Operational Readiness Lead TMS Implementation - Fixed-term role with competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. (Hiring Immediately)
20 hours ago
Swindon
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 UKs 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 were the unseen force that delivers. So when we say were excited for what the future holds for our customers and colleagues, you can trust were as good as our word. This isnt your typical Project Manager role. As our Operations Readiness Lead, youll 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. Youll 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, youll 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, youll 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. Not only do we offer free onsite parking, 4x salary life assurance and 5% match pension but youll 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 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., • Project or change management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, Lean, or equivalent). 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. Lets see if we can rely on you, too. Apply now.