Transport Planning Manager

Shape the Future of Transport Operations at DS Smith
At DS Smith, we're redefining packaging for a changing world. As part of our continued focus on operational excellence, safety, and sustainable growth, we are seeking an experienced and driven Transport Planning Manager to join our Redditch site.
This newly created leadership role offers a unique opportunity to take ownership of transport planning, despatch, warehouse operations, and yard activities, driving meaningful change within a large and complex manufacturing operation.
Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will play a pivotal role in improving transport efficiency, controlling costs, enhancing safety performance, and developing a high-performing team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys leading from the front and influencing change in a business committed to continuous improvement.
About the Role
The Transport Planning Manager is responsible for the end-to-end leadership of transport planning, despatch, warehouse and yard operations at the Redditch site.
Unlike many traditional transport roles, this position oversees the entire transport planning process, from booking transport and managing third-party hauliers through to warehouse operations, despatch execution and customer delivery performance.
Working closely with Customer Service, Production Planning, Operations teams and wider cluster sites, you'll drive operational excellence while ensuring customer requirements are delivered safely, efficiently and cost-effectively.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the end-to-end transport planning, despatch, warehouse and yard operation, ensuring customer deliveries are achieved safely, efficiently and cost-effectively. You'll manage third-party haulage providers, optimise vehicle utilisation, routing and backloads, improve OTIF performance, maintain stock accuracy and identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.
Champion a safety-first culture across the operation, ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety legislation, company procedures and quality standards. You'll lead audits, risk assessments and incident investigations, driving continuous improvement and best practice across transport, warehouse and yard activities.
Lead, coach and develop the Despatch and Warehouse teams, creating a culture of accountability, engagement and high performance. You'll manage day-to-day operations, performance management, training, attendance and employee relations matters while building trust and successfully leading change within an established team.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on transport efficiency, service excellence and cost reduction. Working collaboratively across the DS Smith network, you'll implement best practice, reduce waste, standardise processes and support the site's future growth ambitions.
Build strong relationships with Production, Planning, Customer Service and external logistics partners to ensure operational priorities align with customer requirements. You'll provide regular performance updates to the General Manager and play a key role in supporting wider site and cluster objectives.
About You
We're looking for a confident and resilient operational leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
You may currently be working in Transport, Logistics, Supply Chain, Despatch, Distribution or Warehouse Operations and be looking for an opportunity where you can genuinely influence change and leave your mark on a business.
Most importantly, you'll bring a strong safety mindset, excellent leadership skills, commercial awareness and the credibility to engage and inspire teams.
Essential Experience & Skills
Proven leadership experience within a manufacturing, warehousing, supply chain or logistics environment.
Strong background in transport planning, despatch, warehouse or distribution operations.
Demonstrable experience leading and developing operational teams.
Strong understanding of Health & Safety compliance and continuous improvement.
Experience managing third-party transport providers and transport costs.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Strong problem-solving capability and data-driven decision making.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
A proactive, hands-on leadership style with the confidence to drive change.
Desirable
Experience leading transport efficiency or cost reduction projects.
Experience within FMCG, manufacturing or packaging environments.
Formal Health & Safety or Continuous Improvement qualifications.
Benefits
Competitive salary
25 days holiday plus bank holidays
Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
Employee Assistance Programme
Employee Discounts
Cycle to work scheme
Location: Redditch – On site
Hours: Monday – Friday – Full time
Contract: Perm
About us
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
Fair recruitment at DS Smith
To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria
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