Melbourne VIC (Full Time) - Immediate Start

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced transport and logistics professional to take full ownership of our carrier-based operations. This role coordinates the movement of goods across the supply chain, connecting plants, fulfilment centres, and delivery hubs.

You will be responsible for optimising transport routes, negotiating and managing contracts, overseeing carrier and third-party logistics (3PL) relationships, managing relationships with shippers and customers, leading operational teams, and ensuring cost-effective, on-time delivery.

This is a hands‑on senior operational role where you will be the key point of accountability for keeping operations running smoothly, managing escalations, and staying across everything happening within the business.

Key Job Responsibilities

Take end-to-end ownership of carrier-based transport operations, ensuring smooth daily running of the network and consistent, on-time service delivery,

Onboard, manage, and continuously evaluate carriers and 3PL providers - negotiating, establishing Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and driving performance against agreed standards,

Negotiate contracts and pricing with both carriers and customers, ensuring commercially sound, well‑documented agreements that protect margin and deliverability,

Develop a strong understanding of each work order and its requirements, ensuring operations are planned and executed in line with what has been agreed,

Communicate effectively with all relevant stakeholders -including shippers, carriers, customers, and internal teams - to negotiate terms, resolve issues, and keep everyone aligned,

Build and manage strong, collaborative relationships with shippers and customers, acting as a trusted point of contact and ensuring their requirements are consistently met,

Design and streamline transport routes and schedules to reduce transit times and lower the overall cost-to-serve,

Oversee daily dispatch, track shipments in real time, and execute contingency plans to manage delays,



bottlenecks, or capacity issues,

Monitor freight spends, analyse cost data, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve profitability and reduce cost per unit,

Ensure all carriers and operations comply with transport regulations (including NHVR requirements), safety standards, fatigue management and compliance policies - including coordinating regular carrier audits and follow‑up reviews,

Build and develop high‑performing teams - leading the carrier, customer support, and operational teams, providing ongoing coaching, and empowering individuals to achieve both operational and career goals,

Coordinate with offshore and cross‑functional support teams (HR, Finance, IT, Customer Support) on staffing plans, schedules, and performance levels,

Lead daily customer meetings, own escalations as the senior point of contact, and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with customers and internal stakeholders,

Track, report, and drive performance against operational and service KPIs (e.g. on‑time in‑full, dwell time), keeping leadership informed of what's happening across contracts, customers, and carriers,

Identify and drive growth opportunities within existing customer and carrier contracts,

Implement process change and contribute to cross‑functional continuous improvement initiatives across the operation.

Basic Qualifications

Proven leadership experience in a similar transport, logistics, distribution, or fast‑paced supply chain environment,

Prior hands‑on experience in carrier management -onboarding, negotiating with, and managing carriers or 3PL providers,





Solid operational transport knowledge and experience working in a comparable operational environment,

Ability to quickly understand work orders and translate requirements into operational action,

Strong stakeholder engagement skills -able to communicate, negotiate, and manage relationships with shippers, carriers, customers, and internal teams,

Experience building and managing high‑performing teams, including employee and performance management,

Strong commercial and negotiation skills, with experience negotiating contracts and pricing with carriers and customers,

Attend daily customer and carrier meetings, proactively raising concerns and surfacing risks before they escal

Oversee account performance end‑to‑end including payment receivables, payable, KPI tracking, and regular performance reviews with customers and carriers,

Strong escalation management and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to stay calm and adapt rapidly to disruptions,

Experience using data to drive root‑cause analysis and business decisions (Excel or other analytical tools),

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to engage both technical and non‑technical audiences, including senior leadership,

Highly organised with strong attention to detail, able to keep track of multiple contracts, customers, and carriers simultaneously,

Melbourne‑based, with the ability to work on‑site as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in operations, Supply Chain/Logistics, Engineering, or a related field,

Knowledge of NHVR and transport compliance, including carrier audit processes and fatigue management and scheduling,

Experience managing a contingent or offshore workforce, ideally in a business with peak‑season demand,

Experience with performance metrics, process improvement, and Lean/Kaizen/Six Sigma concepts,

Strong analytical skills combined with attention to detail and effective stakeholder management.

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📌 Transport Operation Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 @
📍 Melbourne