Head of Fleet Commercial in West Midlands

Position: Head of Fleet Commercial

Reporting to: Fleet & 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.

Challenges expected within the first 12 months include:

• Influencing performance improvement across long-standing, complex supplier relationships while working within contracts that limit the ability to change provider or recover consequential losses.
• Strengthening commercial influence and stakeholder engagement within a environment that has historically been engineering-led, ensuring colleagues are brought with the role rather than managed around it

Key deliverables within the first 12 months include:

• Deliver a demonstrable improvement in fleet availability and reliability, with performance at minimum maintained and clear progress achieved against current underperformance.
• Build stronger, more effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, evidenced by earlier engagement and greater confidence in our clients commercial contribution.
• Actively challenge the status quo and introduce practical improvements to commercial decision-making, contractual performance management, analysis or ways of working.

Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience)

Senior commercial, contract-management or asset-management experience within a complex, regulated and high-value operating environment. 

Proven ability to manage long-term supplier and asset relationships where performance, availability, reliability, investment and contractual obligations must be balanced without the option to simply change provider.

Commercial and contractual capability covering lease arrangements, negotiation, investment cases, value-for-money assessment and performance mechanisms. Awareness of maintenance, engineering and regulatory constraints is essential; deep engineering qualifications are not.

Essential Soft Skills (Attributes & Behaviours)

A credible, personable and assured communicator who can build trust with senior internal and external stakeholders.

Solution-focused and commercially sharp, with the confidence to challenge entrenched practice constructively and find practical routes through complex issues.

Working Arrangements & Location:

• HQ in West Midlands with travel expected to Derby and London as required
• Hybrid working, typically 3 days in the office 2 days from home.

Search timescale Agreement

Stage

Agreed Date

Situational Discovery (Role Scoping Meeting)

Completed – 5th  November 2026

Search ‘Go Live’

Immediately following sign-off 

Shortlist Presentation & Review Meeting with Client.

3rd of December 2026

First Stage interviews between Candidates & Client.

Week of 7th December 2026 

2nd Stage interview between Candidates & Clients

W/C 14th December 2026 or in the New year

Decision to offer successful candidate

24 hours after final stage interview 

Likely Candidate Start Date

March 2027, factoring in a 3-month notice period 

 Ford & Stanley Executive Search Pre-Submission Process:

• First Engagement: A short engagement and introductory conversation to position the opportunity, gauge candidate early interest level and arrange a time and date for a more detailed discussion. NDA sent (if applicable) upon receipt of signed NDA - Candidate Opportunity Brief shared.
• Candidate Discovery: An open, conversational and consultative discussion where candidates and executive search consultant explore and discuss the opportunity brief. Candidates are assessed on their suitability for the role in the context of the key essentials and challenged on how the opportunity lines up with their career aspirations, motivations, financial expectations and personal circumstance. The search consultant will utilise the information captured during candidate discovery to start to build your profile on suitability. Recommendations may be made at this point for adjustments or updates to your CV.
• The ‘shortlist’: Shortlisted candidates, having taken time to reflect on the opportunity and undertake subsequent research on the clients business are reengaged where they are asked to provide additional specific information on their suitability (if/where applicable). Final checks of key notes, package details and logistical alignments made. Finishing touches are then made to your profile prior to submission along with our notes and recommendations.

Budget & Supporting Benefits: 

Please reach out to Alex Rowland directly.

Executive Search Delivery Team:

• Billy Jackson | Principal Consultant - Ford & Stanley: (Client Recommendations/Advisory, Offer Negotiations, Consulting, Networking, Shortlisting, Headhunting)
• Alex Rowland | Managing Consultant - Ford & Stanley: Headhunting, Networking, Research, Search, Longlisting, Interviews, Data & Market Intel
• Tilia Kozluk – Executive Assistant: (Data, diary management and coordination)

About Ford & Stanley Executive Search:

Please see supporting appendix: Executive Search Candidate Journey

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective of sex, sexual orientation,

gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political  beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy. Services advertised by Ford & Stanley Executive Search are that of an executive search and talent advisory business.