Transport Contract Manager - Haulage (Thatcham/Newport)

This is an operationally hands-on role in contract logistics with direct, day-to-day responsibility for the Thatcham and Newport sites, including a weekly visit to each site to maintain a visible, engaged presence with the local team, drivers and customers. The Contract Manager will successfully manage the operation to achieve optimum operational and financial performance, consistent customer satisfaction and good employee engagement, within the boundaries of all related Company and customer policy and procedure, legislation and health and safety regulations. A strong focus on building and maintaining excellent customer-facing relationships is central to the role, alongside disciplined performance against the Company's key metrics.

About us:

Woodland Group is more than just a logistics and supply chain company. Independently owned, the Group continuously challenges itself and its teams to be innovative, quick to adapt, provide expert solutions and create opportunities for clients, team members as well as the business. Our culture thrives on a drive for excellence, opportunities to learn and develop, our diversity and relationship building, as well as our desire to bring skills and passion to a quickly changing and fast-paced environment

What you will be doing:

• Hold direct operational responsibility for both the Thatcham and Newport sites, ensuring consistent standards, compliance and performance across both locations.
• Carry out a weekly visit to each site (Thatcham and Newport) as a minimum, maintaining a visible and hands-on presence with site teams, drivers and on-site customer contacts.
• Use site visits to review local performance against key metrics, identify operational issues early, and provide direct support and coaching to site-based staff.
• Build strong working relationships with customers based at, or served from, each site, acting as a visible and accessible point of contact.
• Report findings, actions and any concerns arising from site visits to the General Manager and senior management team on an agreed frequency.
• Understand and fully utilise Woodland Logistics operating systems and communication devices, ensuring that all reporting staff are using the systems and devices correctly and in full to the benefit of the operation; maintain such electronic devices delivering information essential to the business and it’s customers, including but not limited to E-POD, POD image capture, vehicle and trailer tracking;
• Ensure correct measures are in place for optimal management of all work within the transport team, driver fleet and within any other area of responsibility, consistently meeting customer requirements; all reporting staff are correctly and sufficiently inducted and trained to complete their responsibilities;
• Ensure appropriate controls and procedures are in place to effectively and efficiently manage service delivery concerns and failures, effectively protecting the Company/customer relationship; full and immediate use of the TMS to record all exceptions and report these on a frequency agreed with the customer and the senior management team;
• Promote a ‘customer first’ approach. Understand customer requirements and quality standards, ensuring the correct procedures are in place to recognise and meet these, exceeding expectations wherever possible, proposal of any changes to process or procedure discussed with the senior management team and the customer. Engage with customers to help ensure maximum operational satisfaction; report all meetings to your line manager and senior management team. Always ensure credit application and authorisation process is adopted prior to engaging services to any customer;
• Ensure appropriate measures are in place to maintain all equipment and machinery, including but not limited to Company vehicles, manual handling equipment and where necessary PPE, as legally compliant and in good working order; Continual management and weekly reporting of all tachograph, working time directive and compliance failures, infringements and concerns, ensure appropriate and effective corrective action is introduced, recorded and reported to senior management team;
• Ensure the effective micro-management of all variable costs including, but not limited to, vehicle and trailer tyre costs, drivers hours and expenses, vehicle and equipment damage, insurance and fuel, maintain and meet the revenue versus cost expectation of the business and the customer, where applicable. Minimise vehicle empty running by working with the transport teams across the UK where cross trading options are available, utilise return load web sites available and to which the business subscribes, continually forward plan all vehicle activity as far as effectively possible to achieve maximum revenue at the lowest cost base;
• Control KPI reports, budget reports and any other report as required by senior management;
• Ensure efficient management of supplier usage including, but not limited to, ensuring continued cost effectiveness, the appropriate control of expenditure, excellence in service and correct in-house cost authorisation and purchase ordering. External services provided by sub-contractors to be managed to meet the customers service expectations, maximising margin from all sub-contracted activity to the agreed levels as indicated by the senior management team;
• Exercise good leadership and people management skills to maximise job performance and engagement, continually develop employees under your direct management effectively and professionally and put forward any recommendations for additional training, internal or external, that will help any individual achieve a greater skill base, assess on going skill sets via the appraisal system and the constant review of the individual’s performance, needs and capabilities;
• Ensure reporting staff are appropriately trained to legally and professionally fulfil the requirements of their role; carry out any internal investigation relating to the conduct and performance of any employee directly reporting to you;
• Maintain an excellent working knowledge of all legislation that is relevant to the transport industry and work in accordance with this constantly and consistently;
• Understand the Operating Licence obligations and ensure that appropriate controls and procedures are enforced within your remit of responsibility to meet these; report immediately any concerns or issues to senior management team and the Directors;
• Promote and adhere to Company policy and procedure and legislation, all policy and procedure documents are available to all employees via the company’s intranet site and must be read, understood and accepted by every employee; and
• Any other duties as required by senior management for the smooth and efficient operation of the department.
• Work with the transport team to continually improve processes and business performance;
• Support changes in the role necessary to take the department and business forward; and
• Work to achieve personal objectives set at appraisal and/or those set monthly or quarterly.

About you:

A background within the haulage industry and contract logistics is essential. You will need to live and breathe our core values, customer first approach, sustainability goals and able to work in a fast-moving environment with a great team of people. Naturally, you will embrace an inclusive working environment and be committed to acting with integrity and honesty in everything you do.

Why you will love working for us:

We have a new UK benefits programme based on what our staff asked us for! This includes...

• Generous holiday allowance which rises with service.
• Recognition awards and Incentives.
• Length of service incentives
• Enhanced occupational maternity pay
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Health cash plan
• Mental health and stress hotline
• Retail discounts and awards
• Discounted health club membership
• Real career opportunities
• Team bonding opportunities and events
• To be part of a fast-moving exciting company with a great team of people.
• And much more…

We look forward to you joining our world where WE CARE, WE CONNECT, WE DELIVER.

At Woodland Group success is down to our dedicated and experienced teams right across the globe. We create safe spaces for collective growth – regardless of background. We embrace differences and believe we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person can bring to Woodland. We deliver opportunities across a wide variety of roles all over the world, from entry level to senior management, behind the steering wheel, in IT and tech or eCommerce. Every Woodlander has access to training and development courses and can drive their own success forward, to realise their full potential.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person