Group Planning Manager

Salary Range: £45,000 per annum
Location: Derby
Contract type: Full time, permanent
Working hours: Monday to Friday

MAIN PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE JOB

To proactively lead and plan with the relevant planning teams within the group, whilst also delivering a transport plan that effectively deploys the company's transport assets. This plan should deliver; efficiency, compliance, meet customer requirements, keep cost to a minimum and generate profit to the business where possible.

To manage a planning organisation capable of delivering today's business and meet the aspirations of the company and the individual into the future.

DUTIES & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage the Daily Transport Plan by:

* Daily analysis of the costs associated with each site, region and ultimately group.

* All transactions and planning to be done through Paragon and Apod.

* Regular monitoring of Empty Legs information.

* Regular monitoring of resource pool insofar as vehicles, trailers and drivers.

* Monitoring status of planned and completed jobs.

* Liaising daily with logistics planners, ensuring data integrity and accuracy for dashboards.

* Gathering all relevant information on outstanding work in allocated regions and communicate 'state of play' during daily conference call.

* Working alongside Logistics planners to assist where possible all sites that have work outstanding or requirements.

* Liaising with Customer service teams, Loop teams, Site Managers and other stakeholders with remedial action put into place should it be needed.

* Briefing planning team with all relevant information from conference calls.

* Management and utilisation of “best fit” hauliers.

Provide leadership and guidance to the planning team and individual planners by:

* Liaising with sites and transport team in relation to any restrictions which compromise planning efficiency.

* Analysing all information for the team's resource pool. Discussing all excess hours and utilisation with individual planners and inform Operations of all intended actions.

* Highlighting any agency trends/challenges for proactive action.

* Controlling the management of absence and holidays for the team.

* Ensuring critical information is flowing by updating relevant parties and/or issuing notices.

* Ensuring that all training needs are met for the planners including inductions, re-training, NAV, Paragon, Apod, Webfleet, Tachomaster, Logistics Dashboard.

* Delivering improved organisation capability through the Appraisal, 1-1 process and objective setting.

Skills and competency

· Practical knowledge of budgeting and the monitoring the profit and loss statements.

· Ability to create a good plan and determination to accomplish goals.

· Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

· Good data analysis, planning and organisational skills.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Good leadership qualities with the ability to provide direction.

Experience

· A proven track record in transport planning.

· Experience in general budgeting, including profit and loss.

· An experience people manager, ideally with site experience in a highly operational and customer service focussed environment.

· Experienced at delivering operational KPIs.

Knowledge

· Planning software use - preferably Paragon.

· Planning management experience.

· Experience using Microsoft Office.

Personal attributes and other requirements

· Ability to travel around the network sites.

· Customer obsessed.

· Strong manager.

· Coach not dictatorial.

· Communication & engagement of team.

· Commercial awareness