Area Manager, Management Operations Manager

A senior leadership role with full commercial and operational ownership. If you are an experienced manager ready to lead a multi-site business unit for one of the UK's most respected fuel suppliers, Watson Fuels wants to hear from you.

Niche Recruitment is proud to be partnering with Watson Fuels to recruit an Area Manager covering a cluster of depot locations across Stevenage, Theale, West London, and Copthorne. This is a significant leadership role with genuine breadth, combining commercial accountability, operational oversight, and people leadership across a busy and important region for the business.

This is a field-based role suited to someone who is equally comfortable driving sales performance and managing day-to-day depot operations. You will lead a team of six, comprising three Account Executives, one Key Account Manager, and two Operations Supervisors, taking full ownership of the commercial and operational performance of your business unit.

With almost 70 years of history and over 200 red tankers on the road, Watson Fuels has built its reputation as one of the UK's most determined and supportive fuel suppliers. The culture is one where strong leaders are trusted to run their patch, supported by a business that genuinely invests in its people and takes long-term development seriously.

What the role involves

Taking full P&L ownership for the business unit, managing volume, margin, cost, and profitability across multiple depot sites

Leading and developing a high-performing team of Account Executives, a Key Account Manager, and Operations Supervisors to exceed sales and operational targets

Driving sales performance through customer retention, new business growth, and margin optimisation across the region

Overseeing day-to-day depot operations across Stevenage, Theale, West London, and Copthorne, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient delivery

Overseeing planning, scheduling, and resource deployment to maximise driver and asset utilisation

Acting as a visible leader and advocate for HSSEQ standards, promoting a safety-first culture across all sites

Ensuring full compliance with driver hours, vehicle standards, transport regulations, and company policies

Managing high-profile customer relationships and supporting cross-selling across the product and service portfolio

Driving continuous improvement in service, cost, and operational performance

Supporting succession planning, team development, and a culture of accountability and collaboration

Working closely with regional, supply, finance, and HSSEQ teams to deliver against business objectives

What Watson Fuels is looking for

A proven background in sales management, with experience leading and developing field-based sales teams to exceed targets and KPIs

Operational experience in a depot-based or logistics environment, with an understanding of planning, driver management, and compliance requirements

Experience managing high-profile customer accounts and driving commercial performance at a senior level

Full P&L accountability and confidence managing budgets, costs, and margin in a fast-paced environment

Strong people leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, and hold a diverse team accountable

A safety-first mindset and working knowledge of HSSEQ standards and transport regulations

Experience handling investigations, disciplinaries, and performance management

Fuel, distribution, or logistics industry experience is strongly preferred, as is familiarity with regulatory bodies such as HMRC, VOSA, and the Environment Agency

What's on offer

Competitive salary

Performance-related bonus

Car allowance

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Matched pension contributions

Private medical and dental cover, with single cover paid by Watson Fuels

Employee Assistance Programme

Perkbox rewards, savings, and wellbeing perks

Cycle to Work and Home and Tech schemes

Free annual flu jab and eye care

Long service awards

Why this role could be your next step

This is a rare opportunity to take genuine ownership of a multi-site business unit within a well-established, growing business that has the scale to offer real career progression. If you are a commercially driven leader with the operational credibility to manage people, performance, and delivery across a busy region, and you are ready for a role where your impact will be visible and your contribution genuinely valued, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now with your up-to-date CV and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss next steps