Head of Freight
As logistics and supply operations grow bigger and travel further, it’s inevitable that they will also get more complex. And that’s when inefficiencies can start to creep in and the task can become overwhelmed with firefighting. That is, of course, unless there’s a good head of freight at the helm. Their job is to oversee the whole transport and logistics operation of a company, a region, a depot or a sector for a freight business.
Head of freight jobs come up regularly all over the world, and it’s no wonder why – a methodical, active philosophy to organising logistics, from the individual vehicle to the big strategic picture, keeps a logistics operation efficient and profitable. Look out for jobs called “Freight Forwarding Manager” or just “Freight Manager”, too, as they are usually similar roles, some of which are executive. In complex organisations the head of freight might well be overseeing a specific region, which can mean a county, a city, a country or a continent, depending on the nature of the business.
The skills required
The head of freight will have an excellent understanding of how supply chain interoperates, over sea, air, rail and road, and will understand how warehousing and fulfillment interact with last mile delivery and bulk logistics. Experience is key to filling this role at managerial level, so a proven track record in freight logistics is essential.
As head of freight, you’ll be occupying a position above the depot, driver and maintenance level, and possibly (but not necessarily) below board level, so you’ll need to be adept at communicating and understanding strategic instructions in both directions. You might be overseeing a small team of sub-managers, too, so high level managerial skills will come in handy.
Head of Freight Jobs in Ellesmere Port
Until the end of the seventeenth century, what we now call Ellesmere Port was a collection of tiny fishing villages. However the canal system needed outlets into the sea, and this location, at the eastern tip of the Wirral Peninsula, was chosen, and a town and port grew up around it. In the nineteenth century the Manchester Ship Canal was built, and Ellesmere Port marked the starting point of it, and again the port area, and hence the population, shot up.
Although Ellesmere Port is more or less on the Wirral, it is part of Cheshire. Birkenhead is 9 miles (15 km) to the north west and Chester is 6 miles (10 km) to the south. The M56 passes by the town’s south side, and the M53 goes through the town as it joins Chester to Birkenhead and Liverpool via the tunnel. The Warrington to Birkenhead railway also bisects the town.
There is a steady flow of Head of Freight jobs in Ellesmere Port thanks to two major industrial plants on its doorstep. The Stanlow oil refinery is the second largest in the UK and can process up to 12 million tonnes of oil a year, using the excellent transport links and nationwide pipelines to distribute its products. The other major employer is the Vauxhall plant, home of the Astra and the company’s only car plant in the UK. After troubled times in the 80s and 90s, things are looking up. With other industry in the town, a population of 65,000 and Chester and Liverpool just down the road, it’s a busy town at a major UK junction.
Popular locations
Head of freight jobs at Cast UK
Head of freight is one of the commonest positions we fill at Cast UK, mainly because of our supply chain background and the relationships we have built up over the years in the industry.
If you’re at a business that’s looking for a head of freight right now, or you regularly need regional or sectoral heads of freight to oversee your supply chain operations, call 0333 121 3345 today so we can start filling your vacancies.
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