At Gist, we're proud to be part of the M&S Group, the logistics engine behind M&S Food.
From our distribution centres to our transport operations and support functions, we connect people, technology and expertise to ensure the right products reach the right stores at the right time.
As we continue to invest in our people, technology and network, there's never been a more exciting time to join Gist and help shape the future of food logistics.
This is an exciting opportunity for a proven Transport Operations Manager to step into a senior leadership role at a pivotal time, as we prepare to move into our newest distribution centre in Avonmouth, leading large teams, managing complexity and helping shape a growing, evolving operation within a fast‑paced FMCG or retail environment. This role is ideally suited to a proven transport leader with union experience gained within FMCG or retail logistics, supply chain or distribution environments.
What’s in it for you?
Gist is an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and evolving business built on our core values. Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for Gist just that little bit more special.
- 20% M&S discount on most things from furniture, fashion and food
- Discounted rates on healthcare cash plan
- 25 days annual leave (rising with length of service)
- Private Medical Healthcare
- Attractive annual bonus scheme, based on M&S performance and personal objectives
- Auto Enrolment Pension or competitive Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and life assurance (up to 4 times salary)
- Amazing perks and discounts via our App to major restaurants and retailers
- Access to a wide range of wellbeing support – including our Employee Assistance Programme
- A first-class welcome with a tailored induction and a wide range of training schemes to help with your learning and development
- Cycle to work scheme
Role details:
Salary: £48,300 to £53,000 (DOE)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working pattern: Days - Tuesday to Saturday | 08:00 AM to 16:00 PM
Location: Gist Limited, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 3UT
What you’ll do:
- Accountable and inspiring of Gist safety initiatives at local site level
- Manage safety and compliance breaches appropriately.
- Improving AVDA performance
- Work alongside the engineering manager to ensure all operational fleet is safe and legal
- Development of shift managers, through IDPs and coaching
- Driving positive change and engaging culture, bringing to life the Gist values
- Accountable for Operational excellence i.e. cost and service including Peak planning/deliver
- Accountable for Legal o-license compliance (on O License)
- Conduct Investigations into non-compliance and regular checks to ensure standards are being maintained.
- Ownership of continuous improvement initiatives and controllable costs
Who you are:
- Proven experience operating at Transport Operations Manager level (or equivalent) within a large‑scale, fast‑paced transport or distribution operation (essential)
- Holder of a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) (essential), with demonstrable experience of being named on an Operator’s Licence and maintaining full legal compliance
- Demonstrable experience leading a transport function with end‑to‑end accountability for performance, compliance and service delivery (essential)
- Significant experience working in a high‑volume, heavily unionised environment, with the ability to build credible relationships and drive performance through engagement and effective stakeholder management (essential)
- Strong operational leadership capability, with the ability to manage complexity, make sound decisions and maintain performance under pressure
- Experience of working within a growing, evolving or newly invested operation, with the capability to embed structure, consistency and transport best practice
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively across shifts and functions, promoting a one‑team culture and consistent ways of working
- Strong working knowledge of transport legislation, compliance and safety standards, including driver hours, vehicle standards and Operator’s Licence requirements
Why Gist?
At Gist we are united by our core values; with safety and people at the heart of everything do, we are progressive, accountable, collaborative, and ethical.
Our objective is to establish a performance-focused environment that is fair and inclusive, where everyone can develop, and connect meaningfully to their manager, the Gist vision, and M&S. We are fiercely protective of everyone’s health, safety, and wellbeing, and align firmly to M&S’s sustainability commitments in Plan A.
Gist will play an integral part in the M&S journey as it pushes boundaries to lead the retail industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring era. As part of the M&S group, there’s never been a better time to be part of our team. Join us and make an immediate impact.
Gist aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. If you consider yourself to require reasonable adjustments to any part of our recruitment process, we invite you to share those requirements with us when completing your application. We will make every effort to ensure your needs are met to provide a fair and transparent process of assessment. If it’s meaningful to you, it’s important to us.
Our Internal Recruitment Team fulfil all vacancies on a direct basis. Unsolicited contact by unapproved agencies (sharing speculative CVs) will not be accepted and introductory fees will not apply.
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