Transport Operations Manager

About the role

At a glance

Salary range - £48,800 - £77,900

Contract type - Permanent

Work Pattern - 37.5 hours, working Monday - Friday 

Location: Aylesford RDC 

About the role

Our Transport Operations Manager will oversee the Transport Department, ensuring 24/7 operation with full legal compliance, high-quality customer service, and cost-effectiveness. Key responsibilities include overseeing a diverse team and vehicle fleet, ensuring compliance with EU driving legislation and the Transport Working Time Directive and maintaining health and safety standards. The role involves contributing to the Transport strategy, budget management, and supporting the RDC's Business Plan and Risk Register. Additionally, the leader is accountable for the Transport Operating licence and will be prepared to step in for the General Manager when needed. The position offers opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Your key responsibilities:

• Ensuring full legislative compliance across all areas including EU driving regulations and the working time directive, whilst operating within health and food safety guidelines and RDC operational procedures.

• Budget compilation and delivering costs within budget, with full root cause analysis in the event of variance.

• Managing a diverse vehicle fleet comprising Tractors, Trailers and rigid operating multi-temperature composite loads.

• Fully accountable for the holding and sustaining of the Transport Operational licence for the site.

• Conducting a Transport operation delivering to Branches and other customers in line with the agreed service level.

• Promote and emulate the partnership values and promote and support Partnership democracy within the site.

Essential skills you’ll need 

• Hold or working towards a Certificate of Professional Competence for Transport Managers 

• Senior management experience in a transport / Distribution environment

• Extensive knowledge of Health and Safety and Transport Legislation

• Experience in dealing with full disciplinary procedures according to ACAS guidelines

• Experience in creating a comprehensive culture of Continuous Improvement

About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting. If required, you’ll find out more about vetting throughout the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.