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 Telford
A new town situated in Shropshire, Telford is located around 30 miles from Birmingham and is one of the fastest growing settlements in the UK, making it a great choice for those seeking Head of Freight vacancies.
Most of Telford was built in the 1960s and 1970s on what had previously been industrial and agricultural land. However, people have been living in the region for thousands of years and evidence has been found of Roman roads and other ancient settlements. In its early days, the region's economy was based mainly in the mining of coal and ironstone, as well as metalworking.
As a planned town, Telford has been carefully laid out, with loads of residential property and plenty of retail outlets. What's more, the road infrastructure means that it's easy to travel between Telford and other destinations like Birmingham, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.
In recent years, further regeneration and expansion have occurred to make the area even more attractive for businesses and residents.
These days, much of Telford's economy is based in the service sector and IT industries. Companies like Hitachi, Maxell and Nokia have offices or manufacturing facilities in the area, while other companies include GKN, Siemens and Fruit of the Loom.
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.
Are you an experienced head of freight? Please click the link below to register with us- from your profile you can set job alerts to send notifications when a new role goes live.
Contact us