Head of Fleet Delivery

Candidate Opportunity Brief

Position: Head of Fleet Delivery

Reporting to: Engineering & Safety Director 

Ford & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group) are a leading Executive search and talent advisory firm specialising in the following sectors:

Rail & Transportation                      

Civils & Construction                       

Manufacturing & Supply Chain      

Technology & Cyber Security         

Logistics & Intermodal Freight        

Defence        

Our search directors, search consultants and in house research team specialise in retained opportunities at the highest level of organisational leadership and management.

Our success is based upon a blend of trust-driven relationships, robust market knowledge, and working practices that ensure the best possible alignment of organisational need with experience and personal ambition.

Working with business leaders on bespoke assignments for over a decade, we understand exactly what our customers expect from an executive search and talent advisory service - whether there is a pressing business need for an executive interim or that of a long-term permanent appointment - Ford & Stanley Executive Search provide the solution.

We have been exclusively appointed by our client business on a retained search for a Head of Fleet Delivery.

Below you will find a 'Candidate Opportunity Brief' developed from notes taken during the scoping meeting (Situational Discovery) held between the Principal Consultant & Senior Consultant of Ford & Stanley Executive Search and the Engineering and Safety Director of our client company. 

This brief is designed to give candidates a deeper insight into the opportunity inherent within the role, the challenges the role presents, and provide access to the detail that sits behind the job specification.

Key deliverables within the first 12 months include:

Deliver a sustained and measurable improvement in fleet availability, shifting performance to the required level by stabilising day‑to‑day delivery, addressing known engineering issues, and embedding the operational disciplines.

Lead a culture shift across the fleet function, create a more open, accountable, and change‑ready culture that supports modern ways of working.

Rebuild confidence in this business area, demonstrating safe, reliable, and professional fleet delivery that improves the organisation's confidence in the department's capability.

Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience)

Rail fleet background and experience required, candidates can come from TOC'S, FOC'S, OEM's or Overhaul/Maintainers.

Demonstrable knowledge and experience in production processes.

Strong people leadership experience, we expect candidates to have led similar-sized teams previously.

Proven track record of driving continuous improvement and positive behavioural change.

Demonstrable experience in leading multiple teams across different geographical locations.

Strong stakeholder engagement experience, at all levels (Shop floor, through to senior leadership).

Essential Soft Skills (Attributes & Behaviours)

An innovative transparent leader who can bring fresh ideas and ways of working to the business.

Resilient, ability to work under pressure and challenge when required.

Level-headed and collaborative in their approach across all levels of the business.

Articulate and inspirational, with the ability to bring teams on a journey.

Working Arrangements & Location:

Candidates are required to travel across the network, this to include the West Midlands, South of England and Greater London.

Hybrid working available; however candidates must be prepared to be a present on-site leader up to 5 days when required.

Ford & Stanley Executive Search Pre-Submission Process