First Line Transport Manager

Surecall Recruitment; Northolt; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay during temp phase

Pathway to permanent contract

Career progression

Job summary

Surecall Recruitment partners with a premium grocery logistics hub in Greenford, offering a Temp-to-Perm Transport First Line Manager role. You will lead daily distribution operations across morning, afternoon and evening shifts, ensuring premium standards and on-time deliveries.

The position is 37.5 hours weekly, with a 5 out of 7 rota including some weekend work, £40,000 per annum, and weekly pay during the temporary phase. This role provides a clear progression path into a permanent contract.

Qualifications

• Proven supervisory or team leader experience in high-volume transport or FMCG.
• Ability to work a 37.5-hour rota including weekends.
• Strong people-management and HR handling skills.
• Solid knowledge of transport legislation and driver hours regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily dispatch schedule and fleet allocations to meet delivery windows and premium standards.
• Ensure driver and vehicle compliance with UK laws and tachograph rules.
• Lead daily shift briefings and manage attendance/absences for a large transport team.
• Act as first point of escalation for real-time delivery issues to maintain customer satisfaction.
• Assist Transport Operations Manager with KPI tracking and fuel efficiency monitoring.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Leadership

HR processes

TMS familiarity

Spreadsheets

Tools

Transport Management System (TMS)

Spreadsheets

Job description

Job Title: Transport First Line Manager (Temp-to-Perm)

Location: Greenford, West London (UB6)

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Contract Type: Temp-to-Perm (Full-Time)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Shift Pattern: 5 out of 7 days rota (includes some weekend work)

Shift Times: Rotational shifts including 4:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, and 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Sector: Premium Grocery Retail / Upmarket Supermarket Logistics

About the Client

Our client is an iconic, upmarket supermarket brand renowned for providing the highest standard of quality and service. Operating out of their state-of-the-art logistics hub in Greenford, they keep London moving by ensuring their premium fresh, chilled, and ambient stock is delivered seamlessly.

On behalf of this prestigious client, Surecall Recruitment is looking for an energetic, professional Transport First Line Manager to guide their distribution teams and lead their fast-paced daily shift operations on a temp-to-perm basis.

What You’ll Do

As a Transport First Line Manager, you will oversee the safe, legal, and premium execution of the daily distribution network across morning, afternoon, and evening shifts.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• Operational Excellence: Manage the daily dispatch schedule, ensuring driver and fleet allocations flawlessly meet demanding delivery windows and premium brand standards.
• Compliance & Safety: Maintain strict driver and vehicle compliance with UK legal standards, tachograph rules, EU working time directives, and safe warehouse operations.
• People Leadership: Lead daily team briefings, manage shift attendance and absence, and motivate a large, diverse team of drivers and transport staff.
• Service Standards: Act as the first point of escalation for real-time delivery issues, ensuring high customer-satisfaction levels are never compromised.
• KPI Management: Support the Transport Operations Manager by tracking driver metrics, monitoring fuel efficiency, and keeping fleet asset damage to an absolute minimum.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience: Proven supervisory or team leader experience within a high-volume transport, multi-drop delivery, or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) environment.
• Flexibility: Ability to work a 37.5-hour weekly rota across early morning, day, and late afternoon shifts, including weekends.
• Leadership: A natural motivator with strong people-management skills who can calmly handle real-time operational pressures and HR processes.
• Compliance Savvy: Solid working knowledge of transport legislation, vehicle safety checks, and driver hours regulations.
• Tech-Minded: Comfortable navigating modern Transport Management Systems (TMS) alongside daily use of spreadsheets to keep track of schedules.

What We Offer

• A highly competitive salary of £40,000 per annum
• A direct, proven pathway from a temporary assignment to a permanent contract within a leading retail brand
• Weekly pay during the initial temporary assignment phase
• Excellent career progression routes within an industry-leading supply chain network