Operations Manager

Job Description

Our client is an established company based in Chipping Warden. They are a customer-driven organisation that provide exceptional bespoke, premium services within automotive fleet management, including maintenance, management and movement solutions for some of the most substantial and well-recognised vehicle fleets across the UK. Due to impressive growth, they are now looking to acquire an experienced Operations/Logistics Manager. The successful candidate will support the Head of Operations in the delivery of a high-profile and fast-paced vehicle delivery and collection service via multiple locations across the UK on behalf of customers, retailers and online vehicle sales customers, supported by a driver support team.

Main Responsibilities:

• Strategically plan, direct and optimise logistics activities on a day-to-day basis involving Planners, Despatch, and administration team. To ensure agreed performance levels are achieved delivering high standards of customer service.
• Manage and direct Planners, ensuring driver rotas are robust and controlled, driver costs are managed in line with budget and approval controls are followed.
• Supervise, coach, and train your team, taking responsibility for all people management activities throughout the employee lifecycle to drive improved performance, building a positive and motivated team where everyone is engaged. 1 to 1’s, appraisals, team meetings and high levels of communication must be conducted.
• Be the escalation point for the team when they are unable to resolve immediate issues. Work with the team to find solutions. Track and monitor the escalation topics to measure trends and identify training needs or process changes.
• Continuously seek out improvement and innovation in operational performance levels of your department, measuring compliance and ensuring technology is utilised to minimise manual interventions, ultimately ensuring a premium quality of service to customers is maintained.
• Structured, open lines of communication with Driver Training and Development and Quality Executive to continuously improve processes whilst minimising any risks or service reductions.
• You will need to be able to understand customer needs, reacting to observations or complaints pro-actively, positively, and extremely quickly.
• You will ensure that the schedule is achieved on time every day and delivered in the most efficient and cost-controlled manner, with technology optimisation enabling majority automation. Keep track of quality, quantity of moves, driver level needs, minimising transport costs, minimising aborts and cancellations, journey optimisation e.g. with electric vehicles.
• Own and report on key measures to the Head of Operations in a data metric format on a weekly basis, escalate risks and react in a timely manner to resolve and minimise further issues.
• Review and sign off all driver expenses, Manage all driver incentive programs, ensure all required payments are submitted to the Head of Operations for sign off before the payment run cut off.
• Manage all recruitment for any vacancies within your direct reporting team, ensure all candidates meet role criteria, identify internal succession plans and ensure all Job descriptions are reviewed and kept relevant to the role being conducted.
• You will resume responsibility of the entire Operations Department on a day-to-day basis, in the absence of the Head of Operations and be the key point of contact for all department escalations.
• Collaborate with the technical services team to ensure process alignment is maintained to maximise efficiency and reduce negative impact of process delivery.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Proven working experience as an Operations/Logistics Manager.
• Record of successful distribution and logistics management.
• Previous team and performance management experience.
• Excellent PC skills, including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills to liaise with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactive, positive and with a flexible attitude to work.

If you would like to apply for this opportunity, please submit an up-to-date CV including details about your current or most recent salary and your availability/notice period . You can also call Matt Hartwell for a discreet and confidential discussion about the role on 01295 983578.