National Project Manager - Fleet Engineering

Job Description

The National Project Manager – Fleet Engineering plays a key role in ensuring the effective management, compliance, and optimisation of the Booker fleet. While responsibilities may evolve in line with business needs, the role will consistently focus on operational excellence, project delivery, and strategic fleet development.

The position can be based at a Booker DC & will require travelling across the UK to be able to deliver the responsibilities of this role.

Operational & Compliance Management

• Ensure LGV VMU workshops operate to the highest standards of maintenance, legal compliance, and health & safety.
• Conduct Maintenance Standards and Compliance Audits across the network to ensure safe and legal operations.
• Manage compliance and maintenance standards of the LGV fleet across all locations.
• Support daily VOR management and collaborate with Transport teams and suppliers to minimise downtime.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with fleet manufacturers, maintenance suppliers, procurement teams, and distribution centres.
• Support fleet changes across the business, ensuring smooth operational transitions.
• Represent Booker professionally during site visits, scoping sessions, and supplier meetings throughout the UK.

Project & Programme Delivery

• Support the Lead Engineer in launching and delivering fleet-related projects.
• Deliver engineering-specific projects that enhance network capability and compliance.
• Support central fleet initiatives and contribute to broader project implementation as required.
• Assist Transport teams with annual project reviews and fleet readiness planning for peak trading periods.

Performance Management & Reporting

• Maintain and exceed KPI targets, ensuring strong operational delivery.
• Compile and distribute compliance KPI reports for key stakeholders.
• Confidently communicate KPI and performance insights across all management levels.
• Manage supplier performance against VMU contractual terms and challenge areas requiring improvement.

Financial & Procurement Support

• Support procurement teams with supplier contract negotiations.
• Review weekly and periodic supplier costs, challenging variances and identifying efficiency opportunities.
• Manage financial reporting against budgets and coordinate mitigation plans for any overspends.
• Provide long‑term asset planning support, ensuring sustainability and new technology remain key considerations.

Strategic Fleet Development

• Manage fleet specifications and identify opportunities for improvement with procurement.
• Develop capital investment plans and prepare presentations for Board approval.
• Offer strategic insights on future asset purchases aligned to business growth and sustainability targets.

Governance & Conduct

• Adhere to the Business Code of Conduct, demonstrating integrity and due diligence in all activities.
• Facilitate internal and external meetings, ensuring actions and next steps are clearly captured and delivered.

Additional Duties

• Undertake any other responsibilities within the general scope of the role as required to support business needs.

Key Skills and Experience

You’ll need to have demonstrated experience of:

• LGV technical knowledge
• Leadership and Supplier management skills
• Experience of communicating effectively and influencing suppliers and colleagues
• IRTE or City and Guilds qualified
• Supporting colleagues and exceptional teamwork
• Able to analyse data Interrogating our Fleet Maintenance platform.
• Have good attention to detail
• A passion to be excellent and a drive to make a change.
• IT skills to include excel and Microsoft office/word/Presentation

Preferable but not essential experience of:

• Distribution and Fulfilment experience
• Transport Manager CPC an advantage
• LGV 1 Driving Licence

Personal

• Flexibility, ability to plan and organise, responsiveness
• Able to build solid working relationships
• Be a people person that is approachable and easy to talk to
• Time management and an ability to prioritise
• Happy to travel regularly and meet new people on a daily basis
• Eagerness to learn and get stuck in where needed

Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, eight distribution centres, five Best Food Logistics sites, as well as six support centre locations across the UK.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we’re a place where Everyone’s Welcome.

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.

We’re proud that Booker is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support you can expect, please contact recruitment@bookergroup.com

Please note

We can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles.

On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.

*Booker Group is part of Tesco plc, however, is operated separately from the core Tesco business and as such the benefits offered will be different from those offered at Tesco*

For more information about us please visit www.bookergroupjobs.co.uk