Deputy Business Unit Manager

HEYSHAM PORT LTD; Ellesmere Port; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched pension up to 10%

Weekend flexibility

Flexible benefits package

Learning & development

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Peel Ports is seeking a Deputy Business Unit Manager to lead a team of around 15 on-site, ensuring safe, efficient and cost-conscious operations across berths and daily activities. You will plan rotas, monitor performance and coach staff while collaborating with Engineering to keep operations reliable.

You will drive safety audits, manage budgets, and use KPIs to improve service and productivity, while building strong relationships with customers, agencies and contractors.

Qualifications

• Experience leading an operational team in ports/logistics or similar environments.
• Inclusive, collaborative communication style across teams and partners.
• Experience planning resources and supporting change.
• Practical EHS knowledge; IOSH Managing Safely preferred.
• Commercial awareness with budgets, expenditure and performance.
• Trade Union experience is desirable.
• Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle for travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of around 15 colleagues on site, ensuring safety, service, performance and commercial results.
• Plan rotas, coordinate berth schedules and oversee daily operations.
• Coach the team, manage priorities and collaborate with Engineering to support reliable operations.
• Complete safety audits, monitor EHS actions and track budgets/expenditure.
• Use KPIs to improve service, productivity and cost control; develop colleagues and build relationships with customers and partners.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Resource planning

EHS knowledge

Budget monitoring

Trade union experience

Driving licence

Job description

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Deputy Business Unit Manager

Date: 14 Oct 2026

Location: Cheshire, GB, CH65 1AF

Deputy Business Unit Manager

Your Role

As Deputy Business Unit Manager, you will lead a team of around 15 colleagues and take practical responsibility for safety, service, performance and commercial results.

Reporting to the Business Unit Manager, you will plan rotas, coordinate berth schedules and oversee daily operations on site, ensuring people, equipment and resources are deployed effectively. You will coach the team, manage priorities and work with Engineering to support reliable operations.

You will complete safety audits, monitor EHS actions, track budgets and expenditure, and use KPIs to improve service, productivity and cost control. You will also support change, develop colleagues and build effective relationships with customers, agencies, contractors, Trade Union representatives and internal teams.

What You'll Bring

You’ll have:

• Experience leading and coaching an operational team, ideally in ports, maritime, transport, logistics or a similar environment.
• An inclusive, collaborative communication style with colleagues, customers, agencies and partners.
• Experience planning resources, improving ways of working and supporting people through change.
• Practical EHS knowledge, including audits and compliance; IOSH Managing Safely is preferred.
• Commercial awareness and experience monitoring budgets, expenditure and performance.
• Trade Union experience is desirable.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for travel between locations.

Who Are We?

Peel Ports is one of the UK’s leading port and logistics companies. With significant investment planned, we are growing and transforming supply chains while working towards Net Zero Port Operations by 2040. Our people, facilities and technology are central to our success.

What We Can Offer You

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer development opportunities and a flexible benefits package including:

• Matched contribution pension scheme of up to 10%
• Flexibility to work occasional weekends to support operational requirements
• Peel Ports Flexible Benefits including salary sacrifice car scheme, healthcare cash plans, Cycle2Work Scheme, critical illness insurance, gyms, retail vouchers
• Commitment to learning and personal development
• We promote good physical and mental health and can provide additional support to colleagues via our employee assistance programme when required

If you would like to help create safe, efficient and customer-focused operations while developing a supportive team, we would like to hear from you.