Equine Transport Operations & Client Manager
Fonture Transport – Newmarket, Cambridgeshire
Full-time, permanent – 37.5 hours per week
Starting salary: £25,000, rising to £27,000 following a successful six-month operational competency review
Performance-related bonus of up to £6,000 per year
Long-term progression potentially including profit share or an equity-option opportunity
Fonture Transport is an established and ambitious equine transport business providing professional horse transport throughout the UK and Europe.
As the business continues to grow, we are looking for an exceptionally organised, capable and horse-aware person to take responsibility for the day-to-day coordination of our transport operation.
This is not a conventional administrative role.
You will become the central point connecting our clients, drivers, vehicles, transport diary, paperwork, suppliers and marketing. The successful person will gradually take ownership of the daily operation, allowing the Managing Director to concentrate on driving, client movements and the continued development of the business.
We are looking for someone who combines meticulous administration with commercial awareness, excellent communication and a genuine understanding of horses and equine welfare.
The role
Your responsibilities will include:
- Responding professionally and promptly to new enquiries
- Gathering all information required to prepare accurate transport quotations
- Producing UK and European transport quotes
- Following up quotations and converting suitable enquiries into confirmed bookings
- Managing deposits, balances, booking confirmations and client records
- Maintaining the transport diary and coordinating drivers, vehicles and routes
- Identifying shared-load opportunities and improving vehicle utilisation
- Preparing and checking transport documentation
- Liaising with clients, veterinary practices, agents, suppliers, ports and other transporters
- Ensuring clients receive appropriate pre-journey information and updates
- Monitoring driver availability, working schedules and operational requirements
- Coordinating vehicle servicing, maintenance and presentation
- Maintaining accurate records within our CRM and operational systems
- Developing checklists, procedures and templates that improve consistency
- Supporting business development and trade relationships
- Managing the company’s social-media schedule and coordinating suitable content
- Monitoring enquiries, bookings, conversion, revenue, margins and outstanding payments
- Providing regular operational reports to the Managing Director
- Supporting occasional out-of-hours enquiries or operational issues on an agreed rota
About you
The successful applicant will be:
- Highly organised and meticulous
- Calm and effective when plans change
- Confident communicating with a wide variety of clients
- Commercially aware and comfortable working with costs and margins
- Proactive rather than waiting to be instructed
- Able to manage competing priorities without losing attention to detail
- Comfortable taking responsibility and making well-reasoned decisions
- Confident using email, spreadsheets, CRM systems and online portals
- Able to write clearly and professionally
- Genuinely knowledgeable about horses, horse behaviour and equine welfare
- Motivated by the opportunity to help build a growing business
Experience
Practical equine experience is essential.
Experience in one or more of the following would be highly advantageous:
- Equine transport
- Bloodstock shipping
- International horse movements
- Export or customs administration
- Veterinary-practice administration
- Transport planning or freight forwarding
- Racing or competition-yard administration
- Driver-hours or transport-compliance processes
- Social-media or equestrian-business marketing
Knowledge of international equine transport paperwork, customs procedures, health certification, transport authorisations and journey planning would be particularly valuable.
A relevant driving licence, HGV licence, Driver CPC or experience driving horseboxes would be an advantage but is not essential.
Due to our location and the nature of the role, applicants should hold a full driving licence and have reliable transport.
Salary and progression
The starting salary is £25,000 per year based on a 37.5-hour working week.
Following a successful six-month competency review, the salary will rise to £27,000 once the employee can independently manage the agreed core operational responsibilities.
A quarterly performance bonus will also be available, based on profitable business growth, operational quality, client service and collected revenue. The maximum performance bonus during the first year will be £6,000.
For an exceptional person who becomes a key long-term member of the business, there may also be an opportunity to discuss a formal profit-share or equity-option arrangement after a sustained period of successful employment. Any such arrangement would be separate, performance-dependent and subject to professional agreement.
Working arrangements
The role will initially be predominantly based at our operation near Newmarket to enable proper training and integration into the business.
Some flexible or home working may be considered following the successful completion of probation, provided the transport operation and client service remain fully supported.
The equine transport industry does not operate entirely within conventional office hours. Some flexibility and occasional out-of-hours communication will therefore be required, although this will be managed through clear expectations and an agreed rota.
Why join Fonture?
This is an opportunity to become significantly more than an administrator.
You will have the chance to shape how the business operates, build systems, develop client relationships, improve our services and play a meaningful part in Fonture’s next stage of growth.
We are looking for someone who wants responsibility, takes pride in exceptional standards and is motivated by seeing the direct results of their work.
To apply, please send your CV together with a covering letter explaining:
- Your equine experience
- Your relevant administrative, transport or operational experience
- Why this opportunity interests you
- An example of how you have successfully managed a demanding or fast-changing situation
- The earliest date you would be available to start
Pay: From £25,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Private medical insurance
- Referral programme
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Newmarket (Suffolk, East of England Region, England)
