Sector: Consumer Goods
Location: London (hybrid)
Salary: £75,000 - £90,000 + 15% bonus
Reports to: Logistics Director
A fast-growing, consumer goods brand is hiring a Head of Global Transportation to lead and scale its global transport and trade compliance operation.
The business has experienced sustained, high double-digit growth and is now at the point where it needs a senior, externally experienced leader to professionalise structure, strengthen partners, and build a longer-term global logistics and compliance strategy.
This is a highly visible role within the global operations leadership team, with responsibility for transportation strategy, carrier and forwarder partnerships, and global trade compliance governance.
Transport spend is expected to be in the region of £10m.
The role of Head of Global Transportation
You will lead global transportation and trade compliance across all modes and regions, ensuring reliable service, strong cost control and robust regulatory compliance as the business continues to scale internationally.
This is a genuinely senior role, combining operational control with longer-term strategy and transformation.
Key responsibilities for the position of Head of Global Transportation / Head of Logistics
- Own and deliver the global transportation strategy across air, ocean, road and parcel networks
- Lead carrier, freight forwarder and 3PL selection, negotiation and performance management
- Oversee global import and export compliance, including classification, origin, valuation and customs governance
- Build and embed global policies, SOPs and internal controls for transport and trade compliance
- Ensure ongoing compliance with international regulations and certifications (including AEO and C-TPAT)
- Own transportation and duty budgets, driving cost optimisation and duty / tax efficiency
- Lead escalation and risk management for customs issues, delays and regulatory change
- Partner closely with Operations, Finance, Legal, IT, Sales and Planning to support growth and market expansion
- Lead, coach and develop the global transportation and compliance leadership team
What they are looking for
- Senior leadership experience across global transportation operations (air, ocean, road and parcel)
- Strong, hands-on knowledge of international trade compliance, including HS classification, origin, valuation and customs regimes
- Experience working with global forwarders, carriers, brokers and 3PL partners
- A strong understanding of Incoterms, freight procurement and logistics cost drivers
- Experience designing and embedding policies, standards and governance frameworks
- Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, high-growth, international environment
- A confident communicator, able to influence at senior and operational levels
- Proven people leadership experience and the ability to build structure and capability as teams scale
Experience from either an in-house global logistics environment or a senior role within a freight forwarding / logistics services organisation will be considered.
Why this role is different
- The business is growing at c. 20-30% year on year and investing heavily in its supply chain
- Significant international exposure across Europe, North America and Asia
- A rare opportunity to shape a global transportation and trade compliance function at a pivotal stage of growth
- Strong focus on quality, service and brand reputation – not just cost
- Future-focused agenda, including partner strategy, network design and trade compliance risk mitigation
Additional information
- International travel required as the role demands
This role will suit a commercially minded, structured and highly credible transportation leader who enjoys building capability, challenging existing ways of working and helping a premium, global consumer brand scale safely and sustainably.
