General Manager - Fleet & Compliance

General Manager – Fleet & Compliance 
£85,000 - £100,000 plus private healthcare, company car or car allowance and more great benefits (Work Level 4) 
Home & field base - In this role you'll work in a hybrid way, combining home working with regular travel to sites and stakeholder meetings across our national logistics network (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).  

We're looking for a General Manager – Fleet & Compliance to join our Logistics team and help us deliver a safe, compliant and future-ready fleet operation across our national distribution network. You'll lead the strategy, governance and performance of one of the UK's largest logistics fleets, overseeing circa 2,000 vehicles and more than 1,000 mechanical handling equipment (MHE). You'll ensure we have the right vehicles, equipment, compliance frameworks and fleet technologies in place to support our operations today while shaping our future fleet strategy, sustainability ambitions and journey to Net Zero 2035.

Why this role matters

This is an opportunity to shape the future of one of the UK's most complex retail logistics fleet operations. You'll influence decisions on over £120m of fleet assets and help steer future investment in vehicle technologies, alternative fuels and infrastructure. Working closely with operational leaders, suppliers, industry bodies and regulatory agencies, you'll help ensure we remain safe, compliant and efficient while leading the transition towards more sustainable ways of operating. It's a rare opportunity to combine technical expertise, commercial leadership and strategic influence in a role that directly impacts our logistics network and the communities we serve.

What you’ll do

•    Develop and deliver our long-term fleet, mechanical handling equipment (MHE) and compliance strategy, ensuring we're ready for future operational, legislative and technological changes
•    Lead the management and performance of our national fleet operation, covering vehicle procurement, lifecycle management, maintenance and disposal
•    Act as the subject matter expert on transport legislation, operator licensing and fleet compliance, ensuring our logistics operation remains safe and fully compliant
•    Build and maintain strong relationships with regulatory bodies, enforcement agencies, suppliers and industry partners
•    Lead major fleet procurement and tender activities, helping shape future vehicle, equipment and maintenance solutions
•    Drive innovation by identifying new technologies, alternative fuels and sustainable fleet solutions that support our Net Zero ambitions
•    Oversee supplier performance, commercial agreements and significant fleet investment decisions to maximise value for Co-op
•    Lead and develop a specialist team while influencing senior stakeholders across logistics and the wider business to deliver continuous improvement, safety and operational performance

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Significant experience leading fleet, transport or logistics operations within a large and complex organisation
•    Strong technical and engineering understanding of HGV fleets, vehicle lifecycle management and fleet technologies
•    Extensive knowledge of transport legislation, operator licensing requirements and compliance standards
•    Experience developing fleet strategies, managing major supplier relationships and influencing significant investment decisions
•    Strong commercial and financial awareness, with experience managing contracts, budgets and procurement activity
•    Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to translate technical information into clear business recommendations
•    A Road Haulage CPC qualification, or equivalent relevant experience, together with a strong understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    A company car or £6,000 car allowance
•    Private healthcare
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.