About this role
Lead Distribution Manager - West Midlands
Birmingham Central DO
Permanent, Full time
Salary & Benefits
Competitive salary
Plus:
• £2,800 car discount
• Healthcare options
• Up to 18% annual bonus potential
• 27.5 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with service
• Pension: access to the UK’s only Collective Defined Contribution scheme with industry-leading Royal Mail contributions of over 12%, flexible options to boost your savings, and a guaranteed retirement lump sum*
About the Role
Reporting to the Regional Collection & Distribution Manager, you’ll be accountable for the performance of our Birmingham, Worcester and Wolverhampton distribution sites and Vehicle Operating Centres. You’ll lead operational managers and frontline colleagues, ensuring resources, vehicles and plans are aligned to deliver service safely, efficiently and in accordance with legal and business requirements.
You’ll use performance data to identify gaps, develop robust improvement plans and optimise the flow of mail across the pipeline. Working closely with Fleet, Assets, operational colleagues, customers, agency partners and trade unions, you’ll lead change and create an environment where people are engaged, supported and accountable for delivering results.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead safe and legally compliant fleet and distribution operations, maintaining Operator Licence and wider transport responsibilities.
- Drive performance across safety, service, quality, productivity, people and financial measures using data and continuous improvement tools.
- Lead, coach and develop Traffic Office Managers and frontline teams, ensuring clear objectives, regular performance conversations and effective development plans.
- Optimise fleet utilisation, resource planning and the movement of mail across sites, working closely with Fleet, Assets and pipeline colleagues.
- Build constructive relationships with trade unions, internal stakeholders, customers, external partners and agency suppliers.
- Lead business plans, operational change and special-event activity, ensuring risks are managed and service commitments are protected.
About You
You’re an experienced operational leader with a strong understanding of transport, logistics or distribution. You can lead through managers, set clear expectations and create a culture where safety, service and continuous improvement are part of everyday working.
You’re comfortable making decisions within a complex and fast-moving operation, using performance and financial information to identify priorities and take effective action. You communicate clearly, build credible relationships and can influence colleagues, senior stakeholders and trade union partners to achieve positive outcomes.
What You’ll Bring
- Experience leading managers and sizeable frontline teams within transport, logistics, distribution or a comparable operational environment.
- Strong knowledge of safety, fleet compliance, accident investigation and UK road transport legislation.
- Experience delivering results across operational, customer, people and financial performance measures.
- Strong strategic planning, resource management, data analysis and budget-management capability.
- A track record of leading change, continuous improvement and sustainable performance improvement.
- Excellent stakeholder, influencing and industrial relations skills, including experience working with trade union representatives.
You’ll need to hold a Certificate of Professional Competence or be prepared to study for and attain it within 12 months.
Role Impact
You will lead 11 direct reports across the 2 sites, with overall responsibility for approximately 250 managers and frontline colleagues.
You’ll also have responsibility for a fleet of approximately 110 vehicles and delegated budget accountability and the legal obligations associated with the site’s Operator Licence. Your leadership will directly influence safety, compliance, network performance, customer service and colleague engagement.
Benefits & Rewards
In addition to the salary and benefits outlined above, you'll also enjoy:
• Family friendly support - enhanced maternity pay, paternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave
• Supportive and generous company sick pay
• Funded Dental – As a manager you are eligible to a level of employer funded dental insurance**
• Health Assessment – As a manager you are eligible to an employer funded health assessment every 2 years**
• Benefits Account – With more than 800 retail offers to help you save on things like groceries, days out, holidays and your household bills as well as employer provided and voluntary benefits to suit your lifestyle.
• Your Wellbeing - you and your family have 24/7 access to a range of free services and tools, offering support for physical and mental wellbeing, financial guidance, and social support whenever you need it.
*Eligible for enrolment in NEST pension plan after 3 months service and CDC pension scheme after 12 months service
**Available only to permanent employees
Next Steps
The next stage of the selection process will be a face to face interview consisting of competency based and role specific questions along with a management scenarios task. We plan to hold interviews on w/c 2nd November at Birmingham Mail Centre.
Trust is the foundation of Royal Mail / Parcelforce / RM Property and Facilities Solutions. We aim to be transparent about the qualities we seek and what a career with us entails, building trust from the start of your journey with us. Your interview is the first step, and we want you to shine. To help you prepare, we’ll provide your interview questions in advance, so you can have your best examples ready. At Royal Mail Group, we value trust and our people
We understand that candidates may not meet all the criteria for the role. If your experience is different, but you have relevant skills we’d love to hear from you.
Closing Date: 20/10/2026. Please note, this advert may close early if the appropriate number of applications has been reached.
Job Reference 345075