Group Fleet Manager

The Airedale Group; Bradford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days + bank holiday

Performance Bonus

Westfield Healthcare

Life assurance x 2

Job summary

The Airedale Group is seeking an experienced Group Fleet Manager to lead and develop the fleet operation of around 500 vehicles, including company cars and commercial vans. You will own fleet strategy, governance, and service levels, partnering with Finance, Procurement and Operations.

The role focuses on transforming the fleet, reviewing leasing arrangements, implementing a fleet management system, driving EV adoption and the rebranding of the van fleet, while managing a small team and ensuring

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing and scaling an in-house fleet operation.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle leasing and fleet lifecycle management.
• Familiarity with UK fleet legislation and duty of care requirements.
• Experience using fleet data to identify trends and manage costs.
• Understanding total cost of ownership and cost benchmarking.
• Experience implementing a fleet management system is advantageous.
• Knowledge of EV adoption for commercial fleets.

Responsibilities

• Undertake a comprehensive review of the Group's existing fleet operation.
• Evaluate supplier terms, service levels and vehicle provisioning.
• Benchmark the market for potential partners and negotiate terms.
• Develop and implement a Group-wide fleet strategy aligned to growth.
• Establish supplier governance and conduct performance reviews.
• Lead implementation of a fleet management system across the Group.
• Create a single source of truth for vehicles, drivers, costs and lifecycle.
• Develop roadmap for EV transition of the van fleet.
• Assess operational and financial suitability of EVs in different areas.
• Work with Finance on TCO and whole-life costs.
• Support ESG programme and reduce fleet emissions.
• Lead and develop a two-person Fleet Administration team.
• Set responsibilities, processes and service standards.
• Provide leadership and coaching for a high-performing team.
• Ensure fleet policies remain current and fit for purpose.
• Act as senior contact for fleet matters across the Group.
• Own fleet expenditure and collaborate with Finance on budgets.
• Identify opportunities to reduce TCO across the fleet.
• Ensure compliance with UK legislation, licensing, MOTs and servicing.
• Maintain controls on servicing, inspections and registrations.
• Support duty of care for company vehicles and drivers.
• Monitor driver behaviour and address risks or policy breaches.

Skills

Fleet management

Contract negotiation

Supplier governance

Budgeting & cost control

Stakeholder management

Project management

Job description

Airedale Group are the leading market design, installation, and maintenance provider for commercial kitchens in the UK hospitality and food service industry. We work alongside clients from the initial designs through to bespoke fabrication and installation. Coupled with the largest body of professional maintenance engineers in the country, we offer the complete end-to-end solution to our extensive client base. We have long-standing relationships with many of the biggest multi-site brands in the UK.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an experienced and commercially focused Group Fleet Manager to lead and develop the Group's fleet operation of approximately 500 vehicles, comprising both company cars and commercial vans.

This role will have responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the Group fleet, overseeing a team of two fleet administrators.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the fleet strategy, ensuring the Group has a safe, compliant, cost-effective and fit-for-purpose fleet that supports the operational needs of the business.

A key focus of the role will be to transform and modernise the Group's fleet operation. This will include reviewing the existing leasing arrangements, introducing a dedicated fleet management system, developing the Group's approach to electric vehicles, and the rebranding of the commercial van fleet.

The role will work closely with Finance, Procurement, Operations and other key stakeholders to improve fleet efficiency, strengthen governance and deliver a consistently high level of service to our drivers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Undertake a comprehensive review of the Group's existing fleet operation model.
• Evaluate the current supplier's commercial terms, service levels, vehicle provision and overall suitability for the Group's requirements.
• Benchmark the market and identify potential alternative partners.
• Negotiate improved commercial terms, service levels and contractual arrangements.
• Develop and implement a Group-wide fleet strategy aligned to growth, acquisition integration, and exit value creation.
• Establish effective supplier governance and regular performance reviews.
• Lead the implementation of a fit-for-purpose fleet management system across the Group.
• Establish a single, accurate source of fleet information covering vehicles, drivers, mileage, servicing, MOTs, compliance, costs and lifecycle information.
• Develop a roadmap for transitioning the Group's commercial van fleet towards electric vehicles.
• Assess the operational and financial suitability of EVs across different areas of the business.
• Work with Finance and operational stakeholders to understand total cost of ownership and whole-life costs.
• Support The Airedale Group's wider ESG programme and reduce fleet-related emissions.
• Play a key role in the rebrand of Airedale'scommercial van fleet.
• Lead, manage and develop a team of two Fleet Administrators.
• Establish clear responsibilities, processes and service standards within the fleet function.
• Provide leadership, coaching and support to ensure a high-performing and customer-focused team.
• Ensure fleet policies and procedures remain current, practical and fit for purpose.
• Act as the senior point of contact for fleet-related matters across the Group.
• Take ownership of fleet expenditure and work closely with Finance to manage budgets and forecasts.
• Identify opportunities to reduce the total cost of ownership across the fleet.
• Ensure the Group fleet complies with all relevant UK legislation, regulations and company policies.
• Maintain effective controls around vehicle licensing, MOTs, servicing, maintenance and registration.
• Ensure servicing, inspections and statutory requirements are completed within required timescales.
• Support the Group's duty of care responsibilities in relation to company vehicles and drivers.
• Monitor driver behaviour and take appropriate action where risks or policy breaches are identified.

Experience Required

• Proven experience managing, reviewing, and scaling an in-house fleet operation ideally within a commercial environment.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle leasing, negotiating with suppliers and fleet lifecycle management.
• Good understanding of UK fleet legislation, duty of care and HSE requirements.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle maintenance, servicing and operational requirements.
• Experience using fleet data to identify trends, manage costs and support business decisions.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness, including understanding of total cost of ownership.
• Experience implementing a fleet management system would be highly advantageous.
• Understanding of EVs and transitioning a commercial fleet to electric vehicles.
• Confidence in managing and leading a small team, with the ability to influence best practice.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders and presenting recommendations.
• Experience working in a multi-site or acquisitive environment.

REWARD & BENEFITS

23 days + bank holiday, increasing to 26 days with LOS

Performance Bonus, Westfield Healthcare, Life assurance x 2

Working Hours

Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 17:00, 37.5 hours per week