Depot Manager – Surrey

Depot Manager
Location: Cranleigh, Surrey
Salary: £50,000–£55,000
Bonus: Up to 30% of basic salary
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00 (40 hours)
Benefits: Company car or car allowance, private healthcare, pension and 25 days’ holiday

Are you an experienced Depot Manager, Branch Manager or Operations Manager with a strong technical background and a proven track record of driving commercial and operational performance?

You’ll have responsibility for leading a multi-disciplinary team, including field-based engineers, parts, administration and fleet operations, ensuring the depot operates efficiently, delivers excellent customer service and achieves its financial targets.

We’re looking for a commercially minded, hands-on leader who is comfortable managing multiple teams, analysing financial and operational performance, and driving continuous improvement.

This is a fully off-the-tools management position, so you’ll need to be confident taking ownership of both the people and commercial aspects of the business.

The Role:

• Leading and managing the overall performance of the depot, ensuring operational and commercial targets are achieved.
• Managing and developing a multi-disciplinary team, including engineers, parts, administration and fleet personnel.
• Overseeing multiple field-based engineers, ensuring effective planning, utilisation, productivity and service delivery.
• Taking responsibility for budgets, forecasts, profit margins, work in progress (WIP), stock, warranty, pricing and cost control.
• Monitoring financial and operational reports, identifying trends and implementing improvements to drive depot performance.
• Maintaining excellent customer service standards and managing escalations, complaints and service delivery issues.
• Overseeing fleet and equipment availability, utilisation, maintenance, compliance and service records.
• Ensuring accurate invoicing, reporting, systems and operational data.
• Maintaining high standards of health and safety, compliance, governance and audit readiness.
• Recruiting, developing, motivating and retaining a high-performing team.
• Managing employee performance, attendance, appraisals, training and development.
• Working closely with Sales and Regional Management teams to support contract delivery, customer retention and business growth.
• Identifying and implementing continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, service quality and profitability.

What We’re Looking For:

• Depot Manager
• Branch Manager
• Operations Manager
• Regional Operations Manager
• Service Manager (with wider commercial and operational responsibility)

You’ll need:

• Proven experience managing the commercial and operational performance of a depot, branch or service operation.
• A strong technical background within a relevant industry.
• Experience managing field-based engineering teams and wider operational functions.
• Full responsibility for financial performance, budgets, forecasting, margins and cost control.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Experience managing customer relationships, service delivery and operational escalations.
• A good understanding of health and safety, compliance and operational processes.
• Strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel, with the ability to analyse reports and use data to drive performance.

Sector experience is essential, within one of the following:

• Materials Handling / Forklifts
• Plant Machinery
• HGV / Commercial Vehicles
• Agricultural Machinery
• Automotive
• Experience within both short-term and long-term rental operations

Salary & Benefits

• Basic salary: £50,000–£55,000.
• Annual bonus: Up to 30% of basic salary, dependent on depot performance.
• Company car or car allowance.
• Private healthcare.
• 25 days’ annual leave.
• Company pension contributions.
• Monday to Friday working week.
• 40 hours per week, 08:00–17:00.

Interested?If you’re an experienced Depot, Branch or Operations Manager with a technical background and the commercial ability to drive a successful operation, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact Celi on 0330 440 2323 or apply today!