Director, Physical Operations – Transportation

Director, Physical Operations – Transportation

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company, owning and operating a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. Virgin Music Group (VMG) is the world’s leading partner to independent labels and artists, delivering a modern, global services platform across distribution, marketing, analytics, and physical commerce.

Our Global Physical Procurement, Supply Chain & Logistics team manages the end‑to‑end lifecycle of physical music products — from forecasting and manufacturing through global distribution — ensuring products reach fans on time, at the right cost, and at the highest quality. The Director, Physical Operations – Transportation is a senior operational leader responsible for managing and optimizing VMG’s global transportation and customs operations across sea, air, and road freight.

This role serves as the central authority for transportation execution, carrier strategy, and customs compliance, ensuring finished goods and materials move efficiently through a complex international logistics network. You will balance speed, cost, service levels, and risk while supporting time‑sensitive release schedules and evolving business demands.

• We plan ahead and execute with urgency
• We operate as one team across functions and regions
• We address challenges early and decisively
• We stay artist‑first while building scalable systems

• Global Transportation Management
  • Manage day‑to‑day global transportation operations across sea, air, and road freight
  • Oversee inbound, outbound, and inter‑facility movements supporting manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution
  • Ensure transportation execution aligns with release timelines, service commitments, and business priorities
• Carrier Strategy, Rates & Performance
  • Prepare, analyze, and lead rate negotiations, tenders, and carrier selection processes
  • Establish and manage service‑level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Monitor carrier performance, address service gaps, and drive continuous improvement
• Customs & Trade Compliance
  • Manage customs clearance processes and broker relationships across the US, UK, and EU
  • Ensure compliance with import/export regulations, documentation requirements, and trade policies
  • Serve as the primary escalation point for customs‑related delays, audits, or exceptions
• Cost Control & Financial Oversight
  • Control and optimize transportation costs, duties, and taxes across regions and modes
  • Partner closely with Finance to ensure accurate cost forecasting, accruals, and variance analysis
  • Identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising service or reliability
• Issue Resolution & Escalation Management
  • A hands‑on approach to resolving shipment delays, disruptions, and customs issues as they arise
  • Proactively manage exceptions, prioritizing high‑impact or time‑sensitive releases
  • Communicate risks, delays, and resolutions clearly to internal stakeholders
• Cross‑Functional Leadership
  • Act as the primary transportation and customs subject‑matter expert for the wider business
  • Collaborate closely with Production, Warehousing & Inventory Management, Finance, Sales, and Physical Operations teams
  • Ensure transportation strategies and execution remain aligned across functions and regions

• Proven experience leading global transportation and logistics operations
• Strong hands‑on knowledge of ocean, air, and road freight
• Deep understanding of customs clearance processes & broker management in the US, UK, and EU
• Experience negotiating rates, managing SLAs, and controlling transportation‑related costs
• Ability to manage complexity, prioritize effectively, and resolve issues under tight deadlines
• Excellent cross‑functional communication and stakeholder management skills

• Become part of an entrepreneurial, global organization that values authenticity, drive, creativity, relationships, and a competitive spirit
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and FSA options, including:
  • 100% coverage for out‑patient mental health services
  • Well‑being reimbursements for…