Manager – Logistics & Warehousing

Nature Bio Foods - Europe; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Nature Bio Foods - Europe is seeking an experienced, hands-on leader to take end-to-end responsibility for inbound logistics, customs, outbound European distribution and warehousing. Based on-site in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, you will own major logistics cost centers and contribute to the European P&L while coordinating with global teams.

You will oversee 2,000 outbound truck movements annually and drive OTIF performance, cost optimization, and safe, compliant warehouse operations across our

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in international logistics, customs and warehouse operations.
• Working knowledge of Dutch and EU customs processes, import documentation, freight forwarding and international shipping.
• Strong English, commercial negotiation, analytical problem-solving and multicultural people-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee international container flows from shipment planning through arrival, customs clearance and delivery to the warehouse.
• Coordinate ocean freight planning, carrier arrangements and shipping schedules with the central LT Foods logistics team.
• Manage customs brokers / CHA partners, freight forwarders, shipping lines, inland transport providers and other vendors.
• Ensure correct customs documentation, import compliance, duty assessment and timely payment of customs duties.
• Manage applicable customs authorizations, duty-free licenses and eligible duty-optimization procedures in coordination with relevant specialists.
• Actively prevent and control demurrage, detention, port storage and avoidable container-related costs.
• Resolve clearance delays, documentation discrepancies and other inbound exceptions while maintaining visibility for stakeholders.
• Lead company-operated warehouse activities across approximately 13,000 pallet positions, including receiving, storage, inventory control, picking and dispatch.
• Manage warehouse supervisors and operational teams with a strong focus on safety, productivity, accuracy and accountability.
• Optimize space utilization, manpower, equipment, stock rotation, product traceability and warehouse handling costs.
• Maintain standards required for food safety, organic integrity, quality, inventory accuracy and workplace safety.
• Coordinate daily priorities with Production, Planning, Quality, Sales and Customer Service teams.
• Plan for business growth and manage third-party warehouse providers when additional storage capacity is required.
• Develop SOPs, performance reporting, warehouse systems and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Own and manage cost centers for inbound freight, customs-related expenses, outbound transport and warehousing.
• Prepare budgets and forecasts; monitor cost per ton, cost per shipment, storage and handling costs, and budget variances.
• Identify sustainable savings without compromising compliance, customer service or long-term supplier relationships.
• Contribute to leadership reviews, business planning, capacity decisions and overall P&L performance.
• Lead a team of 25+ across warehouse, inbound logistics, customs and outbound logistics, based at Maasvlakte and offshore.
• Establish clear responsibilities, measurable KPIs, performance reviews and development priorities.
• Collaborate with the LT Foods central logistics team and European Finance, Sales, Procurement, Production, Planning and Quality functions.
• Build a practical, multicultural and accountable team culture with strong cross-border communication.

Job description

Nature Bio Foods is the organic business arm of LT Foods, a billion-dollar global food group known for its leadership in basmati rice. LT Foods is publicly listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and employs more than 6,000 people worldwide. Nature Bio Foods is a €110 million+ business with operations across India, Africa, the United States and Europe.

Our European business imports organic ingredients from more than 20 countries, then processes, cleans, treats and repacks them for industrial food applications and mainstream retail consumer packs. In just a few years, our Netherlands business has grown beyond €50 million, handling approximately 50,000 metric tons of organic ingredients annually.

Based in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, our European hub combines processing, packaging, logistics and approximately 13,000 pallet positions of company-operated warehouse capacity. We operate in a fast-growing organic market and value sustainability, cultural diversity, global collaboration and operational excellence. English is the preferred working language at the facility.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on and commercially minded leader to take end-to-end responsibility for inbound logistics and customs, outbound European distribution, and warehousing. The role is based on-site at Maasvlakte, works with locally based and offshore teams, and participates in the European leadership team. It has direct ownership of important logistics cost centers and a meaningful contribution to the business P&L.

