Director, Europe Distribution and Logistics

Director, Europe Distribution and Logistics

You're an original. So are we.

We're a company of people who like to forge our own path. We invented the blue jean in 1873, and we reinvented khaki pants in 1986. We pioneered labor and environmental guidelines in manufacturing. And we work to build sustainability into everything we do. Our brands stand for freedom and self-expression around the world.

Where we lead, others follow. For more than 160 years, we've used the strength of our brands to lead with our values and make an outsized impact on the world. We employ more than 15,000 people globally to support our great brands: Levi's®, Dockers®, Denizen®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™ and Beyond Yoga.

About the Job

The individual will be responsible for fueling the growth of the business through the optimization of our logistics consumer experience working cross functionally, She or he will support the relationship with major operations partners, as well as OPEX budgets, and will run a in country operations team in-house; with the expectation to constantly challenge the status quo and optimize.

She or he must be comfortable with working in a very cross-functional environment, working closely with different European and Global teams, especially where it comes to technology, product management and distribution. She or he must have a getting things done mentality, and a demonstrated ability to effectively negotiate, communicate, build effective partnerships across the organization, and influence others.

The role will lead Distribution Services for our European Region based model, inclusive of Strategic Accounts, Regional Wholesale (North & South), Digital, Distributors, DTC ecommerce and DTC Retail

As a Senior Director of Distribution of all DC Liaison teams; DE / UK / CZ - Remote / On site, role will oversee the activities to achieve strategic goals, quality, cost, and service.

Role will be responsible for delegating tasks and leading the execution of the overall department and DC goals through Owned and Operated or 3PL Partners. The Senior Director is responsible for effectively communicating cross-functionally to maintain the most productive and efficient workflow for the distribution function. This involves driving all financial metrics while ensuring all teams & functions maintain set service levels for all business channels. The leader drives performance and accountability while enforcing Levi's Core Competencies.

As part of the European Supply Chain organization, you will work closely with the commercial Wholesale, Retail and DtC team to develop, building and improve service models, to ensure we operate in line with our agreed service models. Your key focus is on Wholesale Customers, Retail Stores and Outlets to ensure a flawless end-to-end operation of their orders. Next to that, you will actively contribute to implement new omnichannel capabilities and enhance existing omni-experience.

Organizational Impact: Responsible for a flawless execution of the Omni Channel orders from order placement until delivery, including returns.

• Drive alignment with cross-functional partners on strategic initiatives aligned with LRP and POD expansion plans. Collaborate with and provide decisive point of view with partners internally and externally.
• Demonstrate a consumer first mind-set to implement and drive relevant strategies to improve operational efficiencies together and service to accounts.
• Responsible for strategic & day-to-day operational functions associated for the teams, servicing the full European business.
• Identifies internal processes and procedures within distribution to utilize Continuous Improvement Tools and Techniques to reach the strategic objectives of the operation as well as to accommodate and create increased demand/capacity.
• Implement strategies designed by Sr. leadership to ensure all teams is flexible and can respond to variations in the workflow.
• Ensure that the department performance goals are set and achieved, through the proper execution.
• Collaborates with cross-functional departments while balancing area workflow. Ensures all teammates & 3PL are maintaining an acceptable level of production. Administer observations on teammates & 3PL to drive performance improvement, training, and coaching.
• Communicates department vision & objectives while partnering with the management team to identify teammate specific tasks needed to impact tangible business unit goals.
• Experienced in developing reports, analyzing data & providing high level recaps for both internal & external communication.
• Provides support & guidance to Managers on escalated internal & account related issues & works cross-functionally to develop & implement needed solutions.
• Active participant in regularly scheduled internal touchpoints - Ops Call, Accountability, Staff, HR, Key Program tracking/etc.
• Recognizes the potential impact of internal & external challenges on future state of the business unit and develops action plans to meet these challenges.
• Lead the relationships with all our business partners across warehouses, transportation and omnichannel.
• Define the mid to long term roadmap to evolve our logistics operations set up, turn it into an action plan that reflects the strategy and priorities, and execute.
• Collaborate with our global technology and product management teams, to influence our global technology roadmap and implement all the necessary changes to our OMS systems.
• Leverage consumer insights to build strategies, improve the consumer experience and lead times of last mile Retail order delivery.
• Manage and continue to elevate the logistics operations team. Collaborate tightly cross-functionally, with our dedicated partners in function such as finance, planning, IT and Retail
• Manage OPEX budgets tightly, ensure accurate annual and quarterly forecasting to ensure we can show P&L leverage. Support the monthly closing process, ensure accuracy of data used for accruals and revenue recognition.
• Develop, report, and manage industry relevant and leading KPIs, monitor and develop strategies to improve consumer experience, cost of fulfillment etc.
• Work closely with the European Planning and Distribution teams to ensure smooth flow of products into all our Sales Channels and their associated Partners.
• Contribute to the success of big European distribution projects, as our European DC landscape evolves.
• Work closely with the Global Technology and Product Management teams where it comes to our technology roadmap, but also where it comes to prioritization within our agile tracks for backend systems.
• Partner with the Commercial and Retail Team ensuring priorities is aligned, ensure we jointly increase business performance against set KPIs.
• Accountable for day-to-day operational functions associated for the DE / UK / CZ warehouse's, servicing the full Europe business through the internal teams and external partners.
• Works and guides own teams on negotiations for the 3PL Partner for Logistics contracts, price negotiations, budget calculations.
• Communication of operational priorities and the Transition to the New Facility
• Close collaboration with internal and external senior management to establish operational goals, priorities, and key performance indicators.
• Drive Outbound Logistics related enhancements on delivery service levels, store deliveries, financial optimizations, (more) sustainable solutions.
• Conceptual design and execution of Outbound Strategy in Region
• Verification and alignment with (changing) market and business trends.
• Identifies internal processes and procedures within distribution to utilize Continuous Improvement Tools and Techniques to reach the strategic objectives of the operation as well as to accommodate and create increased demand/capacity.
• Implement strategies designed by Sr. leadership to ensure the 3PL is flexible and can respond to variations in the workflow.
• Ensure that the department performance goals are set and achieved, through the proper execution.
• Collaborates with cross-functional departments while balancing area workflow. Ensures all teammates & 3PL are maintaining an acceptable level of production. Administer observations on teammates & 3PL to drive performance improvement, training, and coaching.

