Transport Manager Benelux

The organisation

Wholesale Building Materials.

The position

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Transport Manager plays a crucial role within the Benelux leadership team. The main focus area for this role will be to improve team morale and collaboration. The Transport Manager will need to implement strategic people management initiatives to reduce sickness rates and improve employee satisfaction and retention. Another key area will be to foster stronger collaboration across departments and build good relationships with key stakeholders in the MT, including sales, operations, and finance, to enhance organizational efficiency. 

The Transport Manager must navigate the transition from a family-run, driver-centric culture to a more business-oriented and safety-conscious environment. By reducing inefficiencies like empty trips and improving route planning, this role aims to transform logistics from a cost center to a value-generating function, helping drive growth within the company. Work is primarily based in Wanssum (NL) and Antwerp (BE), with regular travel to other operational sites and partner locations.

Tasks & responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate transport logistics for the company to ensure efficient and timely deliveries across the Benelux incorporating planning and fleet management.
• Lead and engage a diverse team of approximately 100 drivers in the Netherlands and Belgium, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Optimise fleet usage by reducing empty trips and enhancing delivery routes, while overseeing vehicle maintenance and ensuring just-in-time delivery of materials.
• Implement and enforce rigorous safety protocols, ensuring driver compliance with safety standards and legal regulations, while maintaining clear, ongoing communication on safety matters.
• Monitor and report performance and operational KPIs to the Management Team, ensuring transport operations contribute positively to budget targets and profitability.
• Manage and optimize planning and transport systems such as ERP, ensuring operations are data-driven and systems are embedded across the team.
• Provide mentorship and development opportunities to team members, focusing on leadership within NL and BE, and cultivating a team-oriented culture with improved internal communications.
• Collaborate with sales, finance, and operations to align logistics with broader business objectives, and develop a balanced policy between using the company fleet and hiring external carriers to maintain cost effectiveness, flexibility, and service quality.

Candidate profile

• Holds a master's or bachelor's degree in business administration or transport/logistics. 
• Fluent in Dutch/Flemish and English, with proficiency in French and German being an advantage
• Extensive knowledge of logistics and transportation management, particularly in the construction materials or similar industries such as bulk transport, chemicals, gas, or steel. 
• Demonstrated experience in managing and coaching large teams, with a focus on drivers and operational staff. 
• Strong understanding of safety regulations and compliance standards, with experience in fostering a safety-first culture within an industrial context. 
• Proven track record of managing Profit and Loss (P&L) in transport operations, focusing on cost control and enhancing operational efficiency. 
• Proficient in using ERP systems and planning tools to optimize and enhance operational outcomes in transport management. 
• Experience in overseeing cross-border transport operations, understanding the complexities and regulatory requirements of international logistics within Benelux and neighboring countries. 
• Experience managing a large fleet of vehicles, ensuring efficient maintenance, reducing downtime, and optimizing fleet usage. 
• Demonstrates leadership and empathy by effectively managing and motivating a diverse team, fostering a positive working environment. 
• Exhibits strong communication skills, capable of adapting messaging to various audiences, maintaining direct and transparent interactions. 
• Possesses quick-thinking and strong analytical abilities for problem-solving and decision-making, effectively balancing short-term and long-term objectives. 
• Collaborates effectively with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with business objectives and managing relationships across departments, suppliers, and customers. 
• Applies strategic thinking to views on the company's overall objectives, while maintaining attention to detail and balancing efficiency and quality. 
• Shows adaptability and resilience, effectively managing and leading teams through periods of change and driving improvements. 
• Maintains a customer-focused approach, ensuring that the transport function aligns with customer expectations for service quality and flexibility. 
• Approaches challenges and decisions in a hands-on, autonomous, and pragmatic manner, employing sound judgment to achieve business objectives. 
• Skilled in leading change and managing the resistance that may come with transitions, particularly evolving the transport function and employee mindset

The offer

€ 100.000 - 115.000 + bonus.

Interested?

You can apply for this position by using the link below.