Job Description

Head or Procurement

Job Title: Head of Plant and Fleet

Reporting to: CCO

Location: Manchester

About IES

IES Utilities Group Ltd is a leading UK utility provider delivering end‑to‑end infrastructure solutions. Our teams operate across Power, Gas, Water, Telecoms, District Heating and Renewables, supporting survey, design, construction, and maintenance services nationwide. Headquartered in Manchester, we are committed to innovation, safety, quality, commercial excellence, and sustainable delivery across all operations.

Procurement plays a critical role in enabling our operational performance, ensuring that goods, materials, subcontractors and strategic suppliers support the safe, efficient and cost‑effective delivery of our projects.

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Plant & Fleet is responsible for leading and developing the Group's plant, fleet, and equipment strategy, governance framework, and operational management.

The role ensures that all plant, vehicles, and equipment are safe, compliant, cost-efficient, and aligned to operational delivery needs.

This position provides strategic leadership to optimise asset utilisation, manage lifecycle costs, ensure regulatory compliance, and support operational excellence across all IES activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and develop the Plant & Fleet function, including fleet managers, plant coordinators, and depot teams.
• Define and implement plant and fleet strategy aligned with business growth, operational demand, and sustainability goals.
• Develop long-term asset strategies, including ownership vs hire models, replacement cycles, and investment planning.
• Embed a culture of safety, accountability, cost control, and continuous improvement.
• Drive innovation including telematics, fleet electrification, and digital asset management solutions.

2. Governance, Compliance & Assurance

• Ensure full compliance with all legal and regulatory obligations (e.g. DVSA, LOLER, PUWER, FORS where applicable).
• Maintain Plant & Fleet Management Systems, policies, and procedures covering inspections, maintenance, and usage.
• Oversee audit processes, asset compliance checks, and governance forums.
• Ensure all plant and vehicles meet safety, environmental, and operational standards.
• Provide assurance reporting on compliance, utilisation, incidents, and risk.

3. Asset Management and Utilisation

• Oversee the lifecycle management of all plant, fleet, and equipment from acquisition to disposal.
• Optimise utilisation across projects to reduce idle time and unnecessary hire costs.
• Lead planning and allocation of plant and fleet to meet operational demand.
• Maintain accurate asset registers, tracking, and condition monitoring systems.
• Develop strategies for standardisation of fleet and equipment.

4. Supplier Management & Performance

• Manage relationships with plant hire providers, vehicle suppliers, maintenance partners, and OEMs.
• Lead supplier selection, contract negotiation, and performance management.
• Ensure service level agreements (SLAs) deliver reliability, safety, and value for money.
• Manage external hire agreements and reduce reliance through strategic planning.
• Resolve supplier issues, disputes, and performance concerns.

5. Commercial & Financial Management

• Manage plant and fleet budgets, CAPEX and OPEX expenditure.
• Develop cost-saving initiatives including utilisation improvements, maintenance optimisation, and fuel efficiency.
• Conduct whole-life cost analysis and total cost of ownership (TCO) assessments.
• Lead commercial negotiations for fleet procurement, leasing, and plant hire agreements.
• Provide financial reporting, forecasting, and business cases for investment decisions.

6. Maintenance , Safety and Reliability

• Ensure effective maintenance programmes (planned and reactive) are in place for all assets.
• Drive high standards of asset reliability, uptime, and safety performance.
• Investigate incidents relating to plant and fleet and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure operator compliance including licensing, training, and certification.
• Work closely with SHEQ teams to maintain industry-leading safety standards.

7. Systems, Data and Digital Fleet Management

• Lead implementation and optimisation of fleet management systems, telematics, and tracking tools.
• Ensure robust data reporting on utilisation, fuel usage, emissions, maintenance, and costs.
• Use data insights to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making.
• Integrate plant and fleet systems with procurement, finance, and operational platforms.

7. Operational Support & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with Operations, Commercial, Procurement, Finance, and SHEQ teams.
• Support project mobilisation, planning, and delivery with appropriate plant and fleet solutions.
• Provide expert advice on asset selection, logistics, and operational efficiency.
• Engage with clients and external stakeholders on plant and fleet-related matters.
• Support incident investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.

Professional Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive experience in plant and fleet management within utilities, construction, or infrastructure sectors.
• Strong knowledge of fleet compliance, plant regulations, and asset management practices.
• Proven track record of managing large, diverse asset portfolios.
• Experience in supplier and contract management.
• CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) or equivalent desirable.
• Knowledge of telematics, fleet systems, and digital asset tools.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to define asset strategy and build a high-performing function.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong focus on cost control, efficiency, and value optimisation.
• Operational Excellence: Disciplined approach to compliance, safety, and performance.
• People Leadership: Ability to lead, coach, and develop teams.
• Decision Making: Data-driven, proactive, and risk-aware.
• Communication: Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.

Technical Competencies

• Fleet & Plant Asset Management
• Transport & Plant Compliance (LOLER, PUWER, DVSA)
• Supplier & Contract Management
• Maintenance & Reliability Management
• Cost Analysis & Total Cost of Ownership
• Telematics & Fleet Systems
• Risk Management & Operational Controls
• Sustainability & Fleet Electrification Strategy