Operations Director, DACH - Logistics

Role: Operations Director, DACH – Logistics

Locaation: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Hybrid: 3 days on-site; 2 days remote

Salary: €120,000 – €140,000 + bonus and car allowance

Pod Talent is proud to be partnering with an exciting business, a leading European logistics provider. Following the success of their pan-European growth in the past years and operational restructuring, we are now looking for an Operations Director to lead their DACH region through a period of transformation and long-term growth.

As the business enters a new growth phase, this role offers the opportunity to build structure from the ground up. You’ll take full ownership of DACH operations (transport, depots/repair and retail), supporting both day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning. This important role offers both immediate operational impact and future potential to step into regional leadership.

Reporting to the Managing Director of the region, this is a hands-on leadership position, where you'll need to be both structured and adaptable. The successful candidate will be expected to drive continuous improvement, implement process and cost control, and build strong cross-functional partnerships within a fast-evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all operational functions across the DACH region, including 3PL relationships, depot operations, FMCG and retail partners.
• Build and optimise new structures, processes and frameworks to improve accountability, service, and cost-efficiency.
• Own and manage the regional P&L, delivering budget targets and cost-saving initiatives.
• Partner closely with procurement and finance teams to support broader regional and customer strategies.
• Identify commercial opportunities within the operations, working closely with the commercial team to bring new initiatives/ solutions to life
• Act as an influential leader across the region, managing performance and support transformation.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience of 10+ years in senior operations and leadership roles within a high-growth logistics business (3PL/4PL, packaging or FMCG)
• Strong experience in both execution and strategic planning with P&L responsibility and a history of delivering operational change and transformation.
• Previous experience in unstructured or low-support environments, with the ability to create structure and execution processes.
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to influence across functions and regions.
• Fluent in German and English
• Willingness to travel across the DACH region.

Why This Role?

• A high-impact leadership role in a growing, well-backed logistics business.
• Opportunity to shape operations to your liking.
• Work alongside experienced regional leaders with a clear growth vision for Europe.
• Future career path towards regional operations leadership.

Ready to take on a high-impact transformation role in European logistics? Click Apply Now or reach out to serge@pod-talent.com for more information.