Senior Director Operations - EMEIA

C.H. Robinson is currently seeking a Senior Director Operations – EMEIA, to be based in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands, or Hamburg, Germany. 

As Senior Director Operations – EMEIA, you will play a pivotal role in scaling, transforming, and leading operations across Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. Reporting to the Global Vice President Operations, this position is a key driver of operational excellence, network performance, and regional alignment, translating global strategy into consistent, high‑impact execution across multiple countries. 

This role is primarily operational in nature, with a strong transformation mandate. The Senior Director will partner closely with senior stakeholders to modernize operating models, drive efficiency, and deliver a best‑in‑class customer experience across EMEIA. 

If you believe your experience aligns with this role, we encourage you to submit your application!

• Lead and scale EMEIA operations, ensuring consistent execution of the global operating model across multiple countries and markets 

• Drive operational transformation initiatives focused on efficiency, quality, standardization, and continuous improvement 

• Partner closely with leadership to align operational capabilities with company strategy 

• Translate global objectives into clear regional priorities, execution plans, and measurable outcomes 

• Establish, deploy, and monitor key operational KPIs across EMEIA, ensuring accountability and sustained performance 

• Champion data‑driven decision‑making by leveraging analytics, automation, and technology to improve operational outcomes 

• Lead complex, cross‑functional initiatives, ensuring effective change management, communication, and stakeholder alignment 

• Strengthen collaboration between regional and global operations teams, reinforcing a "one EMEIA" mindset while aligning with global standards 

• Oversee operational readiness to support growth, transformation initiatives, and ongoing business change

• Act as a senior operations partner to global leadership, providing insight, recommendations, and progress updates on regional performance and transformation effort

• Lead and develop multi‑regional operational teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement 

• Strengthen leadership capabilities across the region through coaching, performance management, and targeted development 

• Identify skill gaps and succession needs, partnering with HR and functional leaders to build sustainable talent pipelines 

• Promote an inclusive, high‑performance culture aligned with company values and Robinson Behaviors 

• Encourage knowledge sharing and best‑practice adoption across countries and teams 

• Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in operations within a complex, multi‑country environment, within logistics 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university 

• Proven track record of leading large‑scale operational transformation and change initiatives 

• Strong operational mindset with the ability to translate strategy into execution 

• Excellent communication skills, with experience presenting to and influencing senior leadership 

• Willingness and ability to travel across EMEIA as  

• Experience working within global operating models 

• Experience managing and influencing senior stakeholders across regions and functions

• Strong analytical orientation, with demonstrated experience leveraging data, insights, and technology to drive operational improvement 

• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and drive alignment across diverse teams and cultures