Global Freight Forwarding Operations & Optimization Manager (f/m/d)

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Global Freight Forwarding Operations & Optimization Manager (f/m/d)

Department: Global Operations & Production

Job ID: 45052

Job Grade: GER12

Internal Posting Date: 06/02/2026

Professional | Permanent | Full-time | Hybrid

Our people in Manufacturing & Global Operations share two priorities: getting things done and making things better. If you’re a dynamic person with a positive mindset, you’ll fit in well here. It’s an international team with a powerful spirit of collaboration. Together, we make sure our products meet the highest standards of quality by constantly searching for ways to improve at every stage of our value chain – from the raw materials we buy through to the logistics network that brings our medicines to patients. Join our team and help us make an even bigger contribution to Grünenthal’s future.

What the job looks like
Every day you will enjoy different challenges such as:

• Implementing and driving the global freight forwarding and 3PL strategy, ensuring cost‑effective, compliant, and reliable international transportation.
• Providing strategic oversight of global end-to-end freight forwarding and 3PL operations, ensuring optimal spend management and compliance with GDP, IATA, and all relevant regulations.
• Leading the global portfolio of freight forwarders across all transportation modes, driving performance excellence through KPI governance and continuous improvement.
• Championing data-driven decision-making by optimizing routing strategies, cost structures, and LSP performance dashboards.
• Strengthening stakeholder relationships by delivering high service quality and proactively resolving operational challenges.
• Driving digital transformation in logistics through advanced visibility tools, automated reporting, and standardized analytics.
• Serving as organizational expert on the global transportation landscape to guide strategic decisions and long-term planning.
• Establishing and governing standardized global SOPs and process frameworks, ensuring alignment between global standards and regional execution.

What you\'ll bring to the table
To make the most of this role and truly thrive, you should have:

• University degree, preferably in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or Logistics.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a comparable role, ideally within an international freight forwarder or global logistics environment.
• Strong expertise in international logistics operations, including warehousing, distribution, and knowledge of trade regulations, customs procedures, and Incoterms.
• Proven experience working with GDP requirements and related regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and multitasking skills.
• Strong analytical and problem solving abilities to manage unexpected issues or delays.
• Supplier and stakeholder management skills, including strong negotiation capabilities.
• Ability to work well under pressure and in fast paced environments.

Lorena Cevallos Zhegulova, the Hiring Manager

Grünenthal is a global leader in pain management and related diseases. As a science-based, privately-owned pharmaceutical company, we have a long track record of bringing innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients worldwide. Our purpose is to change lives for the better – and innovation is our passion. We are focusing all of our activities and efforts on working towards our vision of a world free of pain.

Grünenthal is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, and has affiliates in 28 countries across Europe, Latin America and the US. Our products are available in more than 100 countries. In 2024, Grünenthal employed around 4,300 people and achieved sales of € 1.8 billion.