Dispatch Manager

Team Recruitment; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Team Recruitment seeks a senior people leader to unite an Auckland transport operation. You’ll set expectations, supervise around 60 drivers, and collaborate with dispatch, operations, customer service and sales to keep freight moving.

This role focuses on building structure, improving planning, and applying GPS and dispatch data to boost performance. A calm, people‑centred leadership style is essential, supporting a growing operation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading an operational team.
• Strong but personable management style.
• Confidence setting expectations and managing poor performance.
• Ability to work with different personalities and experience levels.
• A transport or operational dispatch background.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• Experience identifying and delivering operational improvements.
• Confidence using GPS information and performance data.
• Good judgement and a calm approach under pressure.
• The patience to learn an operation before deciding what needs to change.

Responsibilities

• Lead the dispatch team and build a cohesive, high-performing operation.
• Set clear expectations and address performance issues promptly and fairly.
• Manage relationships with approximately 60 drivers and drive monthly meetings.
• Collaborate with operations, customer service and sales to keep freight moving.
• Identify opportunities to improve forward planning and driver monitoring.
• Utilise GPS data and dispatch systems to improve efficiency.
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Plan and coordinate resource availability to meet demand.
• Learn the operation first, then implement practical changes.
• Provide guidance on system usage and performance-driven decisions.

Tools

GPS systems

Dispatch software

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

This role is about people leadership first.

We’re looking for someone who can bring a team together, set clear expectations and hold people accountable, while remaining approachable and respected.
You’ll be joining a well-established transport business whose Auckland operation has grown significantly over the past 12 to 14 months.

What’s involved?

You’ll work closely with the dispatchers, getting to understand how each person works and bringing them together as one team. You’ll set clear expectations, follow through when those expectations aren’t met and deal with performance or behaviour issues early, fairly and directly. Building good relationships with the company’s approximately 60 drivers will also be an important part of the role, including taking an active part in the monthly driver meeting. There’s plenty of opportunity to improve how the operation runs, particularly around forward planning and driver monitoring. You’ll help the team think ahead rather than waiting for drivers to call in for their next job, while making better use of the GPS and dispatch systems already available. You’ll also work closely with operations, customer service and sales to keep freight moving and resolve issues. The expectation is that you’ll first take the time to learn how the operation works, then introduce practical changes that improve consistency and efficiency.

What are we looking for?

You don’t need to have spent your entire career in freight dispatch. You could come from road transport, courier, refrigerated freight, containers, concrete, waste, taxis or another fleet-based operation.

What matters most is your ability to lead people.

• Proven experience leading an operational team
• A strong but personable management style
• Confidence setting expectations and managing poor performance
• The ability to work with different personalities and experience levels
• A transport or operational dispatch background
• Strong planning and organisational skills
• Experience identifying and delivering operational improvements
• Confidence using systems, GPS information and performance data
• Good judgement and a calm approach under pressure
• The patience to learn an operation before deciding what needs to change

Direct freight dispatch management would be useful, but it isn’t essential. The technical side of the operation can be learned. Strong leadership, sound judgement and follow-through are harder to teach.

Why consider this role?

This is a senior position with genuine scope to influence how a growing Auckland transport operation performs. You’ll have the opportunity to develop the dispatch team, improve performance and introduce better planning and monitoring practices.

If you’re a strong people leader who understands transport and enjoys bringing structure and accountability to an operation, we’d like to hear from you.

About Us

Team Recruitment has specialised in transport, logistics and forwarding for over 30 years.
We partner with leading logistics businesses across New Zealand to connect skilled people with opportunities that fit their goals and values.
Visit us at www.teamrecruitment.co.nz to learn more.