Transport Distribution & Planning Manager

Carrs Billington Agriculture (Sales) Ltd.; Lancaster; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural firm in Lancaster is seeking a proactive Transport Planning & Distribution Manager to oversee the planning and distribution of customer orders. The role involves managing the transport team, ensuring compliance with legislation, and monitoring financial performance. Ideal candidates will have experience in transport operations and hold or be willing to obtain a Transport Manager CPC qualification.

Benefits

Attractive salary package

Annual salary reviews

Minimum of 25 days annual leave

Health Assured – Employee Assistance Programme

Generous company sick pay

Health Cash Plan

Staff Discount

Cycle to work scheme

Flexible life assurance

My Savings Hub for discounts

Salary finance benefits

Pension scheme after 3 months

Training & Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Hold a Transport Manager CPC qualification/willing to obtain one.
• Experience in a transport operation & planning environment.
• Experience with Drivers hours control and management.

Responsibilities

• Manage the planning team for efficient routing and scheduling.
• Monitor driver hours for legal compliance.
• Manage customer complaints related to transport.

Skills

Transport Manager CPC qualification

Transport operation experience

Experience with Paragon planning

Knowledge of HSE legislation

Drivers hours management

Strong communication skills

Team management experience

Organisational skills

Tools

Paragon planning system

Job description

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Transport Planning & Distribution Manager to join our Feed Operations team at our Lancaster Mill. Working as part of the Transport team, the successful candidate will be responsible for managing the day to day planning and distribution of all customer orders across all operational areas, as well as playing a key role in managing the financial performance of the fleet through effective use of resources, purchasing and contract management.

About Us

Every day we provide rural and agricultural communities with the support they need to succeed. Whether they are after a healthier herd or flock, increased yields, faster growth rates, a decent return on their land or even just a helping hand. We have the people, products, and services to help our customers get from where they are now to where they want to be. This is why every role at Carr's Billington is hugely important to our shared success and why we welcome talent from across all different backgrounds to work across our retail, feed, machinery, fuel and central support divisions.

Carr's Billington Agriculture is a subsidiary company of The Billington Group, who are also the proud owner of Criddle & Co., English Provender Company and Billington Foods.

The Job

To manage the planning team to ensure routing and scheduling is completed to make efficient use of vehicles and drivers. Coordinating the transport requirements with production and overseeing the routing of the fleet to ensure the efficient utilisation of all resource is optimised.

To manage and monitor the hours of drivers to ensure both legal compliance and efficient use of drivers and ensure tachograph downloads are completed by Drivers within required timeframes.

To maintain contractor relationships ensuring that all service level agreements are maintained and appropriate action is taken when the level of service is not met.

Manage all customer complaints related to transport and work closely with the Transport Supervisors to undertake investigations and resolutions, while assisting the Quality Manager with updating the complaints database to achieve a satisfactory outcome of all transport complaints.

Be responsible for formulating and managing the distribution budgets and all related forecasting and planning, alongside the Transport Manager.

Continually assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the department within the constraints of legislation, fuel cost and rising environmental pressures. Monitor emerging trends and technologies in the industry and formulate applicable strategic objectives as necessary.

Assist the Driver trainer with planning driver training to include, inductions, online and driver CPC to ensure all drivers are kept up to date with their training.

Build strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, specifically customer services, feed sales colleagues, external hauliers, production teams and raw materials to ensure business continuity.

In conjunction with the Transport Manager, ensure all drivers adhere to legislative requirements and codes of practice and ensure all processes, including the fleet maintenance program, are followed to achieve the safe use of vehicles.

Support the monitoring and reporting on fleet/driver and environmental performances using telematics and other fleet reporting tools, providing this information to Drivers and management along with setting targets to improve performance of the fleet.

Essential Skills, Experience and Qualities Required

• Hold a Transport Manager CPC qualification/willing to obtain one.
• Experience in a transport operation & planning environment
• Experience with Paragon planning or similar planning and routing system
• Familiarity with HSE legislation and its practical application
• Experience with Drivers hours control and management
• Strong influencer and communicator
• Experience managing a team
• Organised with the ability to prioritise effectively

Desirable

• Experience in food or agriculture industry
• Contractor management and negotiation
• LGV Licence, Class 1 (C+E)

Benefits

As part of The Billington Group we offer a wide range of employee benefits including:

• An attractive salary package.
• Annual salary reviews in September each year.
• A minimum of 25 days annual leave.
• Opportunity to work for a well-established family-owned business with ambitions for growth and innovation.
• Health Assured: Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which offers counselling and health and wellbeing advice.
• Sick pay: Generous company sick pay entitlement.
• Health Cash Plan: A health cash plan allowing colleagues to claim back money spent on everyday health care such as optical, dental, physiotherapy and much more.
• Staff Discount: Colleagues are eligible for a generous staff discount on selected products at our Country Stores.
• Cycle to work scheme: A salary sacrifice scheme saving you tax on the purchase of a new bicycle and associated equipment.
• Flexible life assurance and critical illness cover: Choose to increase the level of life assurance cover already provided to you by the company or add critical illness cover, all at preferential rates.
• My Savings Hub: Access to an exclusive member's discount website with over 3,500 brands where you can save money and earn cashback on spends from grocery shopping to holidays.
• Salary finance benefits: Savings schemes, preferential rate loans and wage advances all through payroll as well as tools for financial education.
• Pension: Enrolment into the Company pension scheme after 3 months of employment.
• Training & Development: Role specific training and ongoing training and development opportunities identified through our annual appraisal scheme