Associate Director, Transportation UK & EU

The Associate Director, Transportation for the UK & EU is accountable for the performance, cost, and future-readiness of our regional transportation network. This role owns the day-to-day service levels our retail partners and consumers expect, while continuously reviewing and challenging the cost base, and — critically — developing the strategy that ensures our 3PL and carrier capacity can absorb the rapid growth ahead.

Sitting in London and reporting to the US-based Associate Director of Transportation, you will be the regional leader who bridges global strategy with local execution. You will partner closely with our 3PL providers, internal commercial and supply chain teams, and the US transportation function to deliver a network that is reliable, cost-efficient, scalable, and aligned to e.l.f.'s values.

Service Level Management

· Own end-to-end transportation service performance across the UK and EU, including on-time delivery, order fulfillment accuracy, and transit-time reliability for retail, wholesale, and e-commerce channels.

· Define, track, and publish transportation KPIs and SLAs; lead monthly and quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with 3PL and carrier partners to drive accountability and continuous improvement.

· Serve as the primary escalation point for transportation service failures; root-cause issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.

· Ensure transportation execution meets the requirements of key retail partners (e.g., compliance with retailer routing guides, delivery windows, and ASN/labeling standards).

Cost Review & Optimization

· Own the regional transportation budget and freight spend; forecast, monitor, and explain variances monthly, identifying trends and driving corrective action.

· Conduct regular cost-to-serve analysis across lanes, modes, and channels; identify and implement opportunities to reduce cost per unit without compromising service.

· Lead carrier rate negotiations, spot-market management, and freight procurement in coordination with the US Director of Transportation and procurement team.

· Evaluate mode and lane optimization, consolidation, and network design changes to deliver year-over-year cost savings.

3PL Capacity & Growth Strategy

· Develop and maintain a forward-looking transportation capacity strategy that aligns with e.l.f.'s aggressive international growth plans, modeling 1-, 3-, and 5-year volume scenarios against 3PL and carrier capability.

· Assess the scalability of existing 3PL partners — across warehousing throughput, outbound capacity, peak-season flex, and geographic coverage — and recommend capacity additions, alternate partners, or network changes ahead of need.

· Lead or support RFPs, partner selection, onboarding, and contract governance for new or expanded 3PL and carrier relationships across the UK and EU.

· Build peak-season and surge-readiness plans in partnership with 3PLs, ensuring capacity, labor, and equipment commitments are secured well in advance of demand spikes (e.g., holiday, promotional events, new-retailer launches).

· Identify and mitigate supply chain risks — carrier concentration, single-lane dependency, customs/border exposure — with documented contingency plans.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Compliance

· Partner with the US Associate Director of Transportation to ensure regional execution aligns with global transportation strategy, systems, and standards (e.g., TMS, visibility platforms, carrier scorecards).

· Collaborate with Supply Planning, Demand Planning and Commercial Operations to align transportation capacity with forecasted demand and product launch timelines.

· Ensure full compliance with UK and EU transportation, customs, and trade regulations, and partner with customs brokers to maintain efficient and compliant cross-border movement.

· Champion e.l.f.'s sustainability commitments in transportation decisions, including modal shift, emissions reduction, and carrier sustainability standards.

· Lead the transportation strategy working with the other operations team professionals, building capability and a culture of continuous improvement.

· Act as the regional transportation subject-matter expert and represent the function in cross-functional initiatives and leadership reviews.

· Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

· 5+ years of progressive experience in transportation, logistics, or 3PL management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.

· Demonstrated experience managing 3PL relationships and carrier networks at scale, including SLA governance, QBRs, and performance management.

· Strong financial acumen — proven ownership of a transportation or freight budget, cost-to-serve analysis, and rate negotiation.

· Deep working knowledge of UK and EU transportation markets, carrier landscapes, customs/trade compliance, and retail routing-guide requirements.

· Experience planning capacity or network strategy to support significant volume growth.

Closing:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this position. It also reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job identified, and shall not be considered, as detailed description of all the work required inherent in the job. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and it is subject to changes and exceptions at the supervisors’ discretion.

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