Head of Fleet (Kent/Essex)

Essex Police and Kent Police; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A law enforcement agency in the UK is seeking an experienced Head of Fleet to lead the strategic direction of its transport services. This pivotal role requires a dynamic leader with a strong background in fleet management, focusing on compliance, budget management, and fostering team performance. The ideal candidate will bring exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills and will drive sustainability initiatives in fleet operations. Join and contribute to innovative practices within a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in fleet management within public sector.
• Experience driving cultural change and collaborating with stakeholders.
• Expertise in managing large budgets, contracts, and supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for Transport Services, focusing on fleet electrification.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation.
• Manage significant budgets and oversee vehicle leasing contracts.

Skills

Leadership

Fleet management

Budget management

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Experience in managing complex transport operations

Job description

Kent Police and Essex Police Transport Services are seeking a full-time Head of Fleet to lead and shape the future of our fleet operations, you will be responsible for a large vehicle fleet in each county. This is a pivotal role for a dynamic and strategic leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and brings extensive experience in fleet management. You’ll join a talented, motivated team and play a key part in delivering high-quality, efficient, and safe services that support operational policing.

It is a tremendously exciting time to be joining and leading the department, as both organisations transition the fleet and our operations for the rapidly evolving vehicle landscape.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set the strategic direction for Transport Services, including repair, maintenance, new vehicle builds, and fleet support, with a strong focus on fleet electrification and the Government’s Net Zero Strategy.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation and maintain safe workshop operations.
• Act as the “Head of Profession” for fleet management, advising on specialist vehicles, including high-performance and response vehicles.
• Manage significant budgets for vehicles, marine, and ancillary equipment, ensuring robust financial control.
• Drive efficiency and service quality using data and systems to reduce costs and meet duty of care obligations.
• Lead and motivate a multi-disciplinary team, fostering development and high performance.
• Oversee leasing contracts, insurance, vehicle disposals, and other key administrative functions.
• Build partnerships with external organisations, identifying income generation and sponsorship opportunities.
• Stay informed on developments affecting police transport services and contribute to policy and strategic planning.

About You:

You’re an accomplished senior leader with a proven track record in managing complex transport and fleet operations, ideally within the public sector or emergency services. You excel at driving cultural change, embedding vision into strategy, and achieving results through collaboration and strong stakeholder engagement.

Commercially astute, you’re confident managing large budgets, contracts, and supplier relationships while maintaining a focus on innovation and operational excellence. Your leadership style inspires and motivates teams, and you bring exceptional communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

With expertise in transport logistics, project management, and business continuity, you combine strategic thinking with hands‑on operational know‑how. Political awareness, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous professional development complete your profile.

For application instructions: If you believe this opportunity is the right fit for you, we encourage you to submit an application that clearly demonstrates how your skills, experience and achievements align with the requirements outlined above.

Should you require additional information or wish to discuss the position in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact David Jedrzejewski, Head of Business Services and Transport via [e-mail].

Join us and help drive innovation and excellence in our fleet services – your expertise can make a real difference.

Application Shortlisting:

Your application for this role will be shortlisted on the content you provide within the “reason for application” question, within the application form itself. CVs, covering letters or attachments are not included in the shortlist. Within your “reason for application” answer, please refer to any experience, skills, and abilities you feel you have that will make you suitable for this role, based on the role criteria stated in the job advert or job description. Please provide as much detail as possible as insufficient content may mean you do not meet the shortlisting criteria. This question is limited to 9,000 characters and this system will count spaces and blank lines as characters. This count may differ from the Microsoft Word word count function; you may wish to use a different online character counter to check the characters used.

Depending on your current vetting level and security clearances, you may be required to complete additional vetting information during the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunities:

Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.

Please let us know if you require extra support at any stage of the application process, or for further information regarding this position, please email us at [e-mail] stating “Application Support and Adjustments” in the title of your email. Alternatively, you can call us on 01245 452833, where appropriate we will make adjustments to the selection process, working arrangements and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so.

If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.

Disability Confident:

• Have subjected our Disability Confident self‑assessment to external challenge and validation.
• Are taking an active leadership role in encouraging and helping other employers on their journey to becoming Disability Confident.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are central to the values of our organisation. At Essex Police we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities and abilities that each of us bring to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work.

Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included.

Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.