• Oversee international container flows from shipment planning through arrival, customs clearance and delivery to the warehouse.
• Coordinate ocean freight planning, carrier arrangements and shipping schedules with the central LT Foods logistics team.
• Manage customs brokers / CHA partners, freight forwarders, shipping lines, inland transport providers and other vendors.
• Ensure correct customs documentation, import compliance, duty assessment and timely payment of customs duties.
• Manage applicable customs authorizations, duty-free licenses and eligible duty-optimization procedures in coordination with relevant specialists.
• Actively prevent and control demurrage, detention, port storage and avoidable container-related costs.
• Resolve clearance delays, documentation discrepancies and other inbound exceptions while maintaining visibility for stakeholders.

The business currently organizes approximately 2,000 outbound truck movements per year across its European distribution network.

• Plan and contract transport capacity with the right carriers and logistics suppliers, negotiating competitive rates and dependable service levels.
• Build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with transport partners rather than focusing on price alone.
• Deliver strong OTIF (On-Time In-Full) performance through effective dispatch planning, order coordination and proactive issue resolution.
• Optimize full-truck and part-load utilization, shipment consolidation, routing and loading schedules.
• Manage vehicle, loading-bay and warehouse loading constraints while meeting customer-specific delivery requirements.
• Monitor freight costs, service quality, damages, shortages and customer delivery issues; drive corrective actions.

3 : Warehouse Operations & Capacity

• Lead company-operated warehouse activities across approximately 13,000 pallet positions, including receiving, storage, inventory control, picking and dispatch.
• Manage warehouse supervisors and operational teams with a strong focus on safety, productivity, accuracy and accountability.
• Optimize space utilization, manpower, equipment, stock rotation, product traceability and warehouse handling costs.
• Maintain standards required for food safety, organic integrity, quality, inventory accuracy and workplace safety.
• Coordinate daily priorities with Production, Planning, Quality, Sales and Customer Service teams.
• Plan for business growth and manage third-party warehouse providers when additional storage capacity is required.
• Develop SOPs, performance reporting, warehouse systems and continuous improvement initiatives.

4 : Cost Ownership & Business Performance

• Own and manage cost centers for inbound freight, customs-related expenses, outbound transport and warehousing.
• Prepare budgets and forecasts; monitor cost per ton, cost per shipment, storage and handling costs, and budget variances.
• Identify sustainable savings without compromising compliance, customer service or long-term supplier relationships.
• Contribute to leadership reviews, business planning, capacity decisions and overall P&L performance.
• Lead a team of 25+ across warehouse, inbound logistics, customs and outbound logistics, based at Maasvlakte and offshore.
• Establish clear responsibilities, measurable KPIs, performance reviews and development priorities.
• Collaborate with the LT Foods central logistics team and European Finance, Sales, Procurement, Production, Planning and Quality functions.
• Build a practical, multicultural and accountable team culture with strong cross-border communication.

Success Measures

• Inbound: clearance lead time, demurrage/detention, freight efficiency and customs compliance.
• Outbound: OTIF, freight cost, truck utilization and delivery claims.
• Warehouse: inventory accuracy, pallet utilization, productivity, safety and cost per ton.
• Leadership: budget adherence, team performance and operational improvements.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in international logistics, customs and warehouse operations; prior international working exposure is essential.
• Demonstrable practical experience across all three areas: customs/inbound logistics, outbound transportation and warehouse management, rather than just one specialization.
• Working knowledge of Dutch and EU customs processes, import documentation, freight forwarding and international shipping; Rotterdam port ecosystem experience is a strong advantage.
• Experience managing warehouse teams, third-party logistics providers, transport contracts, budgets and supplier relationships.
• Preferably a background in food ingredients, FMCG, food processing, agricultural commodities or comparable international supply chains.
• Strong English, commercial negotiation, analytical problem-solving and multicultural people-management skills. Dutch is an advantage.
• Location preference: candidates living within approximately 50 km of Maasvlakte, with the ability to work regularly on-site.

Why Join Us?

Take ownership of a substantial and growing international operation, help shape the next phase of our European supply chain, work directly with the leadership team, and contribute to a business built on sustainable organic ingredients and long-term global partnerships.