Transport Team Manager

NEXT plc; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

NEXT plc in Rotherham is seeking a Transport Shift Lead for the Dearne Valley Pallet warehouse. You will lead drivers and coordinators on a rotating Sunday schedule, ensuring safety, efficiency, and cost control while coordinating with the Site Manager to hit service targets.

You’ll develop leadership skills, ensure O-Licence compliance, plan workloads, and manage payroll and administration. A clear path to Assistant Site Manager exists within the team.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and coaching people.
• Solid background in transport operations and compliance.
• Strong problem-solving and planning abilities.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Full driving licence and health and safety awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop your team of drivers and coordinators with regular meetings.
• Oversee day-to-day shift operations to meet service levels.
• Ensure compliance with O-Licence and road transport legislation.
• Conduct safety walks, risk assessments, and investigations as needed.
• Manage payroll accuracy and shift administration.
• Monitor costs and optimize resource use.

Skills

Leadership

Transport operations

Problem-solving

Organisation

Communication

Driving licence

Health & safety

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

The role

Shift: Week 1 Sun-Tue 12:00-00:00 / Week 2 Sun-Wed 12:00-00:00

Based at our Dearne Valley Pallet warehouse.

At NEXT, our transport operation is fast-paced, time-critical, and vital to keeping our business moving. Working closely alongside the Transport Assistant Site Manager, you will step into a key leadership role where you will make a real difference by ensuring your shift runs smoothly, safely, and cost-effectively. You will be responsible for prioritising workloads, managing daily operations, and motivating our transport coordinators and drivers to hit key efficiency targets. From day one, you’ll be part of a supportive management team with all the training and backing you need to succeed, while we help you build the skills and experience to progress into an Assistant Site Manager role in the future.

What you’ll take on

It is your job to ensure the shift is well organised, highly motivated, and operating at the highest standards of safety and efficiency. On a day-to-day basis, you will:

• Lead and develop: Manage, coach, and support your team of drivers and coordinators, holding regular meetings to communicate achievements, resolve issues, and build a positive team culture.
• Manage operations: Oversee the day-to-day running of your shift, monitoring actual events against daily and weekly plans to meet service levels for our internal and end customers.
• Ensure strict compliance: Oversee all 'O' Licence requirements and statutory road transport legislation, actively monitoring driver hours, tachograph infringements, and vehicle defect reporting.
• Prioritise health and safety: Conduct daily floor and yard walks, complete risk assessments, and lead accident investigations to ensure all processes comply with company policies.
• Handle shift administration: Manage payroll accuracy, conduct timely Return to Work interviews, and update performance and training records in partnership with the Site Coaching Manager.
• Control costs: Monitor fleet safety and resource utilisation to keep operational costs down while maintaining excellent service standards.

What you’ll bring

To thrive in our busy transport function, you will need to think on your feet and remain composed when managing changing priorities. We are looking for:

• Engaging leadership: Proven experience leading and coaching people, with an approachable style and a natural sense of fairness that boosts team morale.
• Transport expertise: A solid background in transport operations, including a working knowledge of road transport legislation, compliance, and driver safety rules.
• Problem-solving skills: The ability to analyse issues, identify root causes, and take swift, logical action to keep operations on track.
• Strong organisation: Excellent structured planning skills, with the ability to manage your own workload and your team's tasks effectively under pressure.
• Clear communication: Great interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with third-party providers, colleagues, and the wider management team.
• Technical and practical skills: Good computer literacy (including Microsoft Excel and Word), relevant health and safety awareness, and a full driving licence.