The Role
This is a senior operational leadership role for an experienced freight forwarding professional who understands the detail of road freight while also seeing the bigger commercial picture. The successful candidate will take responsibility for the smooth running of day-to-day operations while working alongside the Managing Director to drive profitable growth across the business. With the prospect of running the business.
With road freight at the core, this role oversees activity across UK and European transport, supported by sea and air services. You'll be equally comfortable managing live shipments, negotiating rates, and making strategic decisions that improve efficiency, service, and margin.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and control the end-to-end freight forwarding operation, with road freight as the primary focus
Maintain oversight of UK domestic and European road movements, ensuring service levels, compliance, and cost control
Provide operational leadership across sea and air freight activities, ensuring integration between all modes
Maximising profitability and negotiating with new clients and suppliers
Work closely with the Managing Director to align operational performance with commercial objectives
Drive margin improvement through effective pricing, supplier negotiation, and routing decisions
Support and influence sales activity with strong operational insight and commercial realism
Manage and develop the operations team, setting clear expectations and performance standards
Identify and implement improvements to workflows, supplier usage, and service delivery
Experience & Skills Required
Proven road freight experience is essential, including UK and European operations
Demonstrable exposure to sea and air freight within a freight forwarding environment
Strong operational knowledge of freight suppliers, hauliers, and forwarding networks
Commercially astute with the ability to balance service delivery and profitability
Confident negotiator with both customers and suppliers
Hands-on leadership style with the ability to step into operational detail when required
Highly organised, calm under pressure, and solutions-focused
Clear communicator, able to explain operational and commercial decisions effectively
Ambitios, accountable and motivated to grow with the business
Must be based in West Yorkshire
Package & Benefits
Salary: £35,000 - £55,000, dependent on experience
Bonus structure linked to new business performance
Company pension scheme
28 days holiday (including BH)
Birthday off
Gym membership
Paid company social events
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Salary description
£35000.00 - £55000.00 per year