Senior Logistics Manager

Senior Manager Logistics, Shipping & Export – Process Build-Up / Remote Operations (m/f/d)Position Purpose

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on logistics professional who will take ownership of our logistics, shipping and export operations and build a scalable, efficient and digitally enabled operating model.

The key objective of this role is to analyze the current setup, identify operational gaps, design improved processes and implement them end-to-end.

A major focus is to establish processes that can be managed and executed digitally and remotely wherever operationally feasible. Physical activities that require an on-site presence should remain clearly defined and separated from administrative and coordination tasks.

This is not a pure operational coordination or order-processing role. We are looking for someone who can build structures, establish standards, implement digital workflows and take ownership of continuous operational improvement.

The ideal candidate combines strong logistics expertise, process thinking, hands-on execution and a high level of digital affinity.

Key Responsibilities1. Build and Optimize Logistics Operations

• Take ownership of day-to-day logistics, shipping and export processes while simultaneously improving the underlying operating model.
• Map and assess current processes from order receipt through delivery and identify operational bottlenecks, redundancies and manual work.
• Define and implement clear end-to-end processes, responsibilities, interfaces and escalation paths.
• Establish standardized workflows that are scalable, transparent and independent of individual employees.
• Clearly separate physical warehouse activities from administrative, coordination and control activities that can be performed remotely.
• Establish robust backup and handover structures to ensure operational continuity.

2. Process Design & Implementation

• Translate current-state processes into clearly defined target-state processes.
• Design practical workflows and implement them rather than limiting the role to analysis or recommendations.
• Define process owners, responsibilities, approval steps and service levels.
• Create and maintain:
• SOPs
• Work instructions
• Checklists
• Process maps
• Approval workflows
• Escalation procedures
• Documentation standards
• Ensure that newly defined processes are actually adopted and followed in daily operations.
• Continuously review processes and drive further improvements based on operational performance.

3. Digital & Remote Operations

• Identify administrative and coordination activities that can be digitized and managed remotely.
• Convert manual processes into digital workflows with clear ownership and status visibility.
• Establish a structured digital document and filing system for logistics, shipping and export documentation.
• Reduce dependency on emails, spreadsheets and individual employee knowledge wherever possible.
• Define requirements for ERP, shipping, customs, document management and workflow solutions.
• Support the selection, implementation and optimization of appropriate systems.
• Drive automation of recurring activities such as documentation, shipment status, approvals, reporting and data transfer.

4. Shipping & Transport Management

• Plan, organize and control national and international shipments.
• Select, manage and evaluate freight forwarders, carriers and logistics service providers.
• Establish clear processes for transport booking, shipment execution, tracking and exception management.
• Monitor freight costs, transit times, delivery performance and service quality.
• Establish transparent procedures for:
• Freight cost management
• Shipment tracking
• Delays and exceptions
• Damages and claims
• Customer delivery issues
• Carrier performance
• Negotiate and continuously optimize operational arrangements with logistics partners where required.

5. Export & Customs

• Establish reliable and standardized export processes for international shipments.
• Ensure complete and accurate export and shipping documentation.
• Optimize customs-related workflows and interfaces with external customs brokers and logistics providers.
• Ensure correct handling of relevant export documents, customs requirements and Incoterms.
• Identify compliance risks and implement appropriate controls.
• Ensure that export transactions are properly documented, traceable and audit-ready.

6. Cross-Functional Operations

• Establish clear interfaces between Sales, Procurement, Warehouse, Logistics, Finance, Customers and external service providers.
• Define who provides which information, at what point and in which system.
• Reduce operational friction caused by unclear responsibilities, incomplete information or manual handovers.
• Act as the central operational interface for logistics and export-related topics.
• Establish structured communication and escalation routines.

7. KPI & Performance Management

• Define and implement relevant operational KPIs for logistics, shipping and export.
• Establish transparent reporting and performance monitoring.
• Track, among others:
• On-time delivery
• Transport lead times
• Freight costs
• Shipment volumes
• Carrier performance
• Claims and damages
• Export processing times
• Process exceptions
• Manual processing effort
• Use KPI data to identify root causes and drive corrective actions.
• Establish a continuous improvement cycle based on measurable operational performance.

8. Team Enablement & Scaling

• Train and onboard employees on newly established processes and systems.
• Build practical knowledge bases and standardized operating procedures.
• Ensure that processes can be executed consistently by different team members.
• Reduce key-person dependency through documentation, systemization and clear ownership.
• Support the organization as processes and shipment volumes scale.

Your Profile

• Several years of solid professional experience in Logistics, Shipping, Freight Forwarding, Export or Supply Chain Management.
• Proven track record of building, restructuring or significantly improving operational processes.
• Strong end-to-end understanding of logistics processes from order through delivery.
• Hands-on experience with national and international transportation.
• Solid knowledge of international shipping and export processes.
• Experience with customs and foreign trade processes is an advantage.
• Good knowledge of Incoterms and relevant shipping/export documentation.
• Experience working with ERP systems, ideally SAP or comparable solutions.
• Strong IT and digital affinity.
• Practical experience with digital workflows, document management and process automation.
• Ability to translate operational requirements into simple, executable and scalable processes.
• Strong analytical skills combined with a pragmatic, hands-on approach.
• Highly structured, independent and solution-oriented working style.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Very good German and good English skills.

What We Expect From You

We are looking for someone who builds rather than maintains.

You should be comfortable taking an undefined or inefficient process and turning it into a reliable operating model:

Understand the current process → identify weaknesses → define the target process → implement the workflow → assign ownership → digitize where possible → document the process → train the team → measure performance → continuously improve.

You should be willing to get into the operational details when necessary, while always keeping the bigger process and scalability perspective in mind.

We value execution over theory. You do not need to wait for a perfect system or a large project team. You should be able to identify priorities, implement pragmatic solutions and create visible improvements quickly.

Target Operating Model

The long-term objective is to establish a lean, transparent and scalable logistics and export organization.

Administrative, coordination and control activities should be handled digitally and, wherever possible, remotely.

Only activities that genuinely require physical presence — such as warehouse handling, physical inspections or loading/unloading — should remain on-site.

The target model should provide:

• Clear ownership and responsibilities
• Standardized and documented processes
• Digital workflows and documentation
• Real-time visibility of shipment status
• Reduced manual work and email dependency
• Reliable export and customs processes
• Measurable operational performance
• Reduced key-person dependency
• Remote-capable logistics administration
• Scalable processes for future growth

Your role is to build this operating model and make it work in day-to-day operations. Stellenwert die Position für das Unternehmen hat.