Operations Director

Operations Director
Location- Slough

About the Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Operations Director to join a growing logistics organisation at a significant stage of its evolution.

This senior leadership role will take responsibility for a diverse operation encompassing international freight forwarding, air freight, express logistics, warehousing, specialist transport solutions and high-value logistics services. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving operational performance, supporting growth plans and developing a best-in-class logistics operation.

The position offers the opportunity to influence business strategy, lead organisational improvement initiatives and develop capabilities across a complex, multi-service logistics environment.

The Role

Reporting into the senior leadership team, you will have overall responsibility for the operational performance, profitability and continued development of the Heathrow-based business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership across freight forwarding, warehousing, transport and specialist logistics operations.
• Driving operational excellence through the implementation of robust KPIs, performance management processes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leading and developing a high-performing management team with a strong culture of accountability and ownership.
• Identifying and delivering improvements in productivity, service levels, operational efficiency and profitability.
• Developing strong relationships with customers, suppliers, carriers and strategic partners.
• Supporting commercial growth by working closely with sales and business development teams on new opportunities and customer solutions.
• Ensuring operational scalability as the business continues to grow.
• Leading change, transformation and integration initiatives across the wider organisation.
• Promoting the use of technology, data and innovation to improve operational visibility and performance.
• Maintaining the highest standards of compliance, quality, safety and operational governance.

Specialist Logistics Services

The operation supports a broad range of specialist services including:

• International freight forwarding
• Air and express freight
• Time-critical logistics
• White-glove delivery and installation
• Technical logistics
• Secure storage and handling
• Project logistics
• High-value and sensitive freight movements
• European specialist distribution services

The successful candidate will help develop and expand these capabilities while ensuring exceptional levels of customer service are maintained.

About You

We are seeking an experienced logistics leader with a strong track record of delivering operational and commercial success within a complex logistics, freight forwarding or supply chain environment.

You will possess:

• Significant senior leadership experience within logistics, transport, freight forwarding or supply chain.
• Strong knowledge of international freight forwarding, ideally including air freight and time-sensitive operations.
• Experience managing multi-service logistics operations.
• Proven ability to improve operational performance, service delivery and profitability.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Experience leading change and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent stakeholder and customer relationship management skills.
• A strong understanding of compliance, quality, security and operational best practice.
• Experience supporting business growth, transformation or integration projects would be highly advantageous.

The Person

This role requires a visible and commercially minded leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on operational leadership.

You will be comfortable driving change, challenging existing processes and introducing greater structure while maintaining a customer-focused and agile culture. You will have the credibility to engage with customers, inspire teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.

Most importantly, you will bring the ambition, leadership capability and vision required to help shape the future of a growing logistics business and support its next phase of expansion.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Harry Jones.

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