Transport Manager

Our client is a fast-growing international consumer products business with a portfolio of market-leading brands trusted by millions of families worldwide. As the organisation continues through an exciting phase of growth and operational transformation, they are seeking an experienced Transport Manager to lead and optimise transport operations across a busy distribution environment. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a commercially minded transport professional who thrives in a fast-paced operation and enjoys driving service excellence, compliance, efficiency, and team performance. The Role Reporting into the senior operations leadership team, the Transport Manager will take full ownership of daily transport operations, fleet performance, driver management, and transport compliance. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring deliveries are completed safely, efficiently, compliantly, and on time, while continuously identifying opportunities to improve operational performance and reduce costs. Key Responsibilities Manage daily transport operations, including route planning, load scheduling, and driver allocation to meet operational and customer service requirements. Optimise vehicle utilisation, routing, and fleet efficiency to improve service levels and reduce operational costs. Oversee driver administration including working time compliance, tachograph analysis, licence checks, absences, and record management. Ensure full compliance with transport legislation, health & safety regulations, and company policies. Act as the primary operational contact for drivers, warehouse teams, customers, and external transport providers. Monitor transport expenditure and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements. Investigate delivery issues, incidents, accidents, and customer complaints, implementing corrective actions where required. Maintain accurate transport documentation, PODs, compliance files, vehicle checks, and operational records. Coordinate vehicle maintenance, servicing schedules, and defect reporting to maximise fleet availability and safety. Produce and analyse transport KPIs relating to service performance, compliance, utilisation, and cost control. Lead, motivate, and manage drivers and transport office personnel. Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and development of transport staff. Manage employee performance, conduct disciplinary processes where required, and resolve operational or personnel issues in line with company policy and employment legislation. About You We are looking for an organised and proactive transport professional with strong operational leadership skills and a hands-on approach. You will ideally have: Proven experience within transport, logistics, or distribution operations. Previous supervisory or management experience within a transport environment. Strong understanding of transport legislation, compliance, and fleet operations. Excellent planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. Strong communication skills with the ability to build relationships across operational teams and external stakeholders. Good IT capability, including experience with transport systems and Microsoft Office packages such as Excel and Word. Experience analysing operational data, managing KPIs, and producing performance reports. Commercial awareness with a strong focus on operational efficiency and cost control