JOB DESCRIPTION
General Manager – Bristol (Avonmouth)
An exceptional leadership opportunity at the heart of the UK's automotive logistics sector.
Reporting To
Operations Director / Board
Location
Avonmouth, Bristol (newly refurbished premises)
Contract Type
Permanent, Full-Time
Salary
Highly competitive + comprehensive benefits package £60,000 - £65000 per annum
Benefits
Bonus scheme, pension, company vehicle / allowance
About Acumen Automotive Logistics Ltd
Acumen Automotive Logistics is one of the UK's largest and most respected automotive transportation and compound management businesses. Operating from strategically located sites including Avonmouth, Coventry, and Long Bennington, we move, store, process, and deliver vehicles for some of the world's most prestigious automotive brands.
Our Avonmouth site is central to our national operation — handling port-adjacent compound management, PDI, technical services, and finished vehicle logistics at scale. Following significant investment in our Bristol facility, we are now operating from newly refurbished, state-of-the-art premises and are looking for an exceptional leader to take full ownership of this business unit.
We are also proud to be backed by AcuLogic — our in-house technology subsidiary — whose proprietary platform suite (Vista, Apex, Swift, Cycle, and Forge) powers our operations in real time. You will be leading a site at the cutting edge of automotive logistics technology.
The Opportunity
This is not a routine management role. We are seeking a commercially astute, operationally excellent General Manager who wants to own a business unit — not just run one. You will have full P&L responsibility, a mandate to grow the site's capability and commercial footprint, and the platform to make a real and lasting mark on one of the UK's most significant automotive logistics operations.
With the backing of the wider Acumen group, an established client base including major OEMs, and access to proprietary technology that our competitors simply do not have, the foundations are already in place. What we need now is the right leader to take it to the next level.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & P&L Ownership
- Take full ownership of the Avonmouth site's P&L, driving revenue growth, margin improvement, and cost efficiency
- Develop and execute a site business plan aligned to Acumen's group strategy and growth ambitions
- Identify and pursue new commercial opportunities, whether through client development, service diversification, or capacity expansion
- Report directly to the Operations Director and contribute to group-level strategic discussions
Operational Excellence
- Oversee all day-to-day compound operations including vehicle intake, storage, PDI, technical services, and outbound dispatch
- Maintain the highest standards of vehicle care, quality control, and damage prevention across all site activities
- Manage KPIs rigorously — throughput, cycle times, damage rates, productivity, and customer SLA performance
- Ensure full compliance with health and safety legislation, environmental regulations, and client contractual requirements
- Oversee and leverage AcuLogic's platform technology to drive operational visibility, data accuracy, and continuous improvement
Client & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the senior point of contact for OEM and fleet clients operating from the Avonmouth site
- Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key client stakeholders at operational and commercial levels
- Proactively manage client performance reviews, addressing issues decisively and identifying service enhancement opportunities
- Represent Acumen professionally at site visits, audits, and industry events
People Leadership
- Lead, inspire, and develop a diverse team of supervisors, technicians, compound operatives, and administrative staff
- Build a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, pride in the work, and continuous improvement
- Drive effective workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, and talent retention strategies
- Champion training and development — ensuring your team have the skills, tools, and support to excel
Technology & Innovation
- Leverage AcuLogic's proprietary platform suite — including Vista (compound intelligence), Apex (workshop/garage management), and Swift (parts distribution) — to drive operational performance
- Work collaboratively with AcuLogic on product development feedback, system enhancements, and new module adoption
- Identify opportunities to deploy technology more deeply across site operations, reducing manual process and increasing data quality
- Champion a culture of innovation and digital adoption within your team
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Proven experience as a General Manager, Site Manager, or senior operations leader within automotive logistics, compound management, or a closely related sector
- Demonstrable P&L management experience with a track record of delivering financial performance
- Strong operational background with deep understanding of vehicle logistics processes — compound, PDI, technical, or outbound transport
- Exceptional leadership skills — experienced in managing multi-disciplinary teams of 30 or more people
- Commercial acumen — ability to identify growth opportunities, manage client relationships, and contribute to business development
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, from shop-floor to boardroom
- A genuine passion for operational excellence and continuous improvement
- Full UK driving licence
Desirable
- Experience operating within an OEM or prestige automotive environment (port compound, pre-delivery, finished vehicle logistics)
- Familiarity with compound management or logistics platform technology
- IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent health and safety qualification
- Exposure to multi-site or group reporting structures
What We Offer
We are serious about attracting the best talent — and that means offering a package and environment to match.
- Highly competitive base salary, benchmarked at the top of the market for this role and sector
- Performance-related bonus scheme linked to site and group objectives
- Company vehicle or vehicle allowance
- Contributory pension scheme
- Newly refurbished, modern working environment at our Avonmouth site — purpose-built for the way we operate today
- Access to proprietary, in-house technology that genuinely differentiates how we operate — no legacy systems, no third-party dependency
- Real autonomy — the latitude to run the site your way, backed by the resources of a major group
- A platform for career growth within an ambitious, expanding business
- A leadership team that values expertise, welcomes challenge, and makes decisions at pace
Why Avonmouth?
Avonmouth is one of the UK's most strategically important automotive logistics locations — port-adjacent, with direct access to the national road network and a long-established presence in the south-west automotive market. Our site serves some of the largest OEMs in the UK, handling thousands of vehicles annually across a comprehensive range of services.
Following significant capital investment, our Avonmouth facility is now one of the best-equipped compound operations in the country. You will be inheriting a strong team, an established client base, and a freshly upgraded infrastructure — with the opportunity to define what comes next.
How to Apply
If this opportunity excites you, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a brief covering note explaining why this role is the right next step for you.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early application is strongly encouraged.
Acumen Automotive Logistics Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of background, identity, or circumstance.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £60,000.00-£65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Automotive logistics: 1 year (required)
- Operations Management: 1 year (required)
Location:
- Avonmouth BS11 (preferred)
Work Location: In person
