National Contract Logistics Operations Manager

Location: Swords, Co. Dublin
Salary: €120,000 base salary + annual bonus
Working Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:30pm
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time

The Opportunity

Clark Recruitment is partnering with a leading global logistics and supply chain organisation to appoint a National Contract Logistics Operations Manager to lead its Contract Logistics division across Ireland.

This is a senior strategic leadership position with responsibility for overseeing a substantial national operation comprising approximately 300 employees across seven sites in Ireland.

Reporting directly to the Operations Director, you will lead a team of approximately five to six Site Managers, providing strategic direction, driving operational excellence and ensuring consistent performance across the national network.

This is not a hands-on warehouse management position. We are looking for an experienced and commercially astute logistics leader who can take a strategic overview of the business, develop management capability, strengthen customer relationships and drive the long-term performance and profitability of the operation.

Based primarily at the company’s Dublin head office in Swords, the position will involve occasional travel to other sites across Ireland.

Key Responsibilities

National Operational Leadership

Provide strategic leadership and direction across all Contract Logistics operations in Ireland.
Lead, develop and mentor a team of Site Managers, ensuring consistent operational standards and performance across all locations.
Drive operational excellence, continuous improvement and standardisation of processes across the national network.
Establish clear operational objectives, KPIs and performance management structures.
Identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency and service delivery across all sites.
Oversee workforce planning, resource allocation and management development.

Customer Engagement & Relationship Management

Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and strategic accounts.
Act as a senior escalation point for customer issues, ensuring effective resolution and long-term improvements.
Lead and participate in customer meetings and Quarterly Business Reviews.
Ensure customer agreements, service-level expectations and operational KPIs are consistently achieved.
Work closely with internal commercial teams to support customer retention and business growth.

Commercial & Financial Management

Take ownership of operational financial performance, with a strong focus on profitability and gross profit.
Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cost management and financial reporting across the national operation.
Support commercial contract negotiations, renewals, tender analysis and pricing discussions.
Identify opportunities to improve margins, optimise warehouse capacity and reduce operational expenditure.
Work closely with senior management to align operational performance with wider business objectives.

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Development

Drive a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and operational excellence.
Identify opportunities for automation, technology integration and improved warehouse management systems.
Promote best practice across all sites, ensuring operational consistency and efficiency.
Maintain high standards of Quality, Safety, Health and Environmental (QSHE) compliance.
Support the development and implementation of the national operational strategy.

The Ideal Candidate

We are interested in speaking with experienced senior logistics professionals who have operated within a complex 3PL or contract logistics environment.

You will ideally bring:

A minimum of five years’ management experience within a 3PL or contract logistics environment.
Proven experience leading multi-site logistics or warehouse operations.
Experience managing and developing senior operational management teams, including Site Managers and Warehouse Managers.
Strong commercial awareness, including P&L responsibility, budgeting, forecasting and cost control.
Experience managing major customer relationships and contractual service-level agreements.
A strong understanding of warehouse operations, distribution, supply chain processes and operational KPIs.
Experience driving continuous improvement, operational efficiencies and business transformation.
Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
The ability to influence at senior management level and make strategic business decisions.
A full, clean driving licence and flexibility to travel nationally when required.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be a confident, decisive and commercially minded leader with the ability to influence, challenge and develop an established management team.

You will be comfortable operating at a strategic level, making important business decisions and taking ownership of the overall performance of a large national operation.

Salary & Benefits

Base salary of approximately €120,000 per annum.
Annual bonus opportunity.
Company pension with up to 5% employer matching contribution.
Profit share scheme.
Death in service benefit of four times annual salary.
Company laptop and mobile phone.
Monday–Friday working week, 9:00am–5:30pm.
Dublin-based head office with occasional national travel.

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity for an established senior logistics professional to take ownership of a significant national operation within a leading global logistics organisation.

You will have the opportunity to influence business strategy, develop senior management talent, strengthen customer partnerships and drive the continued growth and profitability of a substantial Contract Logistics division.

Interested?

If you are an experienced National Operations Manager, Regional Operations Director, Head of Contract Logistics or senior 3PL professional looking for your next career move, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

Please contact James Nolan at Clark Recruitment to discuss the opportunity further at james@clark.ie.

Why Choose Clark?
•   Inclusive & Supportive: We welcome diversity, ensure equal opportunities, and provide reasonable accommodations for interviews.
•   Expert Guidance: Our experienced recruiters are dedicated to finding the right fit for you.
•   Personalised Support: We’re with you every step of the way to ensure a smooth job search.
Ready to take the next step? Apply now.

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