Garage Manager

Müller UK & Ireland; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 10% annual bonus

4 x Life Assurance policy

Private Medical Insurance

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Job summary

Müller Milk & Ingredients Distribution in Manchester is seeking a proactive Garage Manager to lead the Vehicle Maintenance Unit at our Manchester Depot. The role focuses on safe, compliant maintenance and optimal fleet performance.

You will oversee resources, schedules and engineering teams, driving cost efficiencies while maintaining high standards of safety and service. This is a full-time, on-site position with strong leadership expectations.

Qualifications

• Previous management experience in fleet maintenance or workshop environment.
• Technical knowledge of HGVs, trailers and maintenance systems.
• Understanding of DVSA compliance, vehicle legislation and safety.
• Experience managing budgets, resources and productivity.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operation of the Vehicle Maintenance Unit to ensure safety and high standards.
• Manage workshop resources, labour allocation and repair schedules to maximise fleet availability.
• Ensure vehicles and workshop activities comply with DVSA, O-licence, and health & safety standards.
• Drive a proactive maintenance culture to improve reliability and reduce costs.
• Monitor KPIs, spend, and performance; report to leadership and stakeholders.
• Coach and develop engineering and workshop teams; foster accountability and improvement.
• Investigate failures and root causes; implement corrective actions as required.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers and service providers.
• Maintain high housekeeping, safety, quality and audit readiness in all activities.

Skills

Leadership

Fleet maintenance

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

IT literacy

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS Outlook

MS PowerPoint

Job description

Garage Manager – Müller Milk & Ingredients Distribution | Manchester

Lead the Team Behind the Fleet

We’re looking for a proactive and experienced Garage Manager to join our Transport Department based at our Manchester Depot. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong technical knowledge and leadership skills to take charge of our Vehicle Maintenance Unit (VMU), ensuring our fleet is safe, compliant, and operating at peak performance.

• Location: Manchester - M17 1TU
• Contract: Full Time / Permanent
• Salary: Competitive (monthly paid)
• Hours: 40 hours per week

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the Vehicle Maintenance Unit, ensuring all maintenance activities are completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards.
• Manage workshop resources, labour allocation, and repair schedules to maximise fleet availability and minimise downtime.
• Ensure all vehicles, trailers, and workshop activities remain fully compliant with DVSA, Operator Licence, health and safety, and company standards.
• Drive a proactive preventative maintenance culture, identifying opportunities to improve reliability and reduce operating costs.
• Monitor workshop performance, productivity, maintenance spend, and key fleet engineering KPIs.
• Lead, coach, and develop engineering and workshop teams, creating a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Investigate vehicle failures, defects, incidents, and engineering-related root causes, implementing corrective actions where required.
• Build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, suppliers, manufacturers, and third-party service providers.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping, safety, quality, and audit readiness across all workshop activities.
• Support fleet replacement, vehicle specification, and engineering improvement initiatives to enhance operational performance.

What We’re Looking For

• Previous management experience within a fleet maintenance, transport engineering, commercial vehicle, or workshop environment.
• Technical knowledge of HGVs, trailers, vehicle maintenance systems, defect management, and engineering best practices.
• An understanding of fleet compliance, preventative maintenance planning, vehicle legislation, and operational risk management.
• Experience managing workshop performance, budgets, resource planning, and productivity.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of transport and logistics operations and the critical role engineering plays in delivering customer service and operational efficiency.

Benefits

• Up to 10% annual bonus
• 4 x Life Assurance policy
• Private Medical Insurance
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (rising with service)
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Family Leave
• Enhanced Bereavement Leave
• Pension Employer Contribution Scheme (matched up to 8%)
• Exclusive access to Müller Rewards, offering a variety of online and in-store discounts
• Business Supplied IT Equipment
• Concessionary products
• Career Progression and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Ready to lead a team that keeps our fleet moving?