Transport Director, Europe - other European locations (Germany, Belgium, Netherlands , Poland, Czech)
Covetrus, United Kingdom
Job Description
Responsible for the movement of all merchandise into the Distribution Network in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Negotiates pricing structures, discount levels, and service agreements with international, national and regional transportation service providers. Manages the insourced fleet network, defining best in class operating model and state of the art technical solutions. Evaluates the cost/service performance of all regional and local transportation services establishing relevant benchmarks. Designs and implements cross-country flows to support inventory re-distribution solution to meet customers’ demand.
Responsible for the transport projects at pan-European level, particularly related to: insource vs outsource, technology (eg. ePOD, telematics, geolocation), transport sustainability (eg. electric vehicles, considerate sourcing)
Requirements
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Strategic Insights, Decisions amp; Initiatives: Responsible to set the strategic direction and goals of transport and freight function across Europe. Uses benchmark and industry insights to set clear direction of focus for all teams across the European countries. Proactively identifies, designs, implements, and maintains initiatives and projects to continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the transport solutions.
- Transport Management: Negotiates pricing structures, discount levels, and service agreements with international, national and regional transportation service providers. Evaluates the cost/service performance of all last mile delivery (B2B and B2C), small parcel, sea/air inbound freight, less-than-truckload, and truckload services either outsourced or insourced to maximize cost reductions and improve service level. Assists Operations and Supply Chain Directors in the evaluation and improvement of their local traffic programs and transport performance.
- Project Management: Defines and runs projects related to Distribution Network optimization and innovation. Responsible to drive pan-European projects or initiatives in accordance with the transformation agenda agreed with the relevant business stakeholders. Lead the project development from concept to final design and approval, mobilizing either internal or external (consultants) expertise. Liaise with the relevant countries’ organization to align solutions and deployment. Implement the necessary Project Management and governance tools to follow up implementation.
- Cost controls: Evaluates the implementation of a European transport invoice control and freight claim recovery programs.
- Budget and KPIS: Support the European Operations Budget process. Evaluate risk and opportunities based on the country submissions and review these with the CFOs of the Customer Operations organizations ahead of the discussion with the VP Operations Europe.
- Health, Safety amp; Environmental: Reviews, analyses, and addresses any requirements for the Company to comply with all statutory requirements. Fosters a proactive approach regarding Health amp; Safety to ensure risks are quickly identified and mitigated to reduce any exposure to the Company.
- Continuous Improvement: Proactively engages with the Continuous Improvement organization to initiate, support and drive all continuous improvement projects across the Operations teams in Northern Europe.
- Meeting company standards pertaining to quantity and quality of work performed on an ongoing basis, performing all work-related tasks in a manner that is in compliance with all Company policies and procedures. Manage and Maintain compliance to Company Quality Systems, Sarbanes Oxley regulations and all other appropriate Regulatory bodies
- Adhering to Company policies, procedures, and directives regarding standards of workplace behaviour in completing job duties and assignments.
Review, adjust, implement and maintain effective KPIs to provide oversight of operations performance and early identification of issues or risks which require action.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Demonstrable knowledge and experience in Distribution (B2C/B2B) and Traffic Management experience with emphasis on organizing, motivating, supervising and evaluating staff.
Experience on sourcing 3PL/carrier services, negotiate contracts and manage/extend business relationship.
Comprehensive understanding of ERP systems (SAP 4/H as a plus).
Proven Project Management expertise, knowledge of the state-of-the-art technologies and tools to support the most efficient transport solutions.
GDP know how is preferable, Customs know how for import/ export is preferable.
Ability to derive the strategic agenda for Transport and Distribution from the business’ overall strategy.
3 years of e