Head of Continental Operations - Rotterdam, Nederland - Thermotraffic

Beschrijving

Energy and expertise: Bring all your executional and motivational powers to the operational priorities of a leading specialist in cold chain logistics

Thermotraffic is a leading international supplier of specialized, temperature-controlled services, operating across Europe and beyond. Do you have the skills and experience to act as our new Head of Continental Operations, executing operational strategic priorities within your area of responsibility? Can you apply your business acumen and knowledge and experience of freight-forwarding and cold chain logistics to deliver best-in-class services? If so, find out more about a challenging role that offers a platform on which to prove your worth.

A large and international structure

Thermotraffic is a 100% subsidiary of the Nichirei Corporation. Our objective is to be the first choice for our clients by offering outstanding temperature-controlled services and transportation built on the expertise and ideas of our employees. In doing so we provide services to importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and distributors across the food industry. You will therefore be working within a substantial and proven organization that offers all the resources necessary to do your job to the best of your ability.

Ensure the execution of an operational strategy for success

As Head of Continental Operations you oversee an organisation of 193 people working mainly in the Netherlands, and a small team in Antwerp. This encompasses Transport, Customs, a Competence Centre, Customer Care and six cold stores in Rotterdam, Rotterdam-Maasvlakte, Venlo and Roermond.

Your core responsibility is the hands-on execution of strategic operational priorities, with a focus on productivity enhancements, process excellence, cost controls, and effective customer and people management. This requires you to proactively engage with customers, suppliers, business partners, employees and regulatory bodies, intervening to resolve bottlenecks and service disruptions to optimize the delivery of our temperature-controlled solutions.

To make all this happen you:

• Establish and maintain a well-functioning, motivated and disciplined team by fostering communication, setting clear goals, and celebrating achievements;
• Initiate and drive process optimization initiatives and projects within Operations;
• Monitor and take actions to improve efficiency, health and safety, quality, processes and systems, customer satisfaction, employee productivity, and profitability;
• Deliver timely, accurate, and substantiated management information, budget data, KPIs, and monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.

At all times you adhere to internal business policies, industry legislations, ISO9001, ISO22000, and AEO standards, as well as processes and procedures established by supporting functions such as Human Resources, Business Transformation, IT, and Finance.

The Thermotraffic offer

The newly created position of Head of Continental Operations is an opportunity to shape the future of our company. As a concerned and involved leader it is part of your role to maintain our open and friendly working environment in which everyone is encouraged to develop themselves both personally and professionally. The position is located at our busy office in Rotterdam.

You will also benefit from:

• Market competitive compensation
• 28 days of annual leave
• Company pension plan
• Company car
• Functional tools such as a smartphone and laptop

This role represents an active, day-to-day challenge for an experienced Logistics professional with all-round industry knowledge. As such, it demands a determined approach along with real business, technical and organizational expertise.

At the same time, you possess the enhanced interpersonal and leadership skills necessary to maintain an excellent and cross-cultural rapport with staff, colleagues, customers, suppliers, and business partners. This alignment will lead to the synchronization of people, systems, and processes, fostering an empowered, disciplined, and accountable culture. It will also motivate the team to take pride in the company, contribute to a winning team mentality, and ensure access to necessary training for providing top-notch logistics services.

The formal requirements are:

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics or Business;
• Seasoned freight forwarding professional with leadership experience and expertise in supply cold chain logistics, preferably in the food sector;
• Experience in financial management of business activities, including P&L, forecasting, and budgets;
• Excellent problem-solving skills and commercial awareness;
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills, including a high level of English and Dutch.

Get in touch

If you think this is the role for you, contact us today via the application button on this page. If you have any questions, please call us at or send an e-mail to

If you say food logistics, you say Thermotraffic

Thermotraffic provides a seamless, global one stop service for temperature-controlled food logistics. Always and everywhere, our aim is to be an irreplaceable partner for our customers by providing a combination of flexible and innovative solutions. Our people are the foundation of our success so we focus on personal and professional development within an enjoyable, safe and rewarding workplace. The result is a collaborative and can-do spirit that drives us to go the extra mile in order to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers. At all our sites across Europe, you'll be encouraged to acquire new skills and broaden your perspective so that you're equipped to challenge the status quo and make a valuable contribution to Thermotraffic and the wider industry.

Thermotraffic is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nichirei Corporation.