Operations Director, Benelux - Hillebrand Gori
Key Skills
Job Description
About Hillebrand Gori Group– a company of DHL Global Forwarding At Hillebrand Gori, we specialize in managing the logistics of wine, beer and spirits. We carefully handle alcoholic drinks in any quantity, from a single bottle to bulk, along any route, across all modalities. Our reputation as the go-to beverage logistics provider is built on our understanding of what these sensitive products need, in order to move and arrive in perfect condition. We also transport the raw materials and packaging needed for crafting drinks, to help streamline our customers supply chains. Simply put, we take the stress out of transporting beverages - with the utmost care and in the shortest transit time possible. That’s why over 25,000 companies in the beverage industry, big and small, rely on us. About the position: Leading day-to-day operational performance across Import, Export and ETS, ensuring high service quality, productivity, compliance and customer satisfaction.. Key Responsibilities Establish and maintain strong operational governance through structured management meetings, KPI reviews and regular alignment with Customs, Finance and Commercial teams. Ensure operational risks, customer issues and capacity constraints are proactively identified, managed and resolved before escalation. Drive collaboration across departments, creating alignment and removing barriers that impact operational performance or customer experience. Lead workforce planning and resource allocation to ensure operational readiness during changing business volumes. Drive Business Process Optimization (BPO), Internal Control Systems (ICS) and other operational excellence initiatives. Ensure compliance with customs requirements, internal policies, operational procedures and Hillebrand Gori standards. Monitor operational performance through KPIs and translate insights into measurable improvement actions. Coach, develop and hold operational managers accountable for performance, engagement and results. Support the Country Manager by providing proactive operational insights, clear recommendations and timely decision-making. Key Competencies Takes full ownership of operational performance. Independently analyzes issues, develops practical solutions and escalates only when appropriate, supported by clear recommendations. Provides visible, hands-on leadership across the operation. Maintains control over daily activities while ensuring operational discipline, accountability and consistent execution. Builds strong working relationships across Import, Export, ETS, Customs, Finance and Commercial teams. Promotes collaboration, resolves conflicts constructively and creates alignment around shared business objectives. Develops high-performing teams by coaching, empowering and holding managers accountable. Creates a culture of ownership, engagement, continuous learning and consistent performance management. Makes timely, balanced decisions based on operational data, customer impact and business priorities. Demonstrates confidence and accountability in complex operational environments. Drives operational excellence by identifying process improvements, increasing efficiency, strengthening internal controls and embedding best practices across the organization. Ensures operational decisions support customer satisfaction, service reliability and long-term customer relationships while balancing operational efficiency and commercial objectives. Acts as the trusted operational partner to the Country Manager by providing transparency, anticipating risks, maintaining operational control and enabling informed business decisions. Specific Focus Areas Ensure strong day-to-day operational control across Import, Export and ETS. Build an effective governance structure with regular Operations Management meetings and structured Operations/Customs alignment. Strengthen collaboration between Operations, Customs, Finance and Commercial to improve end-to-end execution. Ensure accurate workforce planning and resource allocation during peak and changing business volumes. Improve operational processes related to invoicing, compliance and internal controls. Drive Business Process Optimization (BPO) and Internal Control Systems (ICS) initiatives to improve operational efficiency and quality. Maintain strong operational knowledge of forwarding processes and customs-related activities. Lead by example through visible presence within the operation and active engagement with managers and teams. Use operational KPIs and performance data to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence. Create a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration and proactive problem-solving throughout the Benelux organization. Interested? We are looking forward to receiving your application online.
Core Responsibilities
Lead day-to-day Import, Export, and ETS operations across Benelux, ensuring service quality, productivity, compliance, customer satisfaction, and effective workforce planning. Establish operational governance, improve processes and internal controls, monitor KPIs, develop managers, and provide the Country Manager with timely operational insights and recommendations.
Requirements
The role calls for senior operational leadership, strong knowledge of freight forwarding and customs-related activities, and the ability to manage performance, risks, compliance, and changing business volumes. It also requires visible hands-on leadership, cross-functional collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and a track record of driving operational excellence and developing accountable teams.
About Hillebrand Gori - A company of DHL
Industry: Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage
Company size: 1,001-5,000 employees
We don’t transport goods, we transport dreams