Transportation Operations Manager

Freight Operations Manager – Fresh Produce Job Title: Freight Operations Manager – Fresh Produce Location: Remote (Anywhere in the World) Company Overview At Dastgyr UK Limited, we’re on a mission to revolutionize the way businesses connect, source, and grow. We create seamless, tech-driven solutions that empower retailers and wholesalers to thrive in an ever-changing global landscape. Since our journey began, we’ve raised $37 million in Series A funding, backed by renowned investors like SOSV, KFW, Cedar Mundi, ADB, OTF, and many others who share our vision. Today, our business spans 15+ countries across 5 continents, supported by a global team operating out of 5 offices worldwide. Our success is fueled by a relentless drive to excel, a commitment to acting like owners, and a shared belief in helping each other grow. By staying on the offence, moving at lightning speed, and fostering clear communication, we’ve built a culture that drives innovation and pushes boundaries. Our Vision We’ve achieved incredible early success, and we’re scaling aggressively to build on this momentum. Our focus is now on expanding operations, innovating offerings, and transforming the fresh produce and imported F&B sector in the UK. By the end of 2025, we aim to achieve $20 million GMV in the UK, and by 2026, we will be live in 3 key global markets: the UK, USA, and Germany. Our trajectory is bold and ambitious, but it’s grounded in a culture of ownership, excellence, and innovation. At Dastgyr, you’ll be part of a team that doesn’t just grow a business—we’re reshaping the future of global commerce. Together, we’re creating a diverse, dynamic company where bold ideas, exceptional talent, and global impact redefine what’s possible in B2B retail. Join us in shaping the future of commerce. The Role We're looking for a Freight Operations Manager to lead Dastgyr’s global freight operations for perishables—especially fresh produce imported into the UK and beyond. You’ll be at the core of our international logistics engine: designing smarter freight flows, securing reliable capacity, minimizing costs, and ensuring cargo lands on time with full cold chain integrity. You’ll manage both the strategic side (partner negotiations, SLA enforcement, routing design) and the operational side (booking oversight, uplift coordination, clearance monitoring). This is a high-impact, high-ownership role built for someone who understands freight deeply and moves fast. Job Responsibilities Strategic Freight Management Lead end-to-end air freight operations for perishables into the UK and other key markets (USA, Germany). Design and execute cost-efficient freight strategies that balance reliability, speed, and landed cost. Identify and secure priority lanes with airlines and freight forwarders; negotiate long-term capacity deals and favorable credit terms. Build and nurture global freight relationships with partners across LATAM, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Advise sourcing and commercial teams on freight feasibility, routing options, and seasonal constraints. Booking & Uplift Oversight Coordinate with origin teams and vendors to confirm space, track load plans, and ensure timely uplifts. Supervise daily booking activity across partners, ensuring zero gaps in space, compliance, or documentation. Act as the escalation point for offloads, delays, or missed handovers—respond fast, reroute smartly. Oversee tracking and visibility tools to maintain real-time control over all in-transit shipments. Customs, Clearance & Documentation Own the pre-alert and clearance process for UK-bound shipments—work closely with our broker (GR Freight) to preempt holds or document issues. Ensure full compliance with destination regulations (DEFRA, HMRC, etc.) and international customs standards. Review and verify documentation (AWB, invoices, COAs, phytosanitary certificates) to avoid clearance delays. Guide origin teams and suppliers in correcting documentation issues and aligning with SOPs. Cold Chain & Perishables Compliance Ensure cold chain standards are upheld during the entire journey—monitor temperature logs, shelf life, and pack integrity. Work with warehouse and handling agents to minimize transit delays and handover frictions. Support SOPs for packaging, handling, and temperature-sensitive routing strategies. Sync with supply, demand, and commercial teams to align freight plans with sales cycles and inventory positions. Work with finance to manage freight invoices, vendor payments, and budget adherence. Provide feedback to sourcing on supplier readiness, documentation quality, and export responsiveness. Lead weekly operations calls to review uplifts, delays, root causes, and forward planning. Own partner SLAs and ensure accountability—track performance, flag underperformance, and enforce penalties as needed. Maintain detailed metrics: uplift % by carrier, average clearance TAT, landed cost per KG, etc. Benchmark air freight pricing and capacity across geographies to stay ahead of market disruptions. Conduct quarterly business reviews with key freight vendors and co-develop improvement plans. Monitor macro risks: airline strikes, weather delays, route changes, customs policy shifts. Build out contingency plans with backup partners and alternate gateways. Ensure that Dastgyr always has options in the face of disruption—no single point of failure. Process & Systems Development Continuously refine freight SOPs: booking workflows, escalation protocols, box specs, temperature SOPs. Contribute to logistics tech stack improvements—visibility dashboards, reporting tools, partner integrations. Document learnings from escalations and failed shipments to build institutional knowledge. Qualifications 8–10 years of freight/logistics experience, ideally managing perishable or temperature-sensitive air freight. Deep knowledge of air freight booking processes, customs documentation, and cold chain handling. Proven ability to negotiate long-term freight agreements and manage complex partner networks. Strong connections in the freight forwarding and airline cargo world Experience moving perishables across international markets, especially into the UK. Analytical, detail-oriented, and able to make decisions quickly with incomplete data. A strong communicator across time zones—clear, concise, and reliable. Tech-comfortable—Excel/Google Sheets is a must; CargoWise or TMS experience is a plus. A self-starter who thrives in a remote, global, high-ownership culture. Deep understanding of international customs regulations, Incoterms, and documentation requirements. Knowledge of cold chain standards, temperature monitoring, and shelf-life optimization in transit. Proficiency in English is mandatory; additional language skills (e.g., Mandarin, Spanish, or Arabic) are a plus. What We Offer Become part of a well-funded Series A powerhouse with $37 million raised, poised to revolutionise global markets and redefine industry standards. Join a company aiming to go public by 2027, giving you the opportunity to grow alongside us during this exciting journey. Take on a dynamic role with the chance to expand into international markets, shaping the future of cross-border commerce. Unlock the potential of ESOPs that could translate into life‑changing wealth, paving the way to financial independence and beyond. Collaborate with a dynamic team of serial entrepreneurs driven by the mission to solve the global cross‑border challenge at scale and transform the way businesses connect. Please apply by sending your updated resume to View email address on click.appcast.io or submit your interview at #J-18808-Ljbffr