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Job Description
Key accountabilities and measures
• Lead and inspire a large multi-site Planning division to create highly efficient, cost-effective transport plans aligned with business and customer needs.
• Accountable for the delivery of effective peak and event transport plans in collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure smooth, well-coordinated operations during high-demand periods.
• Work with the Heads of Transport Operations and site Transport Managers to deliver against transport budgets and key performance indicators.
• Shape and execute the national transport planning strategy, balancing cost, capacity, and service to drive customer value and operational excellence.
• Contribute to the delivery of strategic initiatives that enhance customer value and drive continuous improvement through innovation, data-led decision making and process optimisation.
• Act as role model for the "One Network" mindset with multi-site cross training, knowledge sharing and collaboration embedded in ways of working
• Champion a culture of development and continuous learning within the planning teams. Through coaching, mentoring, and support from Regional Planning Managers, ensure team members are empowered, skilled, and motivated, enabling strong succession planning and consistently high performance.
• Manage key stakeholder relationships across Wincanton and Sainsbury's to ensure alignment and effective collaboration.
Key skills / requirements
• Proven ability to lead, coach, motivate and engage a large, multi-layered diverse team across multiple sites to build a high-performance culture.
• Skilled in developing talent and building strong succession pipelines by promoting a continuous learning environment and growth mindset.
• An understanding of FMCG transport planning, with strong commercial acumen and a clear understanding of how logistics decisions influence service, cost and business outcomes.
• Ability to shape and execute transport planning strategies aligned with business goals with an agile, collaborative and customer focussed approach
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to drive the CI agenda would be an advantage.
• Proactive, forward thinking and solutions-focused, with strong analytical and critical thinking skills and the ability to anticipate and address challenges before they arise.
• Excellent interpersonal and proactive communication skills, with the ability to build and manage complex internal and external stakeholder relationships, influence at all levels, and align teams around shared goals
• Thrives in fast-paced, complex, dynamic environments, demonstrating adaptability and resilience in the face of change and ambiguity.
• Self-motivated and confident working independently, using initiative to drive progress and respond effectively to evolving priorities.
• Ability to travel as required to work closely with the Planning and Operational site teams.
• Base location is flexible with the opportunity to work partly from home.
Key relationships and stakeholders
• Wincanton Head of Transport Planning for Sainsburys and Argos
• Regional Planning Planning Manager
• Heads of Transport
• Wider Wincanton Network
• Network Development Director
• Sainsbury's National Backhaul & Haulier Manager
• Wincanton Backhaul Managers
• Continuous improvement Team
• Sainsbury's
• Finance
• Site Based Transport Managers
• Planning Managers within the One Network
• Sainsburys Primary Planning team
• Wincanton Group Transport and Home Delivery contracts
About you and the role
This is an exciting opportunity for a strong people leader to shape the future of the Transport Planning Division and help position Sainsbury's Argos as the UK's leading transport planning team.
With a team of planners spread across 13 sites, this role requires strong proactive communication and the flexibility to travel. While day-to-day operations are well-managed by experienced Regional and Site Planning Managers, we're looking for someone with a strategic mindset-someone who can anticipate challenges, drive improvements, and ensure the network is always one step ahead. A strong focus on developing the team and building a positive culture is critical.
The network averages 1,850 driver shifts and 3,500 deliveries offering scope for optimisation. You'll be supported by a capable and committed team, ready for a leader who can unlock their full potential and foster a culture of collaboration, development, and continuous improvement.
Every day will bring new challenges and opportunities to make a real impact. Are you the right person to lead our journey to setting the standard for excellence in UK transport planning? Join us - your journey starts here.
Wincanton's Commitment
Our people are our most important asset and as such we are continuously expanding our capability programs to provide you with opportunities to build and extend your professional, functional, and management skills. Your development through coaching is our priority. Continuous learning takes place through a broad variety of opportunities and types of engagements. Access to the latest technological innovations in the logistics and supply chain industry, as well as Wincanton's deep knowledge and expertise in our field, constitute a superb platform for your professional development.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
About Us
Wincanton is a leading supply chain partner for British business, providing supply chain solutions up and down the country. Through a wealth of experience and knowledge Wincanton provides business critical services including storage, handling and distribution; high volume eFulfilment; retailer 'dark stores'; two-person home delivery; fleet and transport management; and network optimisation for many of the UK's best-known companies.
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