Head of Logistics & Fleet

Head of Logistics & FleetFood Industry | Alba Iulia

Location: Alba Iulia, Romania (on-site)Industry: Food production & distributionReporting to: Country leadership (direct reporting during a 1.5–2 year transition period)Scope: 600+ vehicles, approx. 500–600 drivers, 4 factories, national warehouses and own storesLanguages: Romanian; English at conversational levelABOUT THE COMPANYOur client is one of Romania's leading food producers and part of a major international group, with over 2,000 employees, 4 factories in Romania and a distribution network covering the whole country.The company operates its own logistics system: national warehouses, its own stores and a strong presence in traditional trade.

This gives it full control over freshness and service, and makes logistics a core lever for profitability.ROLE PURPOSEThis newly created role brings fleet, transport and warehousing under one leader, with a clear mandate: make logistics more efficient and more profitable.Sales car allocation, currently managed within Sales, and delivery and logistics will be consolidated under the Head of Logistics & Fleet. The team is experienced and stable; the role brings a strong focus on optimization and efficiency, supported by the implementation of a new, modern logistics software platform.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESLogistics Strategy & Organization

• Define the logistics and distribution strategy, aligned with commercial and production plans.
• Design the new combined organization of fleet, transport and warehousing, including roles, processes and responsibilities.
• Run make-or-buy analyses (own fleet vs. external carriers) by route, channel and vehicle type.
• Review the warehouse and distribution network footprint against service and cost targets.Fleet Management
• Manage a fleet of 600+ vehicles: sales cars, 3.5-ton delivery vans and heavy trucks serving the central warehouses.
• Own the total cost of the fleet: fuel, maintenance, servicing, repairs, tyres, insurance and damages, both in-house and with external suppliers.
• Implement a preventive maintenance program to reduce breakdowns and unplanned downtime.
• Use total cost of ownership to decide on repair vs. replacement; plan fleet renewal and define specifications for new vehicles together with Central Procurement.
• Set fleet policies: vehicle allocation, fuel cards, private use, damage and accident handling.
• Integrate sales car allocation into the new logistics structure.Transport & Distribution
• Secure and optimize transport flows between the 4 factories, the warehouses and the company's own stores.
• Lead route optimization, load planning and consolidation for national distribution, including traditional trade.
• Ensure cold chain integrity and temperature control from factory to point of sale.
• Select and negotiate with external carriers and service providers, and manage their performance against agreed KPIs.Warehousing & Inventory
• Manage warehouse operations alongside transport, in one combined logistics and warehousing role.
• Ensure stock accuracy and FEFO rotation for perishable products, minimizing expired and damaged goods.
• Improve warehouse productivity, space use and picking accuracy.Safety, Compliance & Quality
• Ensure compliance with road transport regulations, driving and rest time rules, tachograph requirements and health & safety standards.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene standards (HACCP) in storage and transport.
• Promote safe driving through telematics-based driver behavior monitoring and training.Cost, Performance & Digitalization
• Own the logistics budget and fleet investment plan; report performance and savings to country leadership.
• Set and track logistics KPIs through clear dashboards, and turn them into measurable cost reductions.
• Build the business case for, select and implement a new logistics software platform (TMS / fleet management), building on the current GPS tracking system.
• Analyze cost-to-serve by channel and customer type to support commercial decisions.
• Work closely with Procurement, Sales, Production and Controlling, including in sales and operations planning.Leadership & People
• Lead and develop the logistics team and approx. 500–600 drivers, building a culture of efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Improve driver recruitment, onboarding, retention and performance management.
• Lead change within an experienced, long-standing team.CANDIDATE PROFILE
• Solid experience managing large fleets and logistics operations, with a proven track record of cost reduction and efficiency gains.
• Background in production and distribution, FMCG distribution, logistics platforms, 3PL or transport companies.
• Experience managing large logistics budgets and multi-site flows (factories, warehouses, points of sale).
• Hands-on expertise in logistics KPIs, route optimization and fleet cost control.
• Experience implementing or working with TMS, WMS or fleet management software.
• A leader able to drive change within an experienced, long-standing team.
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, Alba Iulia or the surrounding area.
• English at conversational level; the company supports further development.WHAT WE OFFER
• A newly created role with a clear mandate and direct impact on company profitability.
• Direct reporting to country leadership and real decision-making autonomy.
• Investment in modern logistics software and fleet renewal.
• A competitive salary package.Thank you for your interest in this professional opportunity! Please note that you will be contacted by an Antal recruiter only if your experience matches the role you applied for. Your CV will be kept in our database for future professional opportunities that may be suitable for the next step in your career.By applying for this job, you grant Antal Romania/Cluj-Napoca Office written consent and full permission to store your CV in Antal’s systems and to send it to Antal’s clients for evaluation as a candidate for available positions in their organizations.You are informed that your data will be stored in accordance with Antal's Privacy Policy (https://www.antal.com/privacy)