Depot Manager

Escape; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Escape is seeking a hands-on Depot Manager to take ownership of a busy depot operation within a growing and successful food distribution business in the United Kingdom. You will lead a team of around 20 drivers, ensuring deliveries are on time, service levels are maintained and the chilled food supply chain remains secure.

In this role you will manage fleet compliance, vehicle inspections and driver CPC requirements, while working closely with warehouse and wider operations teams.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a transport, distribution or depot operation.
• Strong track record of leading and motivating a team of drivers.
• Minimum Class 2 HGV licence and valid Driver CPC.
• Good working knowledge of tachograph regulations, driver hours and Working Time Directive.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of around 20 drivers.
• Oversee daily delivery operations, ensuring routes and schedules run smoothly.
• Make proactive decisions to resolve delivery issues and customer challenges.
• Ensure customers receive the right products on time and service levels are maintained.
• Manage fleet compliance, vehicle inspections, maintenance and roadworthiness.
• Ensure driver compliance with tachograph checks, working time regulations and CPC requirements.
• Enforce safety procedures and operational processes with drivers.
• Oversee driver recruitment, training, absence and day-to-day people matters.
• Collaborate with warehouse, transport and wider operations teams to keep operations running.
• Maintain depot standards and ensure security and integrity of the chilled food supply chain.

Skills

People leadership

Team motivation

Communication

Calm under pressure

Decision making

Tools

Tachograph regulations

Job description

A great opportunity to take ownership of a busy depot operation within a growing and successful food distribution business.

We are looking for a hands-on Depot Manager who knows how to get the best out of people, keep vehicles moving and make sure customers get what they've ordered, when they've ordered it.

You will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the depot, leading a team of around 20 drivers and ensuring deliveries, fleet management and compliance are all running as they should.

This is a business experiencing significant growth, with a positive future ahead and a great opportunity to join a company where good leadership, teamwork and getting things done really matter.

What will you be doing?

• Leading, motivating and developing a team of approximately 20 drivers, creating a positive and accountable working environment.
• Managing the daily delivery operation, ensuring routes, resources and schedules are working effectively.
• Taking ownership when things don't go to plan, making decisions quickly and finding practical solutions to delivery issues and customer challenges.
• Ensuring customers receive the right products, on time, and that service levels are maintained.
• Managing fleet compliance, vehicle inspections, maintenance, servicing and roadworthiness.
• Taking responsibility for driver compliance, including tachograph checks, Working Time Directive and Driver CPC requirements.
• Ensuring all drivers follow the correct safety procedures and operational processes.
• Managing driver performance, recruitment, training, absence and day-to-day people matters.
• Working closely with warehouse, transport and wider operational teams to keep everything running smoothly.
• Maintaining depot standards, site security and the integrity of the chilled food supply chain.

A predominantly Monday to Thursday working pattern, moving to five days during peak trading periods, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

What are we looking for?

• This is a people leadership role, so we're looking for someone who can bring a team together, set clear expectations and lead from the front.
• Experience managing a transport, distribution or depot operation.
• A strong track record of leading and motivating a team of drivers.
• A minimum Class 2 HGV licence and valid Driver CPC.
• Good working knowledge of tachograph regulations, driver hours and Working Time Directive.
• Experience managing vehicle compliance, fleet maintenance and driver inspections.
• The confidence to make decisions, particularly when deliveries are at risk or operational challenges arise.Strong communication and people management skills, with the ability to build relationships with drivers, customers and internal teams.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach and the ability to stay calm when things get busy.
• Experience within food distribution, chilled or temperature-controlled logistics would be highly beneficial.