Head of Freight Logistics

Job Description

Location: Trinity Buoy Wharf
Contract Type: Full-time
Closing Date: 10 May 2024
Salary: Competitive
Hours of Work: 42

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Overview:

A brilliant opportunity to join Thames Clippers (TC) at a time of significant growth. This position will be responsible for creating an entirely new business unit in a growing market – Thames Clippers Logistics. In February 2023, London was rated the slowest city in the world for road transport in Tom Tom’s Annual Traffic Index. To address this, Logistics companies are actively exploring alternate routes into Central London. TC has been working with multiple B2B and B2C logistics providers to provide a fast, consistent river freight service into the city, in combination with e-cargo bikes for last-mile fulfilment to customer, without the need for mid-journey distribution centres. This role will build on the recent success of light freight trials on the Thames over the last 3 years and will be solely focused on the light freight sector. The LFL Head will be responsible for delivering new strategic marine infrastructure on the Thames to interface with roadside first and last mile operations, providing a marine middle mile solution for the logistics sector. Establish and lead a new logistics freight team.

• Identify and ensure access to strategic marine infrastructure
• Engage with logistics sector to secure key long term supplier contracts
• Set up, oversee and deliver the day-to-day operations to meet contractual obligations with safety, efficiency and customer service in mind
• To assist the business with new logistic and marine projects as directed by the COO.
• Full department budget accountability for the light fright business unit.
• Review the current small-scale logistics set up within TC and recommend initial structure to deliver contracted commitments and pipeline.
• Understand the TC freight long term plan and agree action plan with Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to commence the execution of the plan and updating business cases.
• Review current marine infrastructure / TC assets and recommend any changes needed to meet the long term plan. Produce business cases accordingly.
• Establish the brand; Thames Clippers Logistics, and all the necessary legal entities with the TC legal team.
• Working alongside the Head of Fleet Operations and training managers for the passenger business, update the strategic workforce plan to ensure efficient deployment of marine crew between passenger and freight with sufficient resilience and pipeline to meet both business unit needs.
• Work with the engineering department and be the point of contact to ensure vessel availability both for maintenance which will include dry docking and any unplanned corrective maintenance.
• Be part of the project team to build the first fully electric high speed logistics vessel for the Thames (delivery by mid 2025). Use this proof of concept to steer future strategy to meet the needs of different logistic sector clients. Give an operational insight to all refits and designs for all new craft.
• Ensure a TC presence at all stakeholder meeting and boards related to the Thames and logistics sectors to ensure the business keeps ahead to meet opportunities or emerging trends.
• Working with the Risk, Safety and Compliance team, integrate marine freight operations into the Safety Management System and secure relevant MCA and PLA Certification. Ensure the vessels’ safety equipment is scoped correctly and Thames Clippers operating procedures are followed.
• Work with the SLT to meet the business wide carbon reduction plan by 2030. Ensure the business remains ISO 14001 compliant for the light freight operations.
• Understand the importance of Equality & Diversity in the work place to meet the company DE&I strategy.
• Be able to demonstrate significant experience in marine logistics or the logistics sector
• Experience of business development, demonstrated commercial acumen and implementation of new service delivery opportunities
• Excellent negotiation skills; able to clearly and concisely articulate information.
• An ability to foster close working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities
• Have worked in an environment which requires excellence in safety, operations and customer service
• Strong leadership approach, people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a team
• Be able to demonstrate and articulate Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities to prevent reoccurrence, solution focused and flexible
• Team player who is happy to ‘muck in’ and make an active contribution to the wider business; thrives in a fast-paced entrepreneurial high achieving environment
• Experience with sitting on the executive board and dealing with Senior Stakeholders

Where: You’ll be based between our Dry Dock facilities at Tilbury and our offices at Clipper House, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London E14 0JY.

So why apply?

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers are London’s leading River Bus service. Our fleet of high speed catamarans provide commuters and sightseers with a unique way to travel around the capital. We carry around 5 million passengers a year and currently employ around 470 people, which is set to increase over the next few years.

We are an entrepreneurial and inclusive organisation that was voted “Employer of the Year” at the 2017 London Transport Awards and “Ferry Operator of the year” this year. There is real potential for internal development and promotion within our business and internal succession is one of our core principles. Our values: Trusted to do the Right Thing, Great Place to Work, Be Excellent and Respect allow our employees to excel in their careers with us and be Best in Class, Always.

Our commitment to inclusion

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe in equality of opportunity for all and our approach to recruitment and selection is fair, open and based purely on merit. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. If you require reasonable adjustments in any recruitment process with us, please make us aware.