Transport Operations Director

Mcculla (Ireland) Limited; Lisburn; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading logistics provider is seeking a Transport Operations Director to guide the future of their transport operations across Ireland and the UK. The role involves strategic planning, operational excellence, and managing a large transport team. Key responsibilities include optimizing the transport network, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing a sustainability-focused fleet. This full-time position offers a competitive salary package based on experience, a performance-related bonus, and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

Performance-related bonus

Company car

Private health care

Matched pension contribution

Additional annual leave

Life and death in service insurance

Qualifications

• Senior management experience in transport within a multi-site environment.
• Proven leadership of large transport teams across the UK and Ireland.
• Deep understanding of UK and Irish transport regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for transport activities.
• Develop a transport strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Manage fleet strategy and sustainability initiatives.

Skills

Transport operations management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Cost control

Fleet optimisation

Regulatory compliance

Telematics

Education

CPC in Transport Management or equivalent

ILM Level 7

Tools

Transport Management Systems (TMS)

Route optimisation tools

Job description

Job Description

Location: McCulla (Ireland) Ltd, Blaris Industrial Estate, 5 Altona Road

Transport Operations Director

With over 55 years of experience in the logistics industry, McCulla Ireland is one of the country’s leading providers of ambient, chilled and frozen logistics solutions throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe. We have operating centres across Northern Ireland and Ireland, with further plans for expansion. With over 300 employees working across Transport, Warehousing, Customs and Green Bioenergy Operations, our modern fleet consists of over 120 vehicles and 200 trailers operating a just‑in‑time service with environmental sustainability at the forefront of everything we do.

The Role

The Transport Operations Director will play a key role in shaping the future of the McCulla Transport business, maximizing current operations and expanding for future growth. As Director you will provide strategic leadership, operational excellence, and commercial oversight for all transport activities across the UK and Ireland.

Duties

• Develop and deliver a transport strategy aligned to the overall business objectives for the regions.
• Lead transformation initiatives to optimise the transport network, improve service performance, and reduce operational costs.
• Forecast future capacity requirements and identify investment or capability needs across the department.
• Oversee the daily performance of all transport operations, ensuring KPIs and SLAs are achieved.
• Ensure full compliance with transport legislation, regulatory frameworks, and safety standards.
• Manage fleet strategy, including procurement, utilisation, maintenance, and sustainability initiatives.
• Implement best‑in‑class routing, planning and transport management systems to optimise performance.
• Lead, manage and motivate the transport team to deliver on strategic and operational objectives, fostering a high‑performance culture focused on accountability, safety and customer service.
• Own the transport budget for the region, ensuring cost control, accurate forecasting and financial performance.
• Lead commercial evaluations for strategic transport decisions including outsourcing, partnerships and supplier selection.
• Support the bid, tender and customer solutions process with transport expertise and cost modelling in conjunction with our commercial team.
• Drive innovation through digital tools, automation, telematics and real‑time visibility solutions.
• Lead sustainability and carbon‑reduction projects within the transport function.
• Build strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, regulatory bodies and internal stakeholders.
• Represent the transport function at senior leadership forums.
• Act as the point of escalation for significant service issues or operational disruptions.

Required Criteria

• Senior management or director‑level experience in transport operations within a complex, multi‑site environment.
• Proven track record of leading large transport teams across the UK and Ireland.
• Deep knowledge of UK and Irish transport regulations, road safety standards and O‑licence compliance.
• Demonstrable experience with cost control, fleet optimisation and strategic planning.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with transport management systems (TMS), telematics and route optimisation tools.
• Professional qualifications such as CPC in Transport Management, ILM Level 7 or equivalent.
• Experience driving sustainability and alternative‑fuel fleet strategies.
• Background in digital transformation or automation in logistics environments.

Terms

• Highly competitive salary package dependent on experience.
• Performance‑related bonus scheme.
• Company car.
• Private health care and travel insurance.
• Matched employee/employer pension contribution.
• Additional annual leave (service based).
• Life and death in service insurance.

Closing Date

Monday, 29th December 2025

Contract Type

Fulltime

Salary

Based on Experience