About the Role
P J Cole (Southern) Ltd is seeking a commercially minded and strategically focused Transport Manager to provide leadership of our transport function. Reporting directly to the Director, this role will shape the future direction of transport across the business, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, cost control and the delivery of long-term business objectives.
This is a newly developed leadership role created as part of a wider strengthening of the transport structure, ensuring the business continues to operate to the highest standards of compliance, safety, efficiency, and operational performance.
Leading the existing transport team, the successful candidate will take a lead role in compliance oversight, people management, operational structure, and continuous improvement across the department.
We are looking for someone with a modern and proactive management approach, someone who can build strong working relationships, positively influence teams, communicate effectively under pressure, and help develop a professional, accountable, and well-supported transport culture.
The ideal candidate will be calm under pressure, highly organised, commercially aware, and naturally solutions-driven, with the ability to lead both operational performance while developing and empowering others.
This is an opportunity to join the senior leadership team of a growing business where you will have genuine influence over the strategic direction of transport operations. The successful candidate will be empowered to challenge existing processes, implement best practice and play a key role in supporting the company’s continued growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the transport strategy for the business.
- Develop and deliver KPIs across safety, compliance, utilisation, cost and customer service.
- Lead transport budget planning and cost optimisation.
- Identify investment opportunities across fleet, systems and technology.
- Work with the Director on long-term fleet strategy.
- Lead change programmes and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Build succession plans and develop future transport leaders.
- Represent transport at senior management meetings.
- Provide performance reporting to Directors.
Key Skills & Attributes
- Excellent people management and communication skills
- Modern, professional, and approachable leadership style
- Strong conflict resolution and decision-making ability
- Calm and measured under pressure
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
- Positive, solutions-focused mindset
- Ability to challenge appropriately and professionally where required
- Strong team-building and coaching skills
Essential Requirements
- Transport Manager CPC Qualification
- Strong knowledge of Operator Licence compliance
- Previous experience managing HGV fleet operations
- Excellent organisational and communication skills
- Ability to lead, support, and develop operational teams
Desirable Experience
- Tanker or waste industry experience
- OCRS and audit management experience
- FORS knowledge
- Experience leading growing transport operations
Hours
Monday to Friday, generally 8.30am – 5.00pm, with flexibility required to meet operational demands
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- An Employee Assistance Programme
- Use of a company vehicle for business use
- Company discretionary bonus
- Company pension
- Reimbursement of work expenses
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
- Opportunity to play a key role in a growing business
Pay: £50,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Operator Licence Compliance: 5 years (required)
- Transport Management: 5 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Transport Manager CPC Qualification (required)
Work Location: In person
