Job Overview
You will provide operational and strategic leadership to a substantial and diverse workforce comprising:
Two Band 6 Transport Managers
Two Team Leaders
Five Lead Drivers
Approximately 110 NHS drivers (including bank staff)
The service operates across depots in Farnborough, Reading, Slough, Guildford, Ashford and East Surrey, supporting NHS sites, GP practices and external partners.
You will play a central role in maintaining performance, quality, compliance and financial control across this complex network.
Main duties of the job
Are you an experienced operational leader with a passion for delivering high-quality, patient-focused services across complex healthcare systems?
Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) Transport Services are seeking an enthusiastic, resilient and highly organised Transport Operations Manager to provide senior leadership across a large, multi-site, multi-Trust operation.
Working for our organisation
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.
Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.
We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.
Frimley Health Trust benefits on Vimeo
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Working closely with the Head of Transport, you will:
Provide day-to-day leadership of the BSPS Transport Service
Contribute fully to the strategic and corporate leadership of the service
Deputise for the Head of Transport when required
Set, monitor and maintain high standards of operational performance
Ensure compliance with externally set standards, timescales and regulatory requirements
Lead recruitment, workforce planning and training across multiple Trusts
Oversee effective staff induction, mandatory training and ongoing development
Maintain accurate personnel records in line with Trust HR policies
Lead and support complex change programmes and service developments
Manage depot budgets, including overtime and fuel expenditure
Oversee contract management of courier services
Procure goods and services in line with financial governance processes
Chair cascade meetings and maintain strong internal communications
Build effective working relationships with NHS managers, GP surgeries, private providers and stakeholders
You will ensure a professional, responsive and seamless transport service that directly supports patient care pathways.
About You
We are looking for a confident and credible leader who:
Has significant experience managing large operational teams
Demonstrates strong people management across multi-site environments
Has experience of budget management and financial accountability
Is skilled in managing performance, quality standards and service delivery targets
Communicates effectively with staff at all levels, including handling complex or challenging situations
Has experience of contract management and supplier oversight
Understands NHS governance, HR frameworks and compliance requirements
You will be proactive, solution-focused and capable of balancing strategic priorities with operational demands.
If you are ready to take on a senior operational leadership role within a high-performing NHS service, we welcome your application.
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
Specialist knowledge of transport work area acquired through post degree level qualification or equivalent work experience.
Some specialist knowledge of transport related issues including health and safety, and COSHH.
Desirable criteria
Basic computer qualification.
Special Requirements
Essential criteria
Driving skills are a vital element of the job.
Experience
Essential criteria
Experience of managing a multi-site Transport and warehouse operation.
Team leadership and management experience together with front line customer service.
Management of change.
Management of Health and Safety and manual handling issues.
Frequently dealing with operational incidents.
Occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
Desirable criteria
Experience of COSHH.
Skils & Knowledge
Essential criteria
Dealing with complex facts surrounding the provision of the transport service requiring analysis, interpretation and the comparison of a range of options; taking into account legislation, Health and Safety, conflicting demands, project delivery and compliance issues.
Evidence of showing ability to work under pressure with a calm and empathetic manner and make difficult decisions.
Able to work under pressure and to balance competing priorities.
Good interpersonal skills with a high level of integrity to deal with difficult situations.
Excellent leadership skills.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.
We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.
We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.
Alongside estates' investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.
Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.
Apply online now