Transport Manager

apetito; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Apetito Limited seeks a dedicated Transport Manager at their Stanmore depot. The successful candidate will oversee a fleet of drivers to ensure excellent service delivery, compliance with regulations, and the support and development of staff. Join a company committed to ethical standards, inclusivity, and making a difference in the care sector.

Benefits

Discretionary annual bonus scheme

33 days holiday including bank holidays

Option to purchase additional holidays

Matched pension contributions up to 4%

Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary

Free turkey or voucher at Christmas

Salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Qualifications

• Previous experience managing a driver workforce.
• Full understanding of working time and licensing compliance.
• Experience in a customer-facing environment.

Responsibilities

• Organise driver workforce and manage daily operations.
• Ensure compliance with legal and safety requirements.
• Lead and motivate staff to meet operational KPIs.

Skills

Customer Service

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Leadership

Compliance Knowledge

Education

Transport Managers Certificate of Professional Competence

Tools

Routing and Tracking Applications

SAP or equivalent MRP systems

Job description

Overview

Transport Manager

Full time

Stanmore depot: HA7 1NR

The Transport Manager is responsible for supporting and leading the fleet of 12 Drivers at Stanmore to deliver an excellent transport service by taking ownership and responsibility for allocated transport duties.

Reporting to the Regional Transport Manager the Transport Manager is responsible for the day to day management of the Stanmore transport operation ensuring safety, compliance and service standards are met.

You will be the main daily point of contact for your drivers and a key collaborator across our nationwide transport network.

Who we are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Organise driver workforce, delegate tasks and deal with day to day staffing issues as necessary to ensure adequate staffing and performance levels are maintained so the Transport operation runs smoothly, and customer service requirements are met.
• Management of the Stanmore drivers in line with policy including disciplinary, absence management, driver standards etc
• Day to day point of contact for drivers both out on the road and on debrief.
• Ensure Compliance with legal constraints i.e. vehicle weights, WTD, as well as customer requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the Distribution Team to ensure that all breakdowns and delays are dealt with in a speedy manner, where appropriate liaising with and updating customer services on progress.
• Work collaboratively with all internal and external stakeholders in order to gather feedback and key information to enhance operational performance and proactively identify and mitigate any current or future potential issues.
• Lead, develop and motivate direct reports so that they deliver or exceed their objectives and KPI’s, identify future potential and develop in line with business needs.
• To ensure that the transport function is legally compliant by ensuring correct compliance processes are in place, and monitored within the O-licence regulations
• Ensure compliance against, legal, Health and Safety procedures / checks and act on issues as necessary in order to ensure that any issues are identified, rectified, reported and a safe and legally compliant environment is operated at all times whilst constantly improving the safety culture.
• Work with the Driver Trainer to improve key efficiencies and improve driving standards, safety, driving ability and fuel efficiency.
• Support and implement ways in which reduce cost and optimise performance.

About you

Essential:

• Customer Service experience gained from a 3PL or similar background
• Previous experience of managing a driver workforce (e.g. disciplinary, absence management, driver standards)
• Transport Managers Certificate of Professional Competence
• Full understanding of Working Time Directive, Drivers Hours and Operators licensing compliance
• Experience of routing and tracking applications

Desirable:

• Comprehensive experience within a complex network operational environment
• Experience of fast-paced customer-facing environments
• Demonstrable experience working in a change environment
• Clear evidence of managing a significant budget .
• Working knowledge of SAP or equivalent MRP systems

Personal Qualities:

• "Walks the Talk” – setting standards of housekeeping, quality and health and safety
• An analytical fact-based approach with a good understanding of reporting and recording performance statistics.
• Verbally persuasive with the gravitas to lead and influence
• Retains strategic focus within a pressurised environment
• Good problem solving skills and ability to drive for completion and delivery of large complex projects
• Highly analytical, numerate and willing to source own data for analysis
• A natural presenter with the ability to present complex information in a clear and simple format
• Strong inspirational and engaging leader – will demonstrate leadership skills that peers will aspire to imitate
• A decisive thinker who will take responsibility for decisions and actions
• Promotion of culture where all employees and stakeholders are engaged and able to raise their suggestions and ideas
• Must be able to work to tight deadlines with accuracy and precision

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 33 days holiday per year, including bank holidays (which are considered a normal working day)
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.