Head of Growth & Operations Road Freight at DHL

Strategic Ownership & Growth

• Take full ownership of and drive all Road Freight activities in Nigeria.
• Own and manage full P&L accountability including revenue, GP, cost control, and EBITDA performance.
• Develop and execute structured growth plans to expand Road Freight business profitably; continuously monitor and adjust based on performance trends.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities across key sectors (Oil & Gas, FMCG, Automotive, Industrial, Mining, Projects).
• Expand and diversify the customer base; actively engage with strategic customers to co-develop solutions.
• Lead commercial governance including pricing strategy, tender participation, contract negotiations, and margin optimization.

Operational Leadership & Excellence

• Oversee, develop, and manage all Road Freight operations (domestic and cross-border).
• Ensure high OTIF performance, transit time reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Design and optimize transport networks, including domestic distribution and regional corridors (ECOWAS trade lanes).
• Analyze daily, weekly, and monthly development of key KPIs and implement corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in fleet utilization, subcontractor performance, cost, and service quality.
• Lead digitalization initiatives including TMS optimization, track & trace visibility, and reporting automation.
• Ensure consistent customer experience for both shippers and carriers, adapting to local market requirements where necessary.
• Establish regular carrier performance meetings and ensure structured reviews with all key carriers.
• Develop long-term strategic partnerships with preferred carriers and subcontractors.

Compliance, Risk & Governance

• Ensure compliance with company policies and local statutory obligations related to Safety, Health, Security, Environment, and Quality (HSSEQ).
• Maintain strict adherence to regulatory frameworks governing Nigerian transport and cross-border operations.
• Strengthen security protocols to mitigate cargo risk, theft, and operational disruptions.
• Implement risk mitigation strategies for infrastructure challenges, geopolitical shifts, and regulatory changes.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Revenue growth and market share expansion
• Gross Profit margin improvement
• EBITDA performance
• OTIF (On-Time-In-Full)
• Fleet utilization and cost efficiency metrics
• Carrier compliance and performance scores
• Customer retention and satisfaction (NPS)
• Safety and incident rate metrics

Now, here is what we need from you!

• Proven P&L management experience in Nigeria.
• Strong knowledge of Nigerian transport regulations and ECOWAS cross-border frameworks.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen and operational transformation capability.
• Entrepreneurial mind-set
• Open minded, willing & able to lean and try out new things
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage with all levels of an organization
• Ideally English language skills
• Strong change management skills
• Ability to analyze and improve business processes
• Project leadership and project management skills
• Experience within multinational logistics organizations preferred.
• At least 10+ years of Road freight experience with strong acumen of TMS.
• Management & leadership experience, ability to manage in matrix setup
• Education - Bachelor’s degree minimum