Garage Manager

Müller UK & Ireland; Northampton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 10% annual bonus

Life Assurance

Private Medical Insurance

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Maternity/Paternity leave

Bereavement leave

Pension matched up to 8%

Müller Rewards

IT Equipment

Concessionary products

Career progression

Free parking

Job summary

Müller Milk & Ingredients Distribution in Northampton is seeking a proactive Garage Manager to lead the Vehicle Maintenance Unit. You will drive safe, efficient maintenance, manage workshop resources and ensure regulatory compliance across the fleet.

The role requires strong leadership, HGV knowledge and budgeting experience, with a focus on reducing downtime and improving reliability within a 40-hour workweek at our Northampton depot.

Qualifications

• Experience leading fleet maintenance teams.
• Knowledge of HGVs, trailers and maintenance systems.
• Understanding of fleet compliance and vehicle legislation.
• Experience with budgets and resource planning.
• Strong communication and IT skills.
• Commitment to safe, compliant workshop practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the Vehicle Maintenance Unit.
• Manage workshop resources, labour allocation and repair schedules.
• Ensure all vehicles and workshop activities meet DVSA, Operator Licence and health & safety standards.
• Drive preventative maintenance to improve reliability and reduce costs.
• Monitor KPIs: productivity, spend and fleet engineering metrics.
• Coach and develop engineering and workshop teams.
• Investigate failures and implement corrective actions.
• Build relationships with internal/external stakeholders and service providers.
• Maintain housekeeping, safety, quality and audit readiness.
• Support fleet replacement and engineering improvement initiatives.

Skills

Fleet leadership

HGV knowledge

Budgeting

Stakeholder mgmt

Problem solving

MS Office

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Garage Manager - Müller Milk & Ingredients Distribution | Northampton

Lead the Team Behind the Fleet

We're looking for a proactive and experienced Garage Manager to join our Transport Department based at our Northampton 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: Northampton Depot - NN9 6NY
• Contract: Full Time / Permanent
• Salary: Competitive (monthly paid)
• Hours: 40 hours per week

What You'll Be Doing

As Garage Manager, you will:

• 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

We value our people and offer a wide range of 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?