Transport Shift Manager

Culina Group; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme

Wellbeing Support

Eye Care Vouchers

Reward & Recognition

Everyday Discounts

Job summary

Culina Group is seeking a Transport Shift Manager for our Chilled & Fresh division in Milton Keynes. You will directly manage the transport shift, coaching staff while ensuring health, safety and compliance.

The role requires overseeing fleet movement to meet service levels and KPI targets, and coordinating with 3rd-party hauliers for smooth operation. Key duties include leading the depot team, resource planning, staff development, budget management, and driving continuous improvement across

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in transport operations within FMCG environments.
• Proven supervisory background managing from planning to delivery.
• Strong numeracy and planning capabilities for KPI-driven roles.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Track record of building and leading cohesive teams.
• Clear communicator with strong verbal and written skills.
• Ability to lead through change in evolving organisations.
• Customer-focused with ability to meet service levels and budgets.
• Strong problem-solving skills under pressure.
• CPC qualification (national/international) desirable.

Responsibilities

• Direct management of transport shift; coach, mentor and develop staff.
• Ensure health, safety and legal compliance across shifts.
• Lead fleet on road; declare resources for planning teams.
• Maintain KPI targets and drive continuous improvement.
• Manage budgets including fuel and maintenance costs.
• Coordinate with 3rd party hauliers for defects and loads.
• Ensure fleet MOTs and servicing are completed on time.
• Communicate across departments; participate in briefings.
• Implement service improvements with customers and ops.
• Drive cost reductions and carbon footprint initiatives.

Skills

Transport operations knowledge

Supervisory experience

Numeracy & planning

Negotiation & influencing

Leadership & coaching

Communication skills

Change adaptability

Customer service focus

Problem solving under pressure

CPC qualification (national/internat.)

Education

CPC qualification – National / International

Job description

Who are Culina?

Culina is the UK’s leading independent specialist supply chain partner, trusted by some of the nation’s best recognised food, fast-moving consumer goods (FMGC) and retail brands. We're proud to employ over 22,000 colleagues across 100+ locations nationwide, supported by a fleet of more than 5,500 trucks and trailers delivering every day.

We currently have an exciting opportunity in our Chilled & Fresh division – from supplier to shelf, we make fresh supply chains simpler. Our expertise in temperature-controlled logistics ensures products are delivered safely, efficiently and on time, helping customers maximise availability and minimise waste.

Life in this role

Joining us as a Transport Shift Manager you will be responsible for the direct management of the transport shift, providing coaching, mentoring and development opportunities whilst ensuring health, Safety and legal compliance is adhered to at all times.

Salary: £44,044.30

Working hours: 4 on 4 off, nights.

Key Duties

• Manage the Depot Transport staff to execute Traffic plans to enable delivery of products to customers within agreed service levels
• Ensure that all available fleet is on the road and declared to enable the Planning Team to plan the resource
• Motivate and develop the team through engagement, training and personal development plans
• Ensure all staff are fully trained and have the correct equipment
• Ensure that the Transport team comply with all relevant statutes and regulations
• Communicate with 3rd Party hauliers in regard to control of all reported defects on drop trailers left for pre loading
• Ensure annual MOTs and service intervals on all fleet equipment are carried out on time
• Monitor, Audit and Control suppliers
• Supports communication throughout department including team briefings and publication of KPIs
• Support implementation of service improvements in conjunction with customers and other areas of the business
• Generate and implement ideas with regards to staff and operational changes, which will help drive continuous improvement
• Ensure a secure and safe environment for staff, both in your department and across the wider business
• Be responsible for the maintenance and fuel aspect of Transport Budget, to include various KPI’s and costs
• Support the company in regard to reducing its carbon footprint, for example reducing road miles

• Good commercial knowledge of transport operations including experience of operating in a closed book, shared user environment
• Previous supervisory experience within a FMCG environment
• Planning and organising skills with a high level of numeracy
• Excellent negotiating skills with the ability to influence and steer
• Leadership and motivational qualities and proven experience of building a team
• An effective communicator at all levels, good verbal and written skills
• Genuine team player, a firm and confident manager who is skilled at setting clear objectives and motivating their team
• Highly tolerant of change – able to work within an evolving organisation
• Commercially focused, consumer orientated and customer service driven
• Problem solving in a pressurised environment
• National and International CPC qualification – desirable

What is in it for you?

If you're looking for a role where you can make an impact, develop your career, and be part of a team that works as one to achieve great results, we'd love to hear from you.

• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme - our salary sacrifice scheme offers a cost-effective way to drive an electric vehicle, with payments taken directly from your salary. Eligibility and salary thresholds apply.
• Wellbeing Support – your wellbeing matters to us. Through our Employee Assistance Programme, you'll have 24/7 access to confidential counselling and legal support, whenever you need it.
• Eye Care Vouchers – free eye tests and discounts on prescription glasses.
• Reward & Recognition – we love celebrating great work, we recognise those who go above and beyond.
• Everyday Discounts – our benefits platform gives you access to discounts from over 50 leading retailers, helping your money go further every day.

You may have seen that we're on an exciting journey as we bring our businesses closer together and build an even stronger future as one team. As part of this transformation, our businesses have united under a single brand: Culina.

Over time, our well-known legacy brands, including IPS, Stobart, Great Bear, Fowler Welch, Warrens, CML, Stobart Europe, IRF and iForce, will transition to the Culina brand. During this period, you may still see these names displayed at some of our sites.

So, if you've applied for a role with Culina but see one of our legacy brands when you arrive for an interview or site visit, don't worry, you're in exactly the right place.