Process Management:

• Competency in process management is required to strategize and build new ways of working and operationalizing systems to meet service and customer requirements (i.e.: B2B, CRM tools, reporting dashboards)
• Define fulfillment strategies for region based on customer requirements, service, and ROI.
• Partner with SC teammates and cross functional partners to negotiate any new account fulfillment strategy that requires account buy in and execution. Define success measures and benefit analysis.

Communication:

• Functions as a 'bridge-building' between teams outside Supply Chain and Levi's, by inclusion of the right stakeholders, constructive communication to hit team and regional goals. And building strong relationships.
• High level of cross functional collaboration, both written and verbal, with operational and key stakeholders, both internal and external. Frequency can range from daily to monthly deliverables.
• Able to convey the company and department's strategy across all layers of the organization. Communicates team vision & goals in alignment with Levi's strategic direction.
• Have a commercial & process mindset be able to see the bigger picture and understand the business priority & needs. Be confident with process, systems and be able to translate commercial strategy into operating model and supply chain solutions.
• Ability to speak and write English fluently.

Team & Talent Building:

• Motivates and drives accountability by creating clear measurable individual goals, responsibility, and role clarity.
• Takes ownership of departmental results by tracking team contributions.
• Applies understanding of current & future talent needs in selection & development of talent.
• Develops and supports talent planning strategies to align with cross-functional needs.

About You

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Have a commercial & process mindset be able to see the bigger picture and understand the business priority & needs. Be confident with process, systems and be able to translate commercial strategy into operating model and supply chain solutions.
• Strong data literacy. Is not afraid of exploring new data sources and enhance existing or create new operational overviews.
• Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on company's success
• Critical thinker and problem-solving skills. Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.
• Team player able to influence and motivate, coach, and develop the team and peers.
• Good time-management skills. Knows how to effectively prioritize demands of both the function and business unit. Completes tasks correctly & on time.
• Results driven and ambitious, motivated and strives to achieve team and personal goals.
• Great interpersonal and excellent oral & written communication skills, and attentive listener.
• "Gets" Levi. Passionately embraces the challenge and effort to keep Levi unique; committed to go the extra mile to build/protect the brand.

Education And / Or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a Business-related field. Specialization in Logistics or Supply Chain Management is a plus.
• 10 years +' experience in supply chain operations or project/process management.
• 10 years +' experience in people management
• Proven experience as a Distribution Manager, preferably within a 3PL environment
• Strong knowledge of warehouse operations, inventory management, and distribution processes
• Excellent knowledge of European transportation regulations, international practices, competitive market environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, focus on continuous improvement, risk management.
• Proven track record in problem solving and process improvements including measurable outcomes.
• Hands on experience with SAP (preferably FMS), BI Reporting, and Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to read and apply operational metrics with the right balance between analytical and process understanding skills.
• Able to level the communication, messaging, and action driven conclusions to the audience it is shared with.
• Fluent in English. Other European languages is added value.
• Strategic thinking + flawless execution
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with internal and external multidisciplinary groups.