Depot Operations Lead

KMC Recruitment; Reading; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

KMC Recruitment is seeking an experienced Depot Operations Lead to oversee the Reading depot’s yard, washbay and workshop activities. This role requires strong line management skills, safety compliance and hands-on leadership to ensure smooth daily operations.

You will develop the operational team, coordinate with Hire Desk and Transport, and ensure orders and deliveries meet customer expectations while maintaining high safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams in plant hire, construction or equipment rental environments.
• Organised, practical and able to drive tasks in a busy depot.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and safe operating practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day yard, washbay and workshop operations.
• Develop and manage the operational team; set standards and address performance.
• Ensure a safe working environment and health & safety compliance.
• Carry out risk assessments and support continuous improvement.
• Maintain stock quality and monitor equipment readiness.
• Coordinate with Hire Desk to resolve customer issues and queries.
• Plan workloads and provide direction to the team.
• Work with Operations, Transport and customers to manage deliveries and fleet queries.
• Maintain accurate stock availability and movements.
• Control overtime within budgets.
• Support stock control for products and consumables.
• Ensure damage charges are captured and processed correctly.
• Embed consistent processes and standards across the depot.

Skills

Line management

People management

Communication

Planning

Organisational skills

Health & Safety knowledge

Tools

CPCS

Plant Operator

FLT licences

Job description

We’re recruiting for an experienced Depot Operations Lead to join a well-established business within the plant and hire sector at their Reading depot.

Read the overview of this opportunity to understand what skills, including and relevant soft skills and software package proficiencies, are required.

This is a varied role with responsibility for the day-to-day yard, washbay and workshop operations, making sure the depot runs safely, efficiently and in a controlled manner. You’ll also work closely with the Depot Management team, Hire Desk and Transport to make sure equipment is ready, orders go out on time and customers get the level of service they expect.

It’s a good opportunity for someone who already has experience managing people within plant, hire, construction or a similar operational environment and enjoys being involved in the day-to-day running of a busy depot.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the day-to-day yard, washbay and workshop operations
• Managing and developing the operational team, setting clear standards and addressing poor performance where necessary
• Ensuring a safe working environment and maintaining compliance with health and safety requirements
• Carrying out risk assessments and supporting continuous improvement across the depot
• Making sure stock quality is maintained to a high standard
• Monitoring equipment preparation and ensuring everything is ready within required timescales
• Controlling returned equipment, ensuring damage is identified, recorded and reported correctly
• Working closely with the Hire Desk to resolve customer issues and queries
• Planning workloads and providing direction to the team throughout the day
• Working with Operations, Transport and the customer to deal efficiently with delivery and fleet queries
• Maintaining accurate information around stock availability and movements
• Managing overtime within agreed budgets
• Supporting stock control for both products and consumable items
• Ensuring damage charges are captured and processed correctly
• Helping to embed consistent processes and standards across the depot

What we’re looking for

You’ll need previous line management experience, ideally within plant hire, construction, equipment rental or another operationally focused environment.

We’re looking for someone who is organised, practical and comfortable managing a busy operation where priorities can change quickly. You’ll need to be confident leading people, communicating across different teams and making sure things actually get done rather than disappearing into the mysterious corporate void of “someone is looking into it”.

You’ll Also Need

• Good knowledge of Health & Safety legislation
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Good planning and organisational ability
• A professional and customer-focused approach
• The ability to remain composed and make decisions in a busy environment
• A full UK driving licence
• Eligibility to work in the UK

Relevant Health & Safety qualifications and plant-related certification, such as CPCS, Plant Operator or FLT licences, would be advantageous but aren’t essential.

The package

Salary up to £38,000 depending on experience.

Hours are 07:45–16:30, Monday to Friday.

This is a permanent opportunity with an established business and would suit someone who enjoys running a hands‑on depot operation, developing a team and taking ownership of safety, quality, delivery and cost