Project Manager (Fleet)

SUMMARY:
The Project Manager (Fleet) will be responsible for the end-to-end initiatives involving Fleet.

POSITION INFO:
The Project Manager (Fleet) will lead key initiatives relating to the company's vehicle assets. This role involves managing strategic projects-including electric vehicle (EV) adoption, telematics implementation, and route optimisation-by overseeing budgets, schedules, and cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency, minimise downtime, and ensure compliance with regional transport regulations. Key Responsibilities 1. Capital Procurement & Asset Lifecycle Management Strategic Acquisition Planning: Lead cross-functional teams to analyse vehicle utilisation, determine optimal asset lifecycles, and develop inclusive multi-year replacement or expansion strategies. Specification and Customisation: Collaborate with operational teams to define clear and precise technical specifications for new vehicles, specialised equipment, or customisation packages aligned with business needs. Decommissioning and Disposal: Manage asset retirement processes, maximising returns through effective remarketing, auctions, or lease returns, ensuring environmental and ethical considerations are met. 2. Technology Integration & Telematics Deployment System Implementation: Oversee the evaluation, pilot testing, and company-wide rollout of advanced technologies, including Fleet Management Information Systems (FMIS), GPS tracking, and electronic logging devices (ELDs), ensuring accessibility and usability for all users. Data-Driven Optimisation: Establish frameworks to analyse telematics data, delivering actionable insights into driver behaviour, idling, route efficiency, and vehicle diagnostics, supporting informed decision-making. Change Management and Training: Develop comprehensive, accessible training materials and facilitate inclusive workshops for drivers, dispatchers, and field managers to promote successful technology adoption. 3. Operational Efficiency & Sustainability Initiatives Alternative Fuel & EV Transition: Plan and manage the integration of hybrid and electric vehicles into the fleet, including coordinating the installation of charging infrastructure with consideration for accessibility and environmental sustainability. Maintenance Programme Optimisation: Lead initiatives to transition from reactive repairs to predictive maintenance, reducing downtime through improved scheduling and inclusive processes. Fuel Management Strategies: Develop and implement measures to reduce fuel costs, oversee fuel card programmes, and assess fuel efficiency benchmarks. 4. Regulatory Compliance & Risk Mitigation Safety Protocols: Design and implement safety campaigns and accident reduction initiatives, monitoring safety metrics organisation-wide to minimise risks and insurance costs, fostering a safe and inclusive workplace. Audit Readiness: Maintain thorough documentation to ensure compliance with Department for Transport (DfT) regulations, environmental standards, and local transport laws. Risk Assessments: Conduct risk analyses throughout project phases to identify supply chain issues, mechanical risks, or regulatory changes that may impact timelines. Licencing & Documentation: Ensure full compliance with vehicle licencing, roadworthiness testing, and local permits. Fines & Demerit Management: Manage traffic infringements (e.g. AARTO allocations) by assigning responsibility appropriately, safeguarding the company's operating licences. Insurance Claims: Oversee accident claims from initial reporting through to final repairs and insurance settlements with sensitivity and professionalism. 5. Vendor Performance & Stakeholder Management SLA Enforcement: Set and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for external vendors, including OEMs, upfitting services, maintenance providers, and fuel suppliers, promoting fairness and accountability. Contract Negotiations: Collaborate with procurement to negotiate service level agreements (SLAs), leasing terms, and bulk purchase discounts. Cross-Functional Communication: Act as the primary liaison between executive leadership, finance, legal, maintenance workshops, and field teams to ensure clear, inclusive, and effective project alignment. 6. Financial Performance & Budgetary Oversight Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis: Develop financial models to assess TCO for all vehicle types, supporting lease-versus-buy decisions for senior management. Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Management: Plan, justify, and oversee capital and operational budgets for fleet projects, providing monthly variance reports to executives. Cost-Benefit Diagnostics: Evaluate the financial viability of operational changes, delivering clear return on investment (ROI) analyses prior to project launches. Skills Experience: Pr