Transport Operations Manager – Manchester

JD.COM INTERNATIONAL UK LTD; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

JINGDONG Logistics in Manchester seeks a Transport Operations Manager to lead on-site dispatch, loading and route execution, coordinating with drivers, DSPs and warehouse teams to ensure timely deliveries and high service standards. The role requires 5+ years in transport operations, strong people management, and solid knowledge of UK driver hours, tachograph rules and regulatory duties.

This position offers opportunities for continuous improvement and close management reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Logistics, Supply Chain, Transport Management, Business, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in transport operations or related fields.
• Minimum 2 years people management experience in transport/logistics.
• Good understanding of UK transport operations and compliance requirements.
• Experience with HGV/LGV, DSPs or third‑party partners preferred.
• Experience in e‑commerce/parcel delivery or last‑mile operations preferred.
• Strong coordination, decision‑making, communication and KPI management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Experience with TMS, WMS, routing or telematics platforms preferred.
• Desirable CPC, IOSH, NEBOSH qualifications but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily transport operations at Manchester site including dispatch and loading.
• Coordinate with warehouse, planning teams, drivers and DSPs to ensure smooth execution.
• Monitor dispatch, loading progress and on-time departure performance.
• Ensure safe loading, weight distribution and vehicle capacity compliance.
• Identify and escalate safety, loading, or documentation issues.
• Conduct pre-departure checks and driver route instructions.
• Track KPIs including on-time departure/arrival and delivery performance.
• Lead driver briefings and debriefings; manage safety and service standards.
• Maintain dispatch logs, vehicle times and driver allocation records.
• Support investigations into incidents and service failures.
• Drive continuous improvement in dispatch efficiency and route execution.
• Provide updates to management on risks and improvements.

Skills

On-site coordination

Decision-making

Communication

Problem solving

KPI management

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or above in Logistics, Supply Chain, Transport Management, Business, Operations Management or related

Tools

TMS

WMS

Routing systems

Fleet management systems

Telematics platforms

Job description

Role Purpose

The Transport Operations Manager – Manchester is responsible for managing the daily on‑site transport operation, including vehicle dispatch, driver coordination, loading safety, route execution, issue handling, and service performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily transport operations at the Manchester site, including vehicle dispatch, driver allocation, route execution, and delivery progress monitoring.
• Coordinate with warehouse, sortation, planning teams, drivers, DSPs, subcontractors, and other internal stakeholders to ensure smooth transport execution.
• Monitor daily dispatch arrangements, including vehicle allocation, loading progress, departure readiness, and on‑time departure performance.
• Ensure vehicles are loaded safely before dispatch, including load weight, load distribution, load securing, vehicle capacity, and suitability of goods for the assigned vehicle.
• Identify and elevate overloading risks, unsafe loading, vehicle defects, documentation issues, dispatch delays, and other operational risks.
• Ensure vehicles are not released where unresolved safety, loading, weight, vehicle condition, route, documentation, or compliance issues remain.
• Conduct pre‑departure checks to confirm loading completion, load security, vehicle sealing where required, and driver route instructions.
• Monitor transport execution throughout the shift and respond quickly to traffic delays, vehicle breakdowns, driver absence, failed collections or deliveries, warehouse delays, and planning changes.
• Manage daily driver briefings and debriefings to ensure drivers understand route requirements, safety instructions, service standards, and operational risks.
• Track key operational KPIs, including on‑time departure, on‑time arrival, delivery performance, collection performance, dispatch delays, loading exceptions, and failed delivery reasons.
• Work closely with the Transport Manager / CPC Holder to ensure operations remain aligned with driver hours rules, tachograph requirements, Working Time Directive, Operator Licence obligations, and vehicle safety requirements.
• Maintain accurate operational records, including dispatch logs, loading records, vehicle arrival and departure times, driver allocation, vehicle usage, exception logs, and performance reports.
• Support incident, accident, near‑miss, loading issue, overloading risk, and service failure investigations by collecting operational facts and site evidence.
• Lead continuous improvement for dispatch efficiency, loading control, route execution, driver performance, communication flow, and issue resolution.
• Provide daily and weekly updates to management on key risks, service failures, dispatch performance, loading issues, root causes, and improvement actions.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Logistics, Supply Chain, Transport Management, Business, Operations Management or a related discipline is preferred. Candidates with strong relevant transport operations experience may also be considered without a degree.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in transport operations, logistics dispatch, fleet operations, parcel delivery, e‑commerce logistics, 3PL, or distribution centre transport management.
• Minimum 2 years of people management or team supervision experience in a transport, warehouse, logistics or operational environment.
• Good understanding of UK transport operations and basic compliance requirements, including driver hours, tachograph rules, Working Time Directive, vehicle safety and overloading risks.
• Experience working with HGV, LGV, van fleets, DSPs, subcontractors, agency drivers or third‑party transport partners preferred.
• Experience in e‑commerce, parcel delivery, last‑mile, middle‑mile or high‑volume transport operations preferred.
• Strong on‑site coordination, decision‑making, communication, problem‑solving and KPI management skills.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Experience with TMS, WMS, routing systems, fleet management systems or telematics platforms preferred.
• Transport Manager CPC, IOSH, NEBOSH or similar qualifications are desirable but not essential.

Role Positioning

This role is responsible for the on‑site operational control of dispatch, loading, vehicle release, route execution, issue handling and service performance at the Manchester site. It works closely with the Transport Manager / CPC Holder but does not replace the statutory responsibilities of the CPC Holder.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At JINGDONG Logistics, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status or any other protected characteristic.