Hands-On Transport Planning Lead – Team & Ops Owner

Bennett & Game Recruitment Ltd; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Job summary

Bennet & Game Recruitment Ltd is seeking an experienced Transport Planning Manager to lead a busy planning desk in Leeds. The role combines hands-on day-to-day transport planning with team leadership, workload coordination and performance oversight to drive efficiency and profitability.

The successful candidate will own the planning operation, supervise the team, and make operational decisions while maintaining strong client and internal stakeholder communication.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in transport planning, ideally at Senior Transport Planner or Planning Supervisor level.
• Strong knowledge of transport operations, route planning and fleet utilisation.
• Hands-on approach with ability to supervise others while remaining active on the planning desk.
• Confident in taking ownership of operational decisions and supporting the wider team.
• Commercial awareness of how planning decisions affect costs and profitability.
• Excellent communication, organisational and problem‑solving skills.
• Desire to progress into a management position with greater responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the day-to-day transport planning operation, remaining hands-on with planning activities.
• Lead, supervise and support the planning team, coordinating workloads and maintaining high standards.
• Plan and optimise vehicle routes, deliveries and collections to maximise fleet utilisation and operational efficiency.
• Manage changing priorities, delays and operational issues, ensuring problems are resolved efficiently.
• Ensure vehicles, drivers and resources are allocated effectively to meet customer requirements.
• Monitor transport performance, productivity and operating costs, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Maintain effective communication with drivers, customers, colleagues and other departments.
• Ensure compliance with drivers' hours, working time regulations and relevant transport legislation.
• Encourage accountability, consistency and continuous improvement across the planning team.

Skills

Transport planning

Team leadership

Route optimisation

Fleet utilisation

Commercial awareness

Communication

Problem solving

Job description

Bennet & Game Recruitment Ltd is seeking an experienced Transport Planning Manager to lead a busy planning desk in Leeds. The role combines hands-on day-to-day transport planning with team leadership, workload coordination and performance oversight to drive efficiency and profitability.

The successful candidate will own the planning operation, supervise the team, and make operational decisions while maintaining strong client and internal stakeholder communication.