Depot Area Manager

Cotteswold Dairy Ltd.; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Flexible base location

22 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Job summary

Cotteswold Dairy is seeking an experienced Area Manager to lead and develop distribution depot management teams across multiple sites. You will drive performance, ensure safety and compliance, and shape operational culture through hands-on leadership and collaboration with depot managers.

The role requires regular travel, a strong operational understanding, and the ability to adapt leadership style to diverse teams while maintaining high standards of service for customers across the network.

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.
• 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 implementing operational change.
• Excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
• Proactive, resilient and flexible approach with the ability to manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Depot Managers to build capable, accountable teams.
• Monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities, ensure depots operate efficiently.
• Champion health and safety and compliance with transport and environmental legislation.
• Apply continuous improvement and LEAN principles to reduce waste and boost productivity.
• Collaborate with Sales and other departments to align depot capacity with demand.
• Support recruitment, training and succession planning across depot operations.
• Lead change initiatives and engage teams through transformation periods.
• Ensure depots deliver high-quality, reliable customer service.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Problem solving

Organisation

Driving licence

Travel readiness

Budgeting & P&L

Education

Management qualification

Job description

About The Role

Area Manager (Depots)

Cotteswold Dairy | Multi-Site Operations Leadership

Salary: £55,000 per annum
Car Allowance: £5,000 per annum
Location: Flexible base, with regular travel between depot locations
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Hours: 40 hours per week, usually Monday to Friday, with flexibility required
Holiday: 22 days plus 8 bank holidays

Lead People. Drive Performance. Make a Difference.

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 Managerto 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.

The Role

Reporting to the Commercial Manager, you'll take responsibility for the leadership and operational performance of our distribution depots (excluding our Tewkesbury site).

Working closely with Depot Managers, you'll provide the guidance, coaching and direction needed to ensure each location operates safely, efficiently and consistently, while maintaining the high standards our customers expect.

This is a hands-on, multi-site leadership role requiring regular travel, a strong operational understanding and the ability to adapt your leadership style to different people and situations.

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.

About You

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 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.

Why Join Cotteswold Dairy?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution within an established, independent family business that values its people and takes pride in doing things properly.

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.

What we offer

• £55,000 annual salary.
• £5,000 annual car allowance.
• 22 days' annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
• Permanent, full-time employment.
• Flexible base location.
• A varied, influential leadership role within an established family-owned business.

Ready to Lead the Way?

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.

Join Team Cotteswold and help us continue delivering quality products with first-class service.

Apply today to become our next Area Manager.

About Us

Since 1938, Cotteswold Dairy has flourished from a modest milk round—delivering just 30 gallons a day using a bucket and ladle—into one of the UK’s most respected independent, family-run dairies, rooted in Tewkesbury. Built on the founding values of quality, service, and cleanliness, the business has remained committed to those principles spanning three generations, now under the leadership of Managing Director George Workman.

Today, we process, pack, and deliver over 100 million litres of milk and dairy products each year to doorstep customers and businesses across England and Wales, operating from multiple depots and a modern production site in Tewkesbury.

At our heart lies a strong ethical and environmental commitment. We partner with local farms within a 60-mile radius—many Red Tractor-certified—promoting sustainable farming practices, animal welfare, and minimal environmental impact. We’ve championed eco-friendly initiatives for decades, including returnable glass bottles, electric milk floats, telematics for efficient logistics, and zero waste-to-landfill operations.

More than a business, Cotteswold Dairy is a values-driven community dedicated to delivering wholesome, high-quality dairy products while nurturing people, our communities, and our planet—making us a compelling and meaningful place to build your career.