Fleet Support jobs in Portsmouth

Transport Manager

Location: Fareham, Hampshire (relocating to Havant in 2027)
Job Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

We are looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Transport Manager to take ownership of our transport operation and play a key role in supporting the company's exciting growth plans.

Currently operating from Fareham, the business is planning to relocate to Havant in 2027 and has ambitious plans to expand its fleet, increase geographical coverage and enhance operational efficiency.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Transport Manager who enjoys driving improvements, leading projects and building transport operations for the future. You will have the opportunity to make a real impact, taking responsibility for developing existing processes, implementing new technology and supporting the expansion of the transport function.

Initially managing a fleet of six 3.5-tonne vans, you will help shape the operation as it grows to 12 or more vehicles over the next 18 months.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience of implementing, developing and scaling transport operations across new geographical regions, alongside a strong understanding of route optimisation, operational performance and cost control.

Key Responsibilities1. Strategic Projects & Operational Development

A key part of this role will be leading projects that improve efficiency, support growth and future-proof the transport operation.

Responsibilities will include:

• Conducting a comprehensive review of the existing fleet operation within the first 4–8 weeks, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, compliance, service delivery and cost-effectiveness.
• Developing and implementing an improvement plan, with clear objectives, measurable outcomes and timescales.
• Leading the implementation of automation between the company's ERP system and MaxOptra, working collaboratively with the IT department to streamline transport planning and operational processes. Delivery is targeted for Q4 2026.
• Managing the planned expansion of the fleet from six to 12+ vehicles over the next 18 months, ensuring the operation can accommodate increased demand and geographical coverage.
• Leading the implementation of telematics across the fleet, targeted for Q4 2026.
• Identifying opportunities to expand transport operations into new geographical areas, ensuring routes, resources and service levels are scalable and commercially viable.
• Reviewing existing processes and introducing improvements to enhance productivity, visibility, reporting and customer service.

2. Transport Operations & Performance

• Oversee the day-to-day transport operation, ensuring deliveries are completed efficiently, on time and cost-effectively.
• Manage multi-drop delivery planning and route optimisation, maximising vehicle utilisation and driver productivity.
• Monitor operational performance against agreed KPIs, identifying trends, addressing underperformance and implementing corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customers, drivers and internal departments.
• Monitor transport budgets, operational expenditure and delivery costs, identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Ensure consistently high service levels and deliver a best-in-class customer experience.
• Produce clear, structured monthly performance reports for the Operations Director and senior leadership team, supporting informed business decisions.
• Use data and root cause analysis to identify recurring issues, improve performance and drive continuous improvement.

3. Driver Management & Development

• Oversee driver administration, including driving licence checks, working time records and medical declarations.
• Monitor driver performance, ensuring compliance with drivers' hours, working time and rest requirements, where applicable.
• Ensure vehicle defect reporting procedures are followed and issues are addressed promptly.
• Support absence management, disciplinary processes and performance improvement initiatives.
• Provide clear leadership, coaching and guidance to drivers, promoting accountability, professionalism and high operational standards.

4. Fleet & Vehicle Management

• Ensure all vehicles are maintained in a safe, roadworthy condition and serviced in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements.
• Ensure vehicle documentation, insurance details, height indicators and payload information are accurate and up to date.
• Ensure daily vehicle checks are completed by drivers and that defects are reported, recorded and resolved appropriately.
• Monitor fleet utilisation, maintenance costs and vehicle performance.
• Support fleet expansion planning, ensuring new vehicles are introduced efficiently and in line with operational requirements.

5. Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote a proactive health and safety culture across the transport operation.
• Ensure compliance with relevant transport legislation, company policies and operational procedures.
• Investigate and report accidents, incidents and near misses, implementing appropriate corrective actions.
• Provide coaching and guidance to drivers and colleagues to maintain a safe working environment.
• Ensure appropriate records, procedures and compliance checks are maintained.

Key Skills & Experience

We are looking for a proactive and commercially aware Transport Manager who can combine strong operational management with a forward-thinking approach to business growth.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Transport management experience: A proven track record of managing and improving transport operations, ideally within a multi-drop delivery environment.
• Project management: Experience of leading operational projects from initial review and planning through to implementation and measurable results.
• Business expansion: Ideally, experience of establishing, implementing or scaling transport operations across new geographical regions.
• Route optimisation: Strong knowledge of multi-drop planning and route optimisation, particularly across London and the surrounding areas.
• Data analysis and reporting: Excellent Excel skills, with the ability to analyse operational data, identify trends and produce clear, meaningful reports.
• Commercial awareness: Experience of monitoring budgets, controlling costs and improving operational efficiency.
• Technology implementation: Experience of transport management systems, route planning software, automation or telematics would be advantageous.
• People management: The ability to lead, motivate and develop drivers while maintaining high standards of performance and compliance.
• Problem-solving: A structured, analytical approach to identifying operational challenges and implementing effective solutions.
• Customer focus: A positive, can-do attitude and a commitment to delivering consistently high standards of customer service.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

You will be responsible for monitoring and improving key operational metrics, including:

• Failed delivery percentage: Measuring the proportion of unsuccessful deliveries and identifying opportunities to reduce failures.
• Average drop time: Monitoring the average time taken to complete each delivery.
• Average time between drops: Measuring the time between deliveries to assess route efficiency and driver productivity.
• Delivery cost per sales order: Monitoring the cost of fulfilling each sales order and identifying opportunities to improve cost-effectiveness.

Additional KPIs may include on-time delivery performance, vehicle utilisation, driver productivity and overall fleet operating costs.

The Ideal Candidate

You will be an organised, hands-on and forward-thinking Transport Manager who is comfortable taking ownership of an operation while also looking at the bigger picture.

You will enjoy analysing performance, challenging existing processes and introducing improvements that deliver tangible business benefits.

Most importantly, you will be excited by the opportunity to help shape a growing transport function, introducing the systems, processes and operational structure needed to support the company's future ambitions.

If you are a Transport Manager who enjoys making improvements, leading projects and building an operation for long-term growth, we would love to hear from you.

Pay: £50,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person