Head of Transport

Salary: Excellent benefits package
Location: Basingstoke
Type: Permanent
Ref Number: ESLB-35393

Job Description

Parkinson Lee Executive Search are the retained partner to Gist in the appointment a Head of Transport to be based primarily at their Head Office in Basingstoke, with travel to sites across the UK.

Gist are a leading logistics and distribution company with 6,000 employees located in sites across the UK, Europe and the USA. The business has an annual turnover of £530million and is part of Linde plc, the world’s largest industrial gases business that has an annual turnover of more than $US27billion.

Gist prides itself in working in partnership with their customers to deliver innovative solutions and transform supply chains, with a proven track record spanning more than 50 years.

As a niche third party logistics and distribution company, Gist works with well-known brands including Marks & Spencer and Starbucks, amongst a host of food groups and retailers across the UK and internationally.

With people and safety at the heart of its business, Gist invests in the best people who are passionate about creating supply chain solutions that are innovative, practical and provide competitive advantage for their customers.

Gist’s core service offerings are:

•Contract Logistics

•Global Freight Management

•Temperature Controlled Logistics

•Food Service

As part of a strategic change agenda Gist now have the need to appoint a Head of Transport to support the next phase in their transformation and modernisation.

The Head of Transport will hold responsibility for the management of strategic and tactical transport activities; central planning, fleet policy, driver resourcing and the optimum execution of all transport operations, whilst adopting best in class standards in all aspects of transport legislation.

You will provide direct leadership to the National Planning and Fleet Management teams, ensuring they remain aligned to the organisational goals and values. Leading the design and delivery of a Transport Control Tower, leveraging their integrated transport management system to enhance schedule efficiency, plan execution, continuous improvement and delivering the customer promise.

Key responsibilities for the Head of Transport include:

•Contribute to develop the Gist 5-year business plan and play a key role in corporate decision making

•Set direction for effective transport health & safety management and best in class transport legislation compliance

•Owner for Driver Vehicle Management within the businesses Integrated Management System

•To support the Business Transformation programme and engage the SLT and wider organisation in its delivery

•The design and implementation of a centrally planned Control Tower that provides a fully integrated transport operation, maximising customer service and cost efficiency

•Owner of the business IT transport capability road map

•Develop end to end transport management system capability to generate leading KPI’s and continuous improvement initiatives

•Build, lead and develop a team of transport specialists with clear alignment to the business objectives

•Provide functional leadership and technical expertise to site based Logistics management teams

•Develops initiatives that attract and provide in house training for new drivers into the business

•Business coordination of peak driver and partner resourcing

•Owner of the business fleet replacement policy and seasonal fleet requirements

•Develop robust fuel management performance through driver engagement, training and in cab systems

•Ensure transport compliance requirements are being controlled, documented and maintained in accordance with regulations and best practice

This is an exciting time for someone to join the business, taking ownership and driving ideas to support the 5-year strategy. Gist is also looking for someone to be able to step up into a more senior capacity over the coming years.

We are therefore inviting people from the following backgrounds to apply:

•A proven track record of working with a senior Transport role

•Ideally experienced within the Logistics and Supply Chain sector, other sectors will be considered with large fleet experience

•Educated to degree level or equivalent

•CPC or equivalent experience and / or accreditations

•Strong working knowledge of Health and Safety within a transport function

•Multi-Site / National experience

•Sound knowledge of transport planning and transport management systems

•Budget ownership experience

•Exceptional leadership skills (training, coaching, mentoring) with the ability to develop and maintain high performing teams to meet business objectives

•Strong communication skills with internal and external stakeholders

•Experience of managing complex projects through teams and across multiple functions within an organisation

To attract the right talent, Gist is offering an excellent competitive salary and associated benefits package. We are looking for someone to be site based at least 3 days a week.

For a confidential a discussion about this appointment please contact Lee Bhandal at Parkinson Lee or apply via this advert.