PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION

The Manager, Freight Transportation is a key, in-house strategy execution role for an organized, passionate, goal-oriented, energetic, and visionary business-leader who understands the challenges and the opportunities of an EU wide supply chain and transportation network. The ideal candidate brings in hands-on experience of owning an end-to-end EU Delivery network (FTL / LTL) with active 3PL carrier management experience and can help enhance the performance of our business.

• Own the Transportation Performance for his/her assigned network
• Manage an extended carrier portfolio across EU countries 
• Drive major change initiatives in EU network (New DCs, Transformation initiatives, Store Launches, System Deployments)
• Enable new services to provide better cost, performance, quality, and convenience for our internal and external customers
• Ensure proper carrier capacity is enabled in line with business plans, and work to secure additional capacity when ad hoc needs arise
• Participate and drive B2B transportation negotiations along with procurement
• POC of transportation for Distribution centers (own and 3PL), customers, carriers, IT, and sales 
• Initiate and drive or take part in new system capability deployments and process upgrades
• Effective 3PL vendor management, being able to drive performance of suppliers/vendors
• Uplift the overall Transportation awareness in internal SCM and business community
• Drive proper communication and engagement via stakeholder management

 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive freight delivery network performance for EU, in alignment with strategic direction
• Actively manage the assigned EU parcel carrier portfolio with proper cadence and governance (WBRs/ MBRs / QBRs – ad-hoc escalations, if need be)
• Improve transportation KPIs (OTIF, Speed, Cost, Sustainability, NPS and choices) for wholesale and retail fulfillment channels
• Budget ownership of over a 30+ Million Euro annual spend (invoices paid)
• Improve the transportation network with better optimized cost, service, and reliability 
• Help boost the sustainability vision of the company for the B2B / pallet network
• Drive active participation on cross functional projects.
• Help bring live the exciting projects such as new DC launches, or new store openings

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Initiate and drive discussions with cross-functional internal stakeholders, as well as external partners; to collect and consolidate input, anecdotes, issues, feedback, and insights to prepare, plan, align and deliver solutions 
• Deliver execution of the aligned tactical / strategic initiatives
• Proactively manage stakeholders, build rapport, and manage communication
• Stakeholders pertain (but not limited) to the following core functions
  • EMEA Supply Chain Management (DCs, product supply, order fulfillment, CS etc.)
  • EMEA Market (all functions)
  • External partners (carriers, solution providers and consultants)
  • Global Operations (Global Transportation, Procurement. Digital, Strategy and IT)
  • Corporate functions (e.g., legal, finance & performance management)

 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
 

Soft skills

• Thinks Big and has a bias for action. Expected to plan, align, deliver, and improve
• End-to-end mindset with a holistic view of problems and opportunities on hand
• Have a ‘yes’, ‘can-do’ attitude. Is a believer that positivism goes a long way
• Has backbone, develops and constructively communicates his opinion, not scared to disagree, and yet commit. Seeks the best for the business always
• Operates at all levels. Owns analysis and deep dives, contributes to strategy making
• Is able to come up with a strategy not limited to, but predominantly to his area of responsibility in line with the overall business strategy and direction
• Solution builder with a creative mind and solid experience in delivering results
• Highly autonomous, and self-motivated. Acts like an ‘owner’
• Earns trust, both among his/her teammates and internal/external stakeholders. 
• Does what he/she commits in due time, and dares to say ‘No’ when required so
• Engaging, open and perceptive to feedback and improvement
• Autonomous and capable of handling all-way communication (upward, lateral, and downward)
• Adapts well to change, perceptive and open to change, leads transformation efforts
• Solid presentation and storytelling skills
• Disciplined. Good at time management and organizational skills

Hard skills

• Expertise on EU carrier network, with suppliers, services, systems, ways of working and customer preferences
• Working experience with a Transportation Management and Optimization system (BlueYonder preferred)
• Advanced MS Office skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint
• Dives deep with proven data analytics skills, and gets his/her hands dirty
• Frugal. Delivers value, not ample meetings
• Cost conscious and financially literate
• Has experience in building and assessing Business Cases with scenario planning

Organization Cultural Add

• Works with an authentic and collaborative mindset. 
• Values teamplay above all, respect all opinions but also, has courage to do things differently, innovate and deliver with integrity 
• Sets and insists on the highest standards for his/herself
• Communicates effectively
• Owns the game
• Good at prioritization, and is perceptive of business priorities
• Provides feedback to peers, and owns his/her development and performance
• Curious, open to learn & develop. Believes that continuous learning is the key to any successful career path
• Fosters a team culture that encourages trustful, open, and constructive discussion 

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree from relevant departments of universities required. A Master’s degree and PMP / lean sigma certification preferred
• Minimum 4 years of relevant work experience in an advanced supply chain and/or transportation management environment (relevant consultancy included)