Logistics & Transport Planner

This is a new role in the business so an opportunity for you to build on processes and develop them over time. Our business operates within the Direct Cremation industry where our caring Funeral Operatives collect the deceased in private ambulances from locations (e.g., private residences, hospitals, care homes) from all over the UK. The deceased are then brought to our specialist and modern care centre in Cannock.

Once the deceased are in our care you will then be responsible for planning the route of the final journey of the deceased to a Westerleigh Group crematoria (various locations throughout the UK), and schedule the delivery of cremated remains back to our families.

Planning the most efficient routes is important not only to the efficiency of the operation but also impacts the wellbeing of our staff on the road who can make the best use of their time and the end client who could be a family, waiting for us to arrive with them as promptly as possible.

You will also act as the key liaison between Operations and Customer Services team, ensuring a 'one team approach', with high quality timely communications and a continued focus on our clients.

Full responsibilities include:

· Planning and resourcing the nationwide collection of deceased from various locations.

· Planning and resourcing the nationwide delivery of deceased to crematoria.

· Planning and resourcing the nationwide collection and delivery of cremated remains back to our clients.

· Routes optimised to deliver as many actions per journey as possible to ensure cost efficiency and exceptional service, whilst ensuring Funeral Operatives are operating within safe standards for driving, and working hours are kept in line with the Working Time Directive rules.

· Altering route plans and schedules in real time with dynamic planning & utilising available resources to react to urgent call outs.

· Plan rotas for Funeral Operatives including operating a Standby, Callout and Out of Hours rota. Ensure Operatives have advanced notice of their rota and planned runs. Escalate any resource challenges to the Operations Manager.

· Work with Customer Services to deliver exceptional service - keeping them updated on actions related to the deceased and flagging any service delivery issues and ensuring clients expectations are always managed, clients are clearly communicated with and kept up to date

· Managing the vehicle fleet, allowing scheduled servicing and maintenance in line with manufacturer's guidelines to be planned in and completed and ensuring vehicles are maintained to a high standard with any issues escalated to the Operations Manager.

· Manage Funeral Operative team holiday scheduling, with the Operations Manager, and sickness and absence planning, optimising route planning and scheduling to minimise impact on the business and delivery of excellent service.

· Responsible for ensuring all ambulance runs are planned as efficiently as possible.

· Track performance and KPIs of planned runs against agreed service level agreements. Pro-actively provide reporting and MI to the Management team on performance of the operations team.

· Work with the Operations Manager to forecast future resource requirements for the fleet and Funeral Operatives so this can be planned in and budgeted accordingly.

· Responsible for managing the fleet of vehicles, including scheduled maintenance and servicing. Responsible for delivering the highest standards of service to clients and their families.

Have you always wanted to use your UK wide transport planning skills in a role where what you do can truly make a difference every day?

Would you enjoy working as a part of a close-knit team with a sense of camaraderie not found in a generic job?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

Due to continued growth, we are looking for a dedicated Logistics & Transport Planner to join our friendly team based at our Distinct Cremations Head Office in Cannock, Staffordshire., · Previous experience working as a Transport Planner, Logistical Planner, Haulage Planner, Route Planner, Supply chain Planner or similar transport planning role.

· Good knowledge of UK geography, regions and road networks.

· Good knowledge and understanding of relevant road traffic laws, health and safety, and the Working Time Directive to ensure a safe service is delivered.

· Excellent planning ability and high attention to detail to plan efficient and effective routes that offer the best service to families and our funeral operative team.

· Strong administration & IT skills - able to use systems to plan and track performance.

· Able to refine and develop processes as we continue to grow and involved in shaping the future of planning.

· Good communicator able to work well under pressure and build relationships cross functionally.

· Professional, respectful and can provide exceptional care as standard, remembering what we do and why it is so important to get it right first time.,

• Transport Planner, Logistical Planner, Haulage Planner: 2 years (preferred)


• UK geography, regions and road networks: 2 years (preferred)


• road traffic laws, health&safety, and Working Time Directive: 2 years (preferred)


Licence/Certification:

• Clean UK driving licence and transport (required)
  
  About Distinct Cremations and Westerleigh Group


Distinct Cremations is proud to be an FCA accredited, specialist provider of direct cremation services and we are part of the Westerleigh Group. We offer direct cremation services for people wishing to choose a simple, affordable, fuss-free funeral. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional, high-quality care and excellent service to all our customers.

Westerleigh Group has been building and managing Crematoria for 30 years and care for 60,000 cremations and burials every year. We are the largest independent operator of crematoria in the UK, employing more than 450 empathetic and dedicated individuals and we are growing.

We play an active part in the local communities that we serve and in 2023 our sites raised over £400,000 to support local charitable causes and projects.

Pulled from the full job description

• Bereavement leave


• Company pension


• Employee discount


• Free flu jabs


• Free parking


• Health & wellbeing programme


• Life insurance, If you would like to join the Distinct Cremations team, you can be sure of a warm welcome, ongoing training and development and a sense of pride by truly make a difference every day to the families that we serve.


In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for the following benefits:

· 24 days holiday + 8 days bank holidays

· Life Assurance

· Ongoing learning & development

· Pension scheme

· Life assurance

· Mindfulness App

· Mental Health First Aiders

· Access to a wide range of retail discounts and wellbeing support

· Free Cremation: Immediate family

· Bereavement Leave

· Enhanced maternity & paternity pay

· Snack boxes / fruit boxes on site

· Employee Assistance / Occupational health support Program

· Recognition scheme: Above & Beyond vouchers

· Free Flu jab

· Free parking,
• Company pension


• Employee discount


• Free parking


• Health & wellbeing programme


• Life insurance


• On-site parking


• Referral programme


• Sick pay


Schedule:

• 8 hour shift


• Day shift


• Monday to Friday


• Overtime


Ability to commute/relocate:

• Cannock, WS11 0JN: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)


Application question(s):

• Please note you will need to pass a DBS (criminal record) check to be considered for this role. (cost paid by us). Are you happy to do this?


• What transferable skills do you feel you have?


• Have you used any bespoke software to support route planning?