Logistics Operations Director

Morgan McKinley; Dublin; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan McKinley is partnering with a key client in the Irish logistics sector to appoint an experienced Logistics Operations Director to join the senior leadership team.

This pivotal role demands strategic and operational leadership across a large-scale, multi-site network spanning warehousing, distribution and transport, with a focus on transformation, automation and continuous improvement to deliver measurable performance gains.

Qualifications

• Senior leaders with experience at Logistics Director / Operations Director level.
• Proven leadership of large-scale, multi-site logistics operations.
• Experience delivering operational transformation and measurable improvements.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across warehousing, distribution and transport operations.
• Develop and execute the logistics operations strategy aligned with long-term growth.
• Lead transformation, change and continuous improvement programmes.

Skills

Senior leadership

Logistics operations

Automation

WMS/TMS

Lean Six Sigma

Stakeholder mgmt

Tools

WMS

TMS

ERP systems

Job description

Morgan McKinley are delighted to be working with a key client in the Irish logistics sector on the appointment of an experienced Logistics Operations Director to join their senior leadership team.

This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for an accomplished logistics and operations professional with a proven track record of leading large-scale, multi-site logistics operations across warehousing, distribution and transport.

The Logistics Operations Director will have strategic and operational responsibility for a complex logistics network and will play a key role in the organisation's continued growth, transformation and operational development.

With a strong focus on operational excellence, process optimisation, automation, technology, continuous improvement and scalability, this role will suit a commercially minded and transformational leader who is capable of challenging existing operating models and delivering measurable improvements in performance.

The Role

The Logistics Operations Director will provide strategic and operational leadership across a large-scale, multi-site logistics network encompassing warehousing, distribution and transport operations.

A key priority will be to assess and evolve existing operating models, processes, systems and ways of working, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency, service levels, quality and cost performance.

The role has a significant transformation and continuous improvement mandate and will suit a leader who has successfully modernised, optimised and scaled complex logistics operations.

Working closely with the senior leadership team, the Logistics Operations Director will help shape the future operational strategy, ensuring the organisation has the capability, technology, infrastructure and leadership culture required to support continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across multi-site warehousing, distribution and transport operations.
• Develop and execute the logistics operations strategy in line with the organisation's long-term growth and commercial objectives.
• Lead significant operational transformation, change and continuous improvement programmes.
• Review and redesign logistics processes, workflows and operating models to improve efficiency, productivity and scalability.
• Drive the optimisation of end-to-end logistics operations, ensuring high levels of service, quality and operational performance.
• Champion automation and digital transformation, including the effective use of WMS, TMS and other logistics technologies.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual or inefficient processes and maximise the value of operational data and analytics.
• Embed Lean, Lean Six Sigma or comparable continuous improvement methodologies across the logistics function.
• Deliver measurable improvements across productivity, efficiency, service, quality and cost.
• Lead strategic cost-management and productivity initiatives while protecting customer service and operational standards.
• Develop a high-performance leadership culture focused on accountability, collaboration, engagement and continuous improvement.
• Ensure robust standards of health & safety, quality, governance and regulatory compliance across all logistics operations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and senior internal stakeholders.
• Develop operational capacity and capability to support future business growth and changing customer requirements.
• Strengthen succession planning, talent development and leadership capability across the logistics function.
• Provide clear operational insight and performance reporting to the senior leadership team.
• Contribute to wider business strategy and act as a key driver of operational and organisational development.

Candidate Profile

We are keen to engage with senior logistics and operations leaders who have substantial experience within logistics, contract logistics, supply chain, distribution, warehousing, transport or similarly complex operational environments.

The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate:

• Senior leadership experience at Logistics Director, Operations Director, Head of Logistics, Head of Operations, General Manager or equivalent level.
• Proven experience leading large-scale, multi-site logistics operations.
• A strong track record of delivering operational transformation and measurable performance improvement.
• Demonstrable experience leading or delivering warehouse, logistics or supply chain automation projects.
• Strong practical knowledge of WMS, TMS and wider logistics and operational technologies.
• Experience implementing Lean, Lean Six Sigma or other structured continuous improvement methodologies.
• A proven ability to redesign processes, operating models and ways of working to improve operational performance.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience managing operational budgets, costs and productivity.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior leadership and board level.
• A data-driven and analytical approach to operational decision-making.
• A transformational leadership style, with the ability to engage, develop and lead teams through significant change.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with strong operational execution.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a high-calibre Logistics Operations Director to take on a strategically important leadership position within a well-established organisation in the Irish logistics sector.

The successful candidate will have significant scope to influence and shape logistics strategy, operational performance, automation, technology adoption, continuous improvement and organisational capability across a complex multi-site network.

For an ambitious logistics leader looking to make a tangible impact and play a central role in the next phase of an organisation's operational development, this represents an exciting senior leadership opportunity.