Contract Manager

Contract Manager - Thatcham (with responsibility for Newport site)
Location: Thatcham (with responsibility for Newport)
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum
Working Pattern: 48 hours per week - fully site-based (7:00am-4:00pm or 8:00am-5:00pm)

Taylor Stevenson are recruiting on behalf of our client for an experienced Contract Manager to take full operational responsibility for a busy transport operation based in Thatcham, with additional responsibility for the Newport site.

This is a challenging and rewarding role requiring a highly visible, hands-on leader who can balance operational excellence with strong commercial awareness. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing drivers, office-based operational staff, customer relationships, compliance, and financial performance across both locations.

We are seeking an individual who is an excellent communicator, capable of building strong and trusted relationships with customers, colleagues, and stakeholders, while also having the commercial mindset required to protect margins, control costs, and improve operational performance.

Role Overview
Reporting to the General Manager, the Contract Manager will have full day-to-day responsibility for the Thatcham operation, while maintaining oversight and support of the Newport site.

This is a fully site-based role requiring a visible presence within the operation. You will lead from the front, engaging with drivers, office staff, customers, and internal stakeholders to ensure service excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will combine strong people leadership skills with the ability to analyse performance, manage commercial outcomes, and deliver against agreed operational targets.

Key Responsibilities

* Take full operational ownership of the Thatcham site, with responsibility for supporting performance and standards at the Newport location.
* Provide visible leadership and daily engagement with drivers, operational teams, and office staff.
* Build and maintain strong working relationships with customers, acting as a trusted point of contact and ensuring service expectations are consistently achieved.
* Manage operational performance against agreed KPIs, service levels, quality standards, and commercial objectives.
* Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase profitability.
* Lead, coach, and develop operational teams to maximise performance, engagement, and accountability.
* Ensure all transport operations comply with relevant legislation, company procedures, health and safety requirements, and operator licence obligations.
* Monitor and manage transport compliance, including driver hours, tachograph requirements, working time directive compliance, and corrective actions.
* Ensure effective use of transport systems, including electronic proof of delivery, vehicle tracking, defect reporting, and operational reporting tools.
* Manage customer issues and service challenges proactively, ensuring effective communication and timely resolution.
* Control operational costs, including fuel, vehicle costs, driver expenses, equipment, suppliers, and subcontractor expenditure.
* Work closely with senior management to deliver agreed budgets, commercial targets, and continuous improvement initiatives.
* Ensure all employees are appropriately trained, supported, and developed within their roles.
* Maintain high standards of safety, compliance, and operational discipline throughout the business.

About You
To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced transport professional with a proven background in operational management.

You will have:

* Experience managing a transport operation, depot, or contract within a fast-paced environment.
* Strong leadership skills with experience managing drivers and operational teams.
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
* A customer-focused approach combined with strong commercial awareness.
* Experience managing KPIs, budgets, costs, and operational performance.
* A strong understanding of transport compliance and legislation.
* The confidence to work in a highly visible, hands-on role where leadership presence is essential.
* The ability to make decisions, solve problems, and drive improvements.

Key Success Measures

* Delivery of operational and commercial targets.
* Strong customer satisfaction and relationship management.
* Effective leadership and engagement of drivers and operational teams.
* Excellent compliance performance.
* Effective cost control and contract profitability.
* Continuous improvement across both locations.

INDPS