Transport Planning Manager
UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics
Occupation Type
Construction project managers and related professionals
Occupation Code Skill LevelHigher Skilled
Sponsorship Salary Threshold
£44,300
(£22.72 per hour)
Occupation rate applies
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Description
Transport Planning Manager - Portbury
Hours 40 per week, Monday-Friday
Core Hours 0800-1700 (flexibility required to support occasional morning and afternoon shift cover)
We are looking for a proactive and highly organised Transport Planning Manager to lead our Portbury Transport Planning team. In this key operational role, you will ensure the delivery of achievable, cost‑effective routes while supporting our commitment to exceptional service standards.
Reporting to the Distribution Operations Manager, you will oversee the day‑to‑day planning and execution of the national delivery schedule. You’ll act as the escalation point for complex decisions and provide vital coordination between Transport Managers, the Distribution Projects & Compliance Manager, and other key departments.
Safety, compliance, and service excellence sit at the heart of this position, ensuring our customers receive their deliveries on time and as promised.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership
Hours 40 per week, Monday-Friday
Core Hours 0800-1700 (flexibility required to support occasional morning and afternoon shift cover)
We are looking for a proactive and highly organised Transport Planning Manager to lead our Portbury Transport Planning team. In this key operational role, you will ensure the delivery of achievable, cost‑effective routes while supporting our commitment to exceptional service standards.
Reporting to the Distribution Operations Manager, you will oversee the day‑to‑day planning and execution of the national delivery schedule. You’ll act as the escalation point for complex decisions and provide vital coordination between Transport Managers, the Distribution Projects & Compliance Manager, and other key departments.
Safety, compliance, and service excellence sit at the heart of this position, ensuring our customers receive their deliveries on time and as promised.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership
- Lead and develop a team of two Transport Planners, responsible for morning and evening planning shifts.
- Manage daily delivery route planning to ensure efficiency, compliance, and cost control.
- Respond quickly and effectively to operational changes or disruptions.
- Ensure all planning adheres to legal requirements and internal standards.
- Act as the main point of contact between transport, warehouse, and customer service teams.
- Address queries promptly, ensure SLA compliance, and keep customers informed of delivery progress.
apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.
Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.
Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.
- Plan and organise driver routes to ensure staffing levels, route efficiency and performance meet the needs of the transport operation, while consistently delivering excellent customer service.
- Experience in transport planning, logistics operations, or a similar managerial role.
- CPC in Road Transport Operations (Managers)
- Confident using dynamic Routing Software Packages
- Experience of using tracking and telematics application
- Knowledge of UK road networks, route optimisation and transport operating systems.
- Understanding of compliance requirements including vehicle safety, driver hours regulations and legal planning standards.
- Experience leading or supervising a small team.
- IT proficient, particularly with planning or fleet management systems and Microsoft Office tools.
- Strong organisational and problem‑solving skills.
- Ability to work flexible hours to support operational needs.
- Desirable but not essential
- Previous experience in multi‑drop food or FMCG delivery operations.
- Experience using SAP would be an advantage but is not essential.
- Strong Leadership Skills Proven ability to coach, motivate and develop a team, with experience managing performance and wellbeing.
- Operational Planning Expertise Skilled in route planning, logistics scheduling and day‑to‑day operational problem‑solving.
- Decision‑Making Under Pressure Confident making timely, informed decisions and handling escalation in a fast‑paced environment.
- Excellent Communication Able to clearly communicate with planners, drivers, warehouse teams, customer service teams & senior management to resolve issues and maintain service performance.
- Analytical and Detail‑Focused Able to interpret data, assess risk, and optimise routes for efficiency, compliance and cost control.
- Adaptability & Initiative Proactive in identifying improvements and responding swiftly to unexpected changes or challenges.
- Customer‑Centric Mindset Committed to maintaining high service levels and ensuring customers are kept informed.
We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.
We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.
We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.
Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.
Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.
We embra
ce inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.
Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.