Senior Transportation and Warehouse Manager

We invite applications for a Senior Transportation and Warehouse Manager in the GCC region. Our client is a Leading Global “Blue Chip” Dairy Manufacturer and offers a generous remuneration package.

Main purpose of the position:
The Senior Transportation and Warehouse Manager is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing all transportation and warehousing operations. This role ensures the efficient and timely delivery of products, optimizes warehouse operations, and ensures compliance with safety and quality standards. The Senior Transportation and Warehouse Manager aligns logistics strategies with the overall business objectives to drive operational excellence.

Role Overview
In this role, you will lead a team of four employees and report directly to the Head of the MENA Supply Chain. Your responsibilities will span operational, tactical, and strategic levels, affecting the operations of dairies and markets in terms of service levels, product quality, and financial performance. You will also manage MENA’s warehouses and transportation, including structuring, scoping, and setting KPIs, as well as overseeing 3PL management. You will thrive on challenging existing KPIs to drive continuous performance improvements.

Main tasks of the position (In terms of process & People):

Operational Responsibilities:

• Warehouse & Transportation Management: Oversee day-to-day warehouse operations, ensuring efficient and accurate handling of products from warehouse to warehouse and to international markets according to transportation standards.
• Work Environment: Promote and maintain a healthy, inclusive, and safe working environment for all employees, adhering to company policies and legal requirements.
• Supply Chain Coordination: Coordinate supply chain activities between various production areas, sites, and vendors to ensure seamless operations and optimal resource utilization.
• Delivery Agreement Compliance: Ensure compliance with delivery agreements by collaborating with operations and market teams to meet set standards.
• Service Level Monitoring: Continuously monitor and improve service levels, ensuring product quality and timely delivery to meet customer expectations.
• KPI Management: Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to operational efficiency, product quality, and service delivery, driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Inventory Control: Implement effective inventory management practices to ensure optimal stock levels, minimizing overstock and stockouts while maintaining product freshness.
• Problem Resolution: Address and resolve operational issues promptly, working with cross-functional teams to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Staff Development: Train and develop the operational team, providing guidance and support to ensure high performance and continuous improvement.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all supply chain operations comply with relevant local and international regulations, standards, and best practices.

Tactical Responsibilities:

• Contract Management: Negotiate and renew contracts with key 3PL providers, ensuring favorable terms and conditions to support operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Delivery Accuracy: Implement and monitor processes to improve delivery accuracy to customers, ensuring timely and accurate order fulfillment.
• Inventory Management: Ensure stock freshness in the market by managing inventory levels effectively and reducing waste through efficient stock rotation and demand planning.
• Cost Control: Monitor and control market costs, implementing strategies to improve cost efficiency without compromising service quality.
• Fleet Management: Optimize fleet utilization by analyzing transportation data and implementing best practices to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Lead the execution of sustainability initiatives, tracking progress against the sustainability roadmap and achieving set goals.
• Performance Metrics: Develop and utilize the MENA Supply Chain Dashboard to track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs), driving the excellence journey with clear metrics.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes to enhance overall supply chain performance through Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Cross-functional Coordination: Ensure effective coordination of supply chain activities across different production areas, sites, and vendors to streamline operations and enhance service levels.

Strategic Responsibilities:

• Develop and Implement Supply Chain Strategy: Create and execute a comprehensive supply chain strategy that aligns with Arla MENA’s overall business objectives, focusing on long-term growth and sustainability.
• Drive Innovation: Identify and incorporate innovative technologies and practices to enhance supply chain efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring the organization stays ahead of industry trends.
• Foster Strategic Partnerships: Establish and nurture strategic relationships with key suppliers, vendors, and partners to ensure a reliable and cost-effective supply chain network.
• Optimize Network Design: Analyze and optimize the supply chain network design to improve service levels, reduce costs, and enhance responsiveness to market changes.
• Supply Chain IT Roadmap: Lead the implementation of the MENA Supply Chain roadmap and the associated technology.
• Lead Change Management: Spearhead change management initiatives to support the successful implementation of new processes, systems, and technologies within the supply chain.
• Enhance Supply Chain Resilience: Develop and implement strategies to enhance supply chain resilience and risk management, ensuring continuity in the face of disruptions.
• Sustainability Leadership: Lead sustainability efforts across the supply chain, setting ambitious goals and ensuring alignment with global sustainability standards and practices.
• Performance Benchmarking: Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to benchmark performance against industry standards and drive continuous improvement.
• Long-Term Financial Planning: Collaborate with the finance team to develop long-term financial plans that support strategic supply chain investments and cost optimization efforts.

Who are the key stakeholders?
The Senior Transportation and Warehouse Manager will report to the Supply Chain Director and
work closely with production, quality, logistics, and external stakeholders.

Focus areas:
Specific focus areas:

• Strategic transportation and logistics management
• Warehouse optimization and efficiency
• Compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards
• Continuous improvement and cost management

Key success/performance measures:

• On-time delivery performance and accuracy
• Improvement in warehouse efficiency metrics (e.g., inventory turnover, space utilization)
• Compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards
• Achievement of logistics cost targets and budget adherence

Decision authority:
Departmental Structure:
The Senior Transportation and Warehouse Manager will report to the Supply Chain Director and
have decision-making authority within the transportation and warehouse team.

Financial/Non-financial:
Responsible for managing transportation and warehousing budgets and driving non-financial
aspects such as safety, quality, and compliance.

Leadership:
The Senior Transportation and Warehouse Manager will provide strategic leadership, coaching,
and development to the transportation and warehouse team, ensuring alignment with
organizational goals and fostering a culture of operational excellence.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant experience, including at least 3-5 years in food product handling and hands-on experience with warehouse management systems and SAP.
• Preferably experienced in continuous improvement, transportation management, Lean, or Six Sigma.
• Strong ability to collaborate and communicate with multicultural and diverse teams.
• Inspirational leadership skills, comfortable with change, and the ability to lead change.
• Capability to navigate between operational, tactical, and strategic responsibilities as needed.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a team-oriented approach.
• Strong technical and problem-solving skills.
• Desire and ability to oversee a 24/7 operation.
• Arabic speaking candidates will be preferred.