UK & EU Transport Manager

Pineapple Furniture; Aylesford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A furniture design and manufacturing company is seeking a UK & EU Transport Manager based in Aylesford. The successful candidate will oversee daily picking and delivery operations, ensuring compliance with heavy vehicle legislation and leading the team. Responsibilities include workload planning, mitigating freight issues, and maintaining high customer standards. The role offers competitive pay and an engaging work environment with a commitment to sustainability and employee development.

Benefits

Competitive pay

Pension scheme

Healthcare cash plan

23 days annual leave

Extra day for your birthday

Commitment to sustainability

Monthly pizza Friday

Employee referral bonus scheme

Learning and development platform

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a Delivery/Picking team.
• Excellent IT skills with competent use of Microsoft Office (Outlook and Excel).
• Strong people manager.
• Proven negotiating and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the Picking and delivery teams.
• Communicate and mitigate freight issues affecting lead times.
• Assist with workload planning and team cover during absences.
• Ensure high standards of customer experience.

Skills

People management

Negotiating skills

Customer service

IT skills

Multi-tasking

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Office

MRP/ERP software

Job description

JOB TITLE: UK & EU Transport Manager

LOCATION: Aylesford, Kent

WORKING HOURS: 7am - 4.30pm

A Bit About The Role

We are looking for a Transport Manager to oversee the daily operations of our picking and delivery teams. Working alongside the Fleet Supervisor, you will ensure compliance with heavy vehicle legislation while leading and supporting your team.

You will assist the Head of Operations with workload planning, team cover during absences, and performance appraisals, while ensuring a consistently high standard of customer experience and presentation.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day running of the Picking and delivery teams
• Lead and support the team with any issues, including training junior members
• Communicate and mitigate any potential freight issues affecting lead times
• Assist the Head of Operations in balancing workloads, providing team cover during absences, and conducting appraisals
• Ensure a high standard of customer experience in all areas – communication, presentation of delivery drivers, etc.
• Use our MRP software to enter transport pricing and pull relevant reports to aid delivery planning and forecasting; keep an eye on costs and future planning
• Work with the Operations Team to review procedures regarding picking, checking, loading, and quality control
• Strive for zero errors in all operations
• Perform any other ad hoc duties as required by the business

Requirements

• Proven experience managing a Delivery/Picking team
• Excellent IT skills with competent use of Microsoft Office (Outlook and Excel)
• Previous use of MRP/ERP software very useful
• Experience in a manufacturing environment beneficial but not essential
• A strong people manager – fair, effective, and insightful
• Ability to delegate work to respond to daily queries within the business
• Proven negotiating skills
• Proven Customer Service skills; commercially minded – able to strike balance between necessity and cost to the company
• Excellent at multi-tasking in a deadline-driven environment
• Organised, proactive and forward-thinking
• Opportunity for paid overtime
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Teamwork – Collaborate effectively with humility, appreciating and integrating individual skills and perspectives to achieve collective goals
• Committed – Dedicate yourself fully to your role, going above and beyond with self-motivation and loyalty to achieve individual, team, and company goals
• Ownership – Take full responsibility for your work, performance, and conduct, acting with integrity, staying organised, and learning from feedback and mistakes
• Positive – Approach tasks with optimism and innovation, viewing challenges as opportunities, and bringing energy and enthusiasm to inspire and motivate others
• Responsive – React quickly and effectively to needs and feedback, prioritising tasks with urgency, embracing change, and maintaining a proactive approach

Why Work for Us

Pineapple is a leader in designing and manufacturing innovative furniture solutions for challenging environments. A family‑run company started in 1975, Pineapple is now a global business with headquarters in Kent (UK) and offices in France, Germany, and the USA. Pineapple still runs by its original ethos of creating mindfully designed furniture that not only works effortlessly and looks great but also helps foster a calm and supportive environment. Join Pineapple and be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference through quality, innovation, sustainability and exceptional customer care.

Benefits

• We were proudly featured in The Sunday Times as one of the Best Places to Work 2024 & 2025
• Competitive pay
• Pension scheme
• A Healthcare Cash Plan – claim for medical expenses, dental or optical services, and access to 100s of deals and discounts
• 23 days annual leave + UK bank holidays
• Extra day's leave for your birthday
• All new starters: we plant a tree in your honour (UK, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Madagascar)
• Commitment to sustainability – low‑carbon operations, renewable energy, and recycled materials
• Regular team socials and events, including summer and Christmas parties, football, netball, and other ad hoc events
• Monthly pizza Friday
• Free fruit, snacks, hot drinks, and cold beverages
• Employee referrals bonus scheme
• Learning & Development platform with online courses, certifications, and professional development tools
• High‑quality office environment
• Free onsite parking within walking distance from the train station

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.