Business Manager to the Chief Operating Officer

About NVD

A family-owned business, established in 1980, NVD was set up to assist vehicle manufacturers in the timely and incident free distribution of their products. We've established ourselves as a one stop shop providing the three main pillars of outbound logistics, including transporting, storing and enhancing our customers' vehicles, prior to delivery to their end location. Since 1980 NVD has been at the forefront of pioneering the digitisation of the FVL industry. As early adopters of emerging technology we have been able to introduce huge efficiencies saving time and money for our customers. Our unwavering commitment to progress and continual service improvement remains at the heart of our business today.

This role requires occasional travel to our UK and Republic of Ireland sites to support business operations.

Role Purpose

The Business Manager serves as the primary strategic partner and operational proxy to the Chief Operating Officer. The role is designed to maximise the COO's executive capacity by managing governance, unblocking cross-functional projects, and directing strategic initiatives across Irish and UK operations. By bridging the gap between high-level executive strategy and boots-on-the-ground operational execution, this role drives structural change, modernises workflows, and embeds a sustainable zero-defect performance culture across all multi-site operations.

Pay and Benefits

• Pension Scheme
• Death In Service Benefit
• Digital GP Service
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Annual Leave Purchase Programme
• Long Service Awards
• Staff Purchase Schemes:

o Tyres

o Tools

• Bike to Work
• Discounted Gym Membership

Key Responsibilities & Operational Deliverables Executive Proxy & 2iC Representation

• Operational Delegation: Acts with delegated authority on behalf of the COO in cross-functional forums, steering committees, and senior leadership team meetings.
• Strategic Sounding Board: Serves as an advisor to the COO, transforming high-level corporate visions into actionable operational execution plans.
• Silo Demolition: Spearheads communication across the COO's direct reports to align priorities and eliminate functional friction points.

Operations Governance & Performance Tracking

• Executive Metrics: Establishes transformation governance models and dashboard systems to track operational KPIs against 5-year growth milestones.
• Reporting Architecture: Authors executive briefs, risk assessments, and transformation milestone progress updates for presentation to the COO and the SMT.
• Resource Governance: Evaluates department-wide resource allocation across the vehicle fleet, compound infrastructure, and technical staff to maximise ROI.

Change Leadership & Operational Standardisation

• Structured Transformation: Guides multi-site operation teams through structural and software transitions, ensuring consistent adoption and minimal business disruption.
• Cross-Border Cohesion: Aligns operational mindsets and technical processes between mature Irish compounds and fast-paced UK facilities.
• Zero-Defect Culture: Embeds systemic lean methodologies, feedback loops, and standardised inspection protocols to enforce uncompromising quality.

Cross-Functional Initiatives & Service Scaling

• Touchpoint Optimization: Coordinates with Business Development, Workshops, and IT to introduce digital tools that maximise the value-add touchpoints per vehicle.
• Best Practice Scaling: Deploys continuous process improvements uniformly across regional workshops to increase facility throughput and lower delivery lead times.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Management, Operations, Supply Chain Management, or an Engineering discipline.
• Experience: 8-10+ years of progressive management experience in automotive logistics, complex supply chains, or industrial operations. Significant experience supporting executive-level leaders is preferred.
• Methodology: Proven background in orchestrating multi-site change initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or structured project management frameworks.
• Commercial Lens: Strong financial and commercial acumen with a record of driving operational efficiency and asset optimisation.

Equal Opportunities Statement

National Vehicle Distribution is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We value openness, innovation, customer focus, and operational excellence. Our organisation actively promotes equality and prohibits discrimination based on gender, marital/civil status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, or membership of the Traveller community, in accordance with Irish and UK equality legislation. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our shared success.