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General Manager - Group Transport

East Midlands Permanent View Job Description
This brand new role involves managing a transport budget of approximately £50 million, encompassing both Open Book and Closed Book retail transport.The position includes ownership of customer relationships, setting strategic direction for the account, and leading operational activities through the management team. Key objectives include ensuring safety, commercial success, profitability, retention, and meeting contractual goals, while driving synergies across the broader business.
  • An exceptional opportunity for a General Manager with a significant budget
  • We are looking for someone with vast experience in Transport & Retail

About Our Client

Our client is very well known in the Logistics sector. They have an envious brand and a major contract in place with a major retailer.

We are looking for a seasoned GM with significant Transport experience, ideally in a Retail setting. This is going to be a rewarding and challenging opportunity with plenty of scope to build your personal brand and really have a meaningful impact.

If you meet the following criteria, then we want to hear from you:

  • Seeks to learn and innovate
  • Sees and leads the bigger picture
  • Champions Growth
  • Drives Change
  • Builds relationship, Partners with customers
  • Demonstrates strong People Leadership



Above all else, we are looking for someone who is exceptionally good with people and able to communicate effectively with the end customer, as well as internal stakeholders at various levels.

Job Description

Location: Northamptonshire region, with responsibility for multiple sites across the UK

Budget Responsibility: Approximately £50 million, including Open Book and Closed Book retail transport

Key Responsibilities:



  • Resource Management and Control:
    • Develop and implement fleet build and renewal strategy.
    • Recruit, develop, engage, and retain staff to meet customer volume within agreed KPIs.


  • Safety, Legal, and Policy Compliance:
    • Ensure compliance with fleet audits, Ops Ex standards, and health and safety (H&S) standards.
    • Maintain a safe operation by achieving relevant KPIs.


  • Operational Solutions:
    • Manage yard operations across multiple sites, including trunking, outbase cross-dock, dispatch processes, and final mile delivery.
    • Implement added value backhaul to meet budget targets.


  • Budgetary Controls:
    • Manage customer open book budgets and broader business budgets.
    • Achieve KPIs and gainshare bonus contributions where appropriate.
    • Create, set, and agree on budgets and targets, maximising opportunities through continuous improvement (CI) initiatives.


  • Strategic Planning:
    • Set and communicate the strategy for the contract to meet customer and business objectives.
    • Break down strategic goals into specific, measurable tasks at the site level.
    • Empower the team with meaningful, purposeful work to support the wider strategy.


  • Business Growth:
    • Drive organic growth through Supply Chain Mapping analysis and Joint Account Plans.
    • Support Solution Design and Business Development on new initiatives for sustainable growth.


  • Procurement and Management:
    • Manage procurement and subcontract hauliers, including trunking to Ireland.


  • Representation and Collaboration:
    • Represent the contract at regional and national conferences.
    • Drive collaboration and innovation to add value to the business.

The Successful Applicant

  • Senior, experienced GM role with a large Open Book budget, based on a customer's site.
  • Significant Transport and Retail experience - end user or 3PL
  • Requires experience in leading all aspects of a site and customer-led operations.
  • Proven track record in delivering innovative performance improvements and operational excellence.
  • Knowledge of the complete life cycle of a contract, including start-ups and closures.
  • Understanding of support services/contracts business model (including 3PL).
  • Exemplary customer relationship management skills with flexibility in style and approach.
  • Excellent commercial acumen, understanding dynamics of 'open/closed book' contracts.
  • Develops a profit centre approach and culture focused on bottom-line performance.
  • Significant experience managing large, complex Open Book contracts over multiple sites.
  • Well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
  • Capable of managing conflict and tough conversations, including complex IR issues.
  • Builds effective stakeholder relationships and influences management team's thinking.
  • Agile approach to strategy and planning, adapting operational plans to changing customer requirements.
  • Uses Technology to drive performance through business intelligence data.
  • Manages Equality and Diversity issues, creating a culture of respect and "Dignity at Work" for all.
  • Understands team dynamics and composition, developing high-performing teams.
  • Ensures clear ownership and accountability with a focus on skills gap analysis and development plans.
  • High level of self-awareness and takes accountability for own development.
  • Seeks and provides feedback regularly.
  • Personal resilience, tenacity, and motivation by achievement.
  • Highly numerate with excellent written communication skills.

What's on Offer

  • Excellent salary and package - dependent on experience.
  • Car or Car Allowance, EV or Hybrid
  • Health
  • Pension
  • Death in service
  • Bonus
  • Realistic career progression
Contact
Russell Livesey
Quote job ref
JN-042025-6719694
Phone number
+44 161 829 0487

Job summary

Job function
Logistics
Subsector
Transport Management
Sector
Transport & Distribution
Location
East Midlands
Contract type
Permanent
Consultant name
Russell Livesey
Consultant phone
+44 161 829 0487
Job reference
JN-042025-6719694