Chief of Operations

1. Job PurposeThe Chief of Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across the company's Airfreight, Seafreight, Transport, Warehouse, and Supply Chain operations. The position is aaccountable for efficient, profitable, safe, compliant, and customer-focused service delivery, while leading operational managers, optimizing resources, controlling costs, improving productivity, and driving continuous improvement.2. Key ResponsibilitiesOverall Operations LeadershipProvide strategic direction and leadership across all operational functions.Oversee Airfreight, Seafreight, Transport, Warehouse, and Supply Chain performance.Establish operational objectives, KPIs, service standards, and performance targets.Ensure operations are aligned with the company's strategic objectives and annual business plan.Drive operational excellence, productivity, efficiency, and continuous improvement.Ensure effective allocation of manpower, equipment, facilities, vehicles, and other resources.Identify operational risks and implement mitigation measures.Build a culture of accountability, ownership, teamwork, and customer service.Airfreight OperationsOversee import and export airfreight operations, including planning, documentation, customs/pre-clearance, cargo handling, delivery, and customer service.Monitor airline schedules, capacity, transit times, shipment exceptions, delays, damages, claims, and complaints.Ensure shipments meet agreed service levels and operational timelines.Coordinate effectively with airlines, customers, customs authorities, transport providers, and internal departments.Identify opportunities to improve airfreight processes and reduce operational costs.Seafreight OperationsOversee import and export seafreight operations, including FCL, LCL, booking, arrival, customs clearance, delivery, and final closure.Coordinate with shipping lines, agents, ports, customs, transport providers, customers, and other stakeholders.Monitor vessel schedules, transit times, port operations, documentation, and shipment milestones.Control demurrage, detention, storage, port charges, and other avoidable operational costs.Manage shipment exceptions, delays, cargo damage, claims, and customer service issues.Warehouse & Supply Chain ManagementProvide overall leadership to warehouse and supply chain operations.Ensure efficient receiving, inspection, storage, inventory management, picking, packing, dispatch, and delivery.Plan warehouse capacity and optimize space utilization.Establish inventory controls and maintain high stock accuracy.Monitor warehouse productivity, order accuracy, turnaround time, equipment utilization, and operating costs.Transport & DistributionProvide strategic oversight of transport and distribution supporting freight and warehouse operations.Ensure adequate vehicle and transport capacity.Monitor fleet utilization, delivery performance, turnaround time, and transport costs.Coordinate transport with warehouse, Airfreight, Seafreight, and customers.Ensure transport providers meet agreed performance standards and QHSE requirements.Reduce empty trips, delays, fuel consumption, and unnecessary operating costs.Financial & Cost ManagementTake overall responsibility for operational cost efficiency.Develop and manage operational budgets with Finance and senior management.Monitor expenses against approved budgets.Analyze cost drivers and implement corrective actions.Monitor warehouse, transport, handling, port, demurrage, detention, storage, and other operational expenses.Support Commercial in developing profitable and operationally viable customer solutions.Customer Service & QualityEnsure consistently high levels of operational service delivery.Monitor SLAs, customer complaints, service failures, delays, claims, and incidents.Ensure root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions for recurring issues.Participate in key customer meetings when senior operational intervention is required.Work closely with Commercial to ensure customer commitments are operationally achievable.People Leadership & Development3. Key Performance IndicatorsOverall operational productivity and capacity utilizationShipment turnaround timeOn-time shipment/delivery performanceWarehouse productivity and space utilizationInventory accuracyVehicle utilizationCustomer satisfaction and complaint rateSLA complianceOperations cost against budget4. Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Business Administration, or a related field.Master's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related discipline is an advantage.Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in logistics, freight forwarding, supply chain, transport, or related operations.Minimum 3–5 years in a senior operational management or leadership position.Proven experience managing multiple functions including Airfreight, Seafreight, Warehouse, Transport, and Supply Chain.Strong experience in freight forwarding and logistics operations.Experience managing large operational teams and multiple managers.Strong understanding of international freight forwarding, customs, warehousing, transportation, and supply chain operations.Strong financial and operational management experience, including budgets and KPIs.Strong knowledge of QHSE, compliance, risk management, and operational controls.Experience with logistics management systems, ERP systems, and operational reporting tools is preferred.