About this role
Grade: RCS J Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time Location: Daventry - NN11 8NF
Are you an experienced transport leader looking for an opportunity to shape and influence a high-profile national operation?
We're recruiting for a National Transport Manager to lead our transport operations across Daventry and multiple UK outbases, driving operational excellence across a complex and fast-paced distribution network.
Operating within a temperature-controlled food distribution environment, this role offers the opportunity to take ownership of a nationally significant transport operation, working closely with both DHL senior leadership and our customer to deliver outstanding service, compliance and performance. You'll play a key role in strategic decision-making, leading high-performing teams and influencing operational success across the network.
This is an exciting opportunity to build a long-term career within DHL Supply Chain, providing the platform to develop your leadership capability, strengthen your commercial and operational expertise, and make a genuine impact within one of our key transport operations. If you're passionate about transport, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and are ready for your next exciting career move, we'd love to hear from you!
✅WHAT YOU'LL DO
As National Transport Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the transport operation covering both Daventry and all UK outbases, ensuring the delivery of a legally compliant, high-quality and cost-efficient service to our customer.
Key responsibilities include:
• Overall responsibility and control of the transport operation across Daventry and all UK outbases.
• Leading transport operations within a temperature-controlled environment, ensuring all service, compliance and operational requirements associated with food distribution are achieved.
• Building and maintaining a strong partnership with our customer, acting as a key point of contact and ensuring service delivery consistently meets business expectations.
• Ensuring the delivery of a legally compliant, high-quality and cost-efficient transport service to the customer.
• Planning, coordinating, supervising, reviewing and reporting on the activities of transport teams through effective management, communication, leadership, motivation, training and development.
• Balancing workload, resource and equipment across two food depots to maximise service delivery while maintaining cost control across a 24/7 operation.
• Presenting transport cost and performance reviews to the customer and DHL senior leadership team on a monthly basis, including presentations up to Vice President level.
• Ensuring compliance with company policies and statutory obligations including Working Time Directive, Road Transport Legislation, Operator Licensing, Health & Safety and Quality requirements.
• Managing and delivering key performance indicators (KPIs) in line with contractual obligations and DHL expectations.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and service performance.
✅WHAT YOU'LL BRING
• A valid International Transport Manager CPC is an essential requirement for this role.
• Experience of managing an O Licence operation.
• Experience operating within a temperature-controlled transport and warehousing environment is essential.
• Relevant transport management experience within a fast-paced, dynamic retail, logistics or food distribution environment.
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience leading and developing teams within a transport environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance service, compliance and cost performance.
✅WHY JOIN US?
• Company car or car allowance
• Discretionary bonus based on performance
• Join our generous pension scheme and benefit from an 8% employer contribution, alongside a 4% employee contribution
• Free confidential 24/7 GP consultations
• Hundreds of retail and lifestyle discounts
• Affordable loans, savings schemes and free mortgage advice
• Visit https://careers.dhl.com/global/en/working-at-dhl-supply-chain to learn more
✅WHO WE ARE
We're the global leaders in supply chain management with 188,000 people in over 50 countries. Our expert teams work together to deliver for our customers across a range of industries including retail, automotive, healthcare and more.
✅BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE
At DHL, we're all about creating a workplace where everyone's skills and experiences matter, and where you can be your true self every day.
As proud supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant, we value the skills and experience of ex-service personnel and are dedicated to helping our veterans find jobs.
Please be aware that interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place during the week commencing 26th October 2026. Applications received after this date may not be considered but will be added to our talent pool for future opportunities, subject to your consent. Please also be aware that we review applications continuously and where we have a large number of applications the application period may close ahead of the provisional interview date. To ensure your application is considered we recommend submitting it as early as possible.
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