Operational Readiness Lead – TMS Implementation

Connect Group PLC; Swindon; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK logistics company is seeking an Operations Readiness Lead to ensure efficient implementation of a new Transport Management System. The role involves leading operational readiness planning, training team members, and enhancing operational efficiency. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in transport and logistics, with proven leadership skills and a comprehensive understanding of TMS applications. This position offers a salary of £55,000 to £60,000 per annum, alongside various benefits including a car allowance, bonus, and health plans.

Benefits

Car allowance

Company bonus

Health Cash Plan

25 days holiday

Training and Development opportunities

Private medical insurance

Qualifications

• Proven operational leadership background within transport, logistics, or final-mile delivery.
• Experience leading operational change or system implementation within a live logistics environment.
• Deep understanding of Transport Management Systems and application in optimising transport operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational readiness planning across all depots and delivery functions.
• Drive testing and validation activities including User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
• Monitor post-implementation performance and support continuous improvement.

Skills

Operational leadership

Transport Management Systems knowledge

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Project or change management qualification

Job description

£55,000 to £60,000 per annum plus £5,688 per annum car allowance, bonus and benefits.

2 year fixed term contract

Our reputation as the UK’s largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler speaks for itself. Every day, we serve more than 22,400 customers from 33 distribution centres across the country. Behind every nightly miracle is a team of dedicated people carrying out more roles than you realise – we’re the unseen force that delivers. So when we say we’re excited for what the future holds for our customers and colleagues, you can trust we’re as good as our word.

This isn’t your typical Project Manager role. As our Operations Readiness Lead, you’ll make sure our planners, depot teams, and delivery drivers are fully prepared to hit the ground running from day one of our new Transport Management System (TMS) go‑live.

You’ll be the vital link between the project team and our operational network — turning agreed system designs into practical, real‑world ways of working. From testing and training to go‑live support and adoption, you’ll lead the transition that ensures the operation is confident, capable, and performing from day one.

In addition to leading readiness and adoption, you will be required to bring deep knowledge of TMS design and best practice — ensuring the system is not only implemented effectively but also used intelligently to unlock operational and commercial value. Acting as both practitioner and consultant, you’ll help determine how TMS data, functionality, and workflows can be applied to optimise planning, delivery performance, and future scalability.

You will focus on embedding the new TMS into everyday operational activity — ensuring teams understand how to use it effectively, that new processes run smoothly, and that the benefits of the new system are realised quickly and sustainably.

About the role

• Lead operational readiness planning across all depots and delivery functions, ensuring the business is fully prepared for TMS cutover.
• Drive testing and validation activities — including User Acceptance Testing (UAT), route‑planning checks, and “day‑in‑the‑life” simulations.
• Apply expert knowledge of TMS capabilities and transport best practice to advise on how system features, data, and analytics can be used to enhance operational efficiency and decision‑making.
• Act as a functional consultant within the programme, helping to define how the business should use the TMS — not just how to implement it — to achieve measurable benefits and continuous improvement.
• Translate agreed system designs into clear operational processes, ensuring they are well‑understood, documented, and trainable.
• Ensure any current operational processes and data flows are standardised and sustainable.
• Oversee workforce training and process adoption, ensuring all frontline users are confident and competent before go‑live.
• Act as the operational lead during go‑live and hyper‑care, coordinating issue triage, communication, and rapid resolution.
• Work closely with the Project Manager to align milestones, readiness checkpoints, and risk mitigations.
• Partner with depot and planning leadership to embed new ways of working and identify early opportunities for process improvement.
• Monitor post‑implementation performance, capture lessons learned and support continuous improvement across teams.
• Provide clear updates to governance forums on readiness, progress, and post‑go‑live stabilisation.
• Foster strong engagement across all stakeholder groups, acting as the operational voice of change within the programme.

What we can offer you

Not only do we offer free onsite parking, 4x salary life assurance and 5% match pension but you’ll also have access to:

• £5,688 per annum car allowance
• Company bonus
• Company funded Health Cash Plan – providing cash back for everyday healthcare costs such as dental, optical and physiotherapy
• 25 days holiday plus holiday buy scheme
• 24/7 E‑Learning modules, Training and Development opportunities
• Sharesave Scheme, Cycle to work schemes, Health cash plan
• Private medical insurance
• Colleague Assistance Programme & Colleague referral scheme

About you

Required

• Proven operational leadership background within transport, logistics, or final‑mile delivery.
• Experience leading operational change or system implementation within a live logistics environment.
• Deep understanding of Transport Management Systems and their application in optimising transport operations, data use, and reporting through analytical insights
• Ability to translate TMS capability into practical operational benefits — advising teams on what “good” looks like and how to achieve it.
• Hands‑on approach to training, problem‑solving, and performance improvement.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Confidence operating in project‑based delivery environments.
• Ability to travel across the UK to support depot readiness and go‑live activities.

Desirable

• Project or change management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, Lean, or equivalent).
• Experience in coordinating large‑scale operational rollouts or training programmes

Please note: you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.

A career with us is a career filled with people, pride, and passion. We rely on each other to get the job done, and we deliver what we say we will. Let’s see if we can rely on you, too. Apply now.