotteswold Dairy Ltd is seeking an experienced Area Manager to lead and develop our depot management teams across our distribution network. You will drive operational excellence, coach managers, and build a high-performing culture through visible leadership and practical improvements.

The role requires strong commercial judgment, a focus on safety and compliance, and the ability to manage budgets, P&L, and resource planning while traveling between locations and supporting site operations.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience within a depot, distribution, logistics, transport or comparable operational environment.
• Previous responsibility for managing a site, depot or operational function.
• Strong coaching and situational leadership skills, with the ability to engage, motivate and develop managers.
• A sound understanding of operational performance, budgets, P&L reporting and resource planning.
• Knowledge of health and safety, transport and regulatory requirements.
• Experience identifying inefficiencies, improving processes and successfully implementing operational change.
• Excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
• A proactive, resilient and flexible approach, with the confidence to manage competing priorities.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly between locations, including occasional overnight stays.
• A management qualification or continuous improvement qualification would be advantageous, although practical experience and leadership capability are equally important.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing people: Coach, support and challenge Depot Managers to build confident, capable and accountable teams.
• Driving operational excellence: Monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities and ensure depots operate efficiently and effectively.
• Creating a strong safety culture: Champion health and safety, food safety and compliance with relevant transport and environmental legislation.
• Improving processes: Apply continuous improvement and LEAN principles to reduce waste, improve productivity and strengthen operational consistency.
• Supporting commercial performance: Work collaboratively with Sales and other departments to ensure depot capacity, resources and operations support business demand.
• Developing future talent: Support recruitment, training, performance management and succession planning across depot operations.
• Leading positive change: Help Depot Managers implement new initiatives, improve working practices and engage their teams throughout periods of change.
• Maintaining exceptional service: Ensure our depots consistently deliver the reliable, high-quality customer service associated with Cotteswold Dairy.

Skills

Leadership experience

Depot/operational management

Coaching

Budget / P&L understanding

Health and safety knowledge

Process improvement / Lean

Communication

Proactive / resilient / flexible

UK driving licence and travel

Education

Management qualification or CI qualification (advantage)

Job description

Are you an experienced operational leader who knows that great results start with great people? At Cotteswold Dairy, we're looking for a confident, approachable and commercially minded Area Manager to lead and develop our distribution depot management teams, strengthen operational performance and help shape the continued success of our business. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys being visible, supporting managers, improving processes and creating a positive, high-performing culture across multiple locations. We're not simply looking for someone who can manage operations. We're looking for a leader who can inspire people, build accountability and bring out the best in their teams.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing people: Coach, support and challenge Depot Managers to build confident, capable and accountable teams.
• Driving operational excellence: Monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities and ensure depots operate efficiently and effectively.
• Creating a strong safety culture: Champion health and safety, food safety and compliance with relevant transport and environmental legislation.
• Improving processes: Apply continuous improvement and LEAN principles to reduce waste, improve productivity and strengthen operational consistency.
• Supporting commercial performance: Work collaboratively with Sales and other departments to ensure depot capacity, resources and operations support business demand.
• Developing future talent: Support recruitment, training, performance management and succession planning across depot operations.
• Leading positive change: Help Depot Managers implement new initiatives, improve working practices and engage their teams throughout periods of change.
• Maintaining exceptional service: Ensure our depots consistently deliver the reliable, high-quality customer service associated with Cotteswold Dairy.

Above all, you'll lead by example, creating an environment where people understand what's expected, feel supported to succeed and take pride in their performance.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Make a genuine impact on operational standards and performance across our distribution network.
• Develop and mentor Depot Managers, helping shape the next generation of operational leaders.
• Influence improvements and contribute to the ongoing development of our depot operations.
• Work closely with the wider management team in a collaborative, supportive environment.
• Become part of a business with a strong heritage, clear values and a commitment to long-term success.

We're looking for an experienced operational leader who combines strong commercial and operational judgement with genuine people-management ability.

You’ll understand that effective leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about knowing when to guide, when to challenge and when to empower others. To succeed in this role, you'll bring:

• Proven leadership experience within a depot, distribution, logistics, transport or comparable operational environment.
• Previous responsibility for managing a site, depot or operational function.
• Strong coaching and situational leadership skills, with the ability to engage, motivate and develop managers.
• A sound understanding of operational performance, budgets, P&L reporting and resource planning.
• Knowledge of relevant health and safety, transport and regulatory requirements.
• Experience identifying inefficiencies, improving processes and successfully implementing operational change.
• Excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
• A proactive, resilient and flexible approach, with the confidence to manage competing priorities.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly between locations, including occasional overnight stays.
• A management qualification or continuous improvement qualification would be advantageous, although practical experience and leadership capability are equally important.

If you're an experienced operational leader who takes pride in developing people, improving performance and making a positive difference, we'd love to hear from you.