Inbound Transport Manager (all genders)

About the role

The Inbound Transport Manager is responsible for overseeing the global first‑mile transport network that connects Zalando’s suppliers to its fulfillment operations. You will balance demand, capacity, transit times and costs while ensuring a robust and cost‑effective supply chain.

Key responsibilities

• Manage inbound flows from FOB points in Asia, the US and South America and FCA locations across Europe, Turkey and Morocco, covering private label, third‑party brands and returns.
• Partner with internal customers to forecast volume 12 months ahead and translate demand into capacity plans across road, ocean and air freight.
• Monitor supply‑chain volatility, design alternative routing to protect inventory and mitigate risks.
• Drive strategic initiatives such as onboarding new partners, shifting to rail to reduce CO₂ emissions and optimizing container deliveries.
• Use BI‑tools to track performance and generate cost‑per‑unit improvements.
• Utilize the Transport Management System (TMS) to automate routing and carrier allocation, manage partners against SLAs and continuously raise network standards.

Required profile

• Strong analytical autonomy – define problems, break them down and make risk‑aware decisions.
• Excellent relationship and partner management – clear communication, ability to handle challenging conversations and propose solutions.
• Deep industry expertise in supply chain and transport, with the ability to generate market insights and identify new business opportunities.
• Collaborative leadership – work effectively in cross‑functional teams and mentor junior colleagues.
• Value‑driven execution – understand the value chain and prioritize tasks that add customer value.

Required skills

• Proficiency with Transport Management Systems (TMS).
• Experience using Business Intelligence tools for performance analysis.