Depot Manager
Location: Bristol
Type: Permanent, Full-time
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am - 5 pm
Role Overview
The Depot Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, safety, and operational effectiveness of the depot. The role carries full accountability for ensuring the depot operates efficiently, safely, and commercially, whilst delivering exceptional service to both internal and external customers.
As the leader of the depot, the Depot Manager is responsible for driving operational standards, fleet availability, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and financial performance. This includes managing all depot personnel, maintaining a hire-ready fleet, ensuring compliance with company policies and legislation, and continuously improving depot performance through strong leadership and effective decision-making.
The Depot Manager is expected to lead by example, creating a positive culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Reporting to: Operations Director
Key Internal Relationships:
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead, motivate, and develop all depot employees, creating a high-performing and engaged team.
- Set clear expectations and hold team members accountable for performance, behaviours, and standards.
- Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews, probation reviews, and return-to-work interviews.
- Manage recruitment, onboarding, training, succession planning, and employee development.
- Address performance concerns promptly through coaching, development plans, and formal processes where required.
- Conduct investigations, disciplinary hearings, and grievance meetings in line with company procedures.
- Ensure all employees receive the appropriate training and competency assessments required for their role.
- Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, and customer focus.
Operational Management
- Maintain full responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the depot.
- Ensure all units are either hire-ready or actively progressing through repair.
- Drive fleet availability and minimise units in repair through effective planning and resource management.
- Monitor depot KPIs and implement actions to improve performance where required.
- Ensure all jobs are completed accurately and on time within Syrinx and associated systems.
- Oversee pre-delivery inspections, stress tests, off-hire inspections, refurbishment sign-offs, and quality control processes.
- Ensure depot processes and procedures are consistently followed and audited.
- Manage depot resources effectively to maximise productivity and minimise downtime.
Fleet & Asset Management
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Maintain accurate oversight of all fleet assets located within the depot.
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Ensure units are maintained to company standards and are presented in a clean, professional, hire-ready condition.
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Monitor fleet utilisation and identify opportunities to improve availability.
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Conduct regular fleet audits and stock checks.
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Ensure all defects are reported, prioritised, and rectified promptly.
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Manage depot stock levels, spare parts, consumables, and equipment.
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Work closely with Technical and Operations teams to reduce fleet downtime.
Health, Safety, and Compliance:
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Take overall responsibility for Health & Safety within the depot.
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Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures, and legislative requirements.
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Conduct regular depot inspections and safety audits.
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Lead accident, incident, and near-miss investigations.
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Ensure all corrective actions are completed within agreed timescales.
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Facilitate toolbox talks and safety briefings.
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Monitor contractor activities on site.
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Ensure all equipment, vehicles, lifting equipment, and safety systems are inspected and maintained.
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Champion a positive safety culture and lead by example.
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Monitor driving hours, ensuring driver compliance with Working Time Directive (WTD) and conduct regular tachograph checks.
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Manage accident reporting, investigations, and lead safety observations.
Customer Service & Stakeholder Management
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Ensure exceptional service delivery to all customers.
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Act as the escalation point for depot-related customer issues.
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Work collaboratively with Customer Operations, Technical, and other support functions to resolve issues quickly and effectively.
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Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders.
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Ensure customer complaints are investigated thoroughly and resolved professionally.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential
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Minimum 3 years' experience in a depot, operations, transport, fleet, or service management role.
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Proven leadership and people management experience.
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Strong planning, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
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Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
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Experience managing operational KPIs.
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Proficient in Microsoft Office and operational management systems.
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Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
Desirable
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Management qualification.
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IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent.
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Transport, fleet, or hire industry experience.
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Experience managing change and continuous improvement initiatives.
Additional Responsibilities
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Act as keyholder and custodian of all depot assets.
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Ensure depot security standards are maintained.
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Participate in operational meetings, projects, and business improvement initiatives.
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Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the business.
Benefits:
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays per year
- Life Insurance (2.5x annual salary)
- Company Referral Scheme (up to £1000 awarded)
- Company Cycle to Work Scheme – we buy the bike and you pay us back saving your NI
- Long Service Award – gifts, hampers, vouchers and more for long service
- Enhanced Company Pension Scheme (up to 5%, and via salary sacrifice where applicable)
- Medicash is our Healthcare Cash Plan (including access to virtual GP, and discounted prices at selected retailers and gyms)
- Learning & Development culture (professional qualifications, access to apprenticeships and more)
