Transport Operations Manager – Tipperary

We are partnering with Ireland’s leading provider of hot, nutritious school meals, delivering thousands of freshly prepared lunches daily to schools nationwide. Operating from a 75,000 sq. ft. production and logistics hub in Nenagh, the business is in a strong growth phase, expanding its national delivery network across Ireland.

To support this growth, we are seeking an experienced Transport Operations Manager to work alongside the existing transport leadership team to strengthen and scale operations nationwide.

The Opportunity

This is a key operational leadership role based in the Nenagh production and logistics hub. The Transport Operations Manager will coordinate and scale transport operations from the central hub out to regional hubs and onward to schools nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Control & Service Continuity

• Oversee daily operational stability across all night delivery routes.
• Monitor and track morning issues, ensuring timely resolution and root cause analysis.
• Oversee van allocation plans and vehicle deployment.
• Ensure structured handover between day and night operations.
• Manage task direction via the Transport phone and ensure clear delegation.
• Oversee loading issues and implement structured escalation processes with production teams.
• Ensure fridge compliance checks are completed and recorded.

2. Driver & Supervisor Management

• Lead and manage Night Driver Supervisors and Senior Supervisor performance.
• Oversee sickness cover planning and contingency arrangements.
• Monitor driver communication channels and ensure structured issue tracking.
• Standardise communications to drivers and reduce informal reporting channels.
• Maintain driver profile access information and system accuracy.

3. Fleet Compliance & Governance

• Oversee road accident reporting, investigation follow-up, and documentation.
• Maintain insurance oversight and ensure policy compliance.
• Ensure vehicle taxation is current and properly documented.
• Maintain National Fleet Database compliance and manage government audit questionnaires.
• Oversee breakdown recovery coordination and reporting.
• Ensure structured key management controls are in place.
• Drive full adoption and compliance of the Vehicle Check App.

4. Garage & Fleet Readiness Oversight

• Oversee reactive and proactive maintenance scheduling with the Garage Manager.
• Chair weekly Fleet Readiness reviews.
• Ensure defect reports translate into scheduled maintenance actions.
• Monitor remote garage performance and maintenance compliance.
• Resolve prioritisation conflicts through structured escalation processes.

5. Systems & Process Discipline

• Drive structured reporting processes to eliminate reliance on informal channels (e.g., WhatsApp).
• Ensure digital handover reporting replaces paper-based systems.
• Coordinate with IT regarding scanner updates, maintenance, and troubleshooting guidance.
• Ensure training materials and operational guides are maintained and accessible.
• Develop in line with the business needs a reduced number of transport applications to manage the overall efficiency of the department

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Route completion rate without escalation.
• Preventative maintenance adherence percentage.
• Breakdown frequency reduction.
• 100% tax and insurance compliance.
• National Fleet Database audit readiness.
• Vehicle Check App usage compliance rate.
• Supervisor performance review completion rate.

Skills & Experience Required

• 5+ years’ experience in transport, logistics, or distribution operations
• Strong experience in hub-based or multi-drop environments
• Proven ability in route planning and scheduling at scale
• Strong leadership and team management capability
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills
• Hands-on, solutions-focused, and comfortable operating at both strategic and operational level
• CPC qualification desirable; full, clean driving licence essential

For further information on this Transport Operations Manager role in Tipperary please contact Caroline Kingston on +353 868395531 or email caroline@hero.ie Check out all our open jobs on our HERO Recruitment website – https://www.hero.ie/.

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