Thanet District Council

Margate

Hybrid

GBP 64,000 - 73,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Remote/hybrid working

Flexible annual leave

LGPS membership

Employee Wellbeing package

Job summary

Thanet District Council is seeking an experienced Fleet Professional Manager to lead the Fleet Team, ensuring compliance, maintenance and strategic direction of the council's fleet. You will work with senior managers and directors to modernise and optimise fleet operations.

Key responsibilities include maintaining O Licence compliance, managing budgets, and advising on fleet strategy, vehicle mix, and supplier performance.

Qualifications

Experience leading a fleet team or equivalent
Strong budgeting and cost-control skills
Knowledge of regulatory requirements for transport and vehicle operations
Experience with O Licence administration and liaison with DVLA or similar bodies

Responsibilities

Lead the Fleet team and take ultimate responsibility for legally compliant, well-maintained, cost-efficient vehicles and equipment.
Ensure all O Licence undertakings are conducted correctly to maintain compliance.
Be the principal officer communicating with external bodies on fleet matters (e.g., DVLA).
Promote Health & Safety across the fleet and staff.
Manage Fleet Department budgets with regular reviews and forecasting for financial efficiency.
Oversee third-party service providers and ensure performance against plans and reviews.
Develop and implement fleet strategies, including vehicle mix, size, and maintenance schedules.

Skills

Fleet management

Budgeting

Regulatory compliance

O Licence management

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and qualified Fleet Professional Manager to join our Team to lead our Fleet Team and be responsible for compliance, maintenance and strategic direction of the council's fleet.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in a similar role, and be able to work alongside the other Senior Managers and Directors to build a consistent and productive approach towards fleet management within TDC.

This is the perfect opportunity for the right person to help modernise the fleet itself, how it is maintained and the way in which the council operates its fleet. If you are looking for your next career move, enjoy a challenge and implementing change, we would love to hear from you.

Main Duties

Lead our Fleet team, and take ultimate responsibility for ensuring all vehicles and equipment are legally compliant, well-maintained, and cost-efficient.

Ensure that all undertakings in relation to TDC’s O Licence are conducted correctly to maintain compliance.

Be the principal officer when communicating with external bodies relating to fleet matters such as the DVLA.

Assume responsibility for the Health and Safety of all staff within the Fleet team, promoting a strong H&S culture throughout the team.

Manage all budgets relating to the Fleet Department with precision, conducting regular reviews and forecasting to ensure financial efficiency.

Oversee any third-party service providers, ensuring they meet or exceed performance standards through robust improvement plans and regular reviews.

Introduce performance reporting to monitor and improve fleet performance, plant efficiency, and driver behaviour, providing actionable insights to the organisation at director and heads of service level.

Lead the development of long-term fleet and plant strategy, including vehicle mix,fleet size, and proactive maintenance schedules.

Be a named Transport Manager on the Authorities Operators license to ensure a robust, continuous and effective structure of OL management is in place and meet the requirement of Statutory Document No.3

Oversee the councils various fleet replacement programmes, working closely with service heads ensuring current and future needs of our end users are at the forefront of decisions

Lead and advise on all matters relevant for the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)

Main Tasks

Drive capability and development within the fleet team by ensuring the team possesses the essential knowledge and expertise needed to achieve operational excellence

Develop and implement innovative fleet strategies, introducing new technologies and systems, cost-saving initiatives, and efficiency improvements.

Collaborate with senior management and key stakeholders across SHE, HR, Finance, Operations and suppliers to align fleet policies with business objectives and reduce operational costs.

Implement initiatives to reduce road risks, working with various departments to minimise motor claims and incidents.

Demonstrate a strong grasp of cost drivers across fleet, plant, and equipment, holding stakeholders to account through data-driven insights to deliver on budgets.

Maintain continuous dialogue with fleet users to ensure their requirements are met and they remain engaged with the service provided.

Familiarity with sustainability initiatives, including electric vehicle (EV) integration and carbon reduction strategies.

Evaluating, changing and implementing the council's policies and procedures.

to ensure we receive value for money from our service agents and are striking the correct balance between cost and service delivery

Undertake any other duties of a similar nature, which may arise from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the post and within the capabilities of the post-holder

Thanet is a great place to live and work...

Our historic seaside towns of Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs and surrounding villages are rich in heritage and opportunity. With 19 miles of stunning coastline, our beautiful Blue Flag beaches, the internationally renowned Turner Contemporary, and the UK’s only Royal Harbour are all just a short train ride from central London thanks to the high-speed rail link. Our proximity to the port of Dover and the Eurotunnel at Folkestone mean Europe is literally on our doorstep too.

All of this, combined with a flexible approach to how we work makes it an exciting time to join Thanet District Council. We have set our sights high. We want our residents to enjoy the highest quality services. We want to ensure that by listening to local people, working in active partnership and doing things in an innovative way, we can accelerate improvement to meet the challenges ahead.

Our staff benefits package include

Possibility of remote/hybrid working

Flexible annual leave and working arrangements

Reduced cost leisure membership, including Theatre tickets and sporting activities

Competitive salary

Flexible working hours

Local Government Pension Scheme membership

An extensive Employee Wellbeing package

For more information on the role, please contact Matt Elmer at matthew.elmer@thanet.gov.uk

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Corporate Fleet Manager

Company: Thanet District Council