This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a 3PL Operations Manager based in Portugal. As a 3PL Operations Manager, you will oversee a network of third-party logistics providers and external warehouses, ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable handling of high-value data center hardware across international markets. You will take full ownership of partner performance, operational standards, inventory accuracy, and logistics costs, playing a critical role in maintaining hardware availability and supporting large-scale infrastructure growth. Working across logistics, procurement, transport, security, and data center operations, you will coordinate complex supply chain activities and drive continuous improvement across external sites. You will establish performance expectations, monitor service levels, lead audits, and resolve operational issues to ensure consistent execution. The role combines strategic network development with hands-on operational management in a fast-moving, international environment. You will also have the opportunity to build and develop a growing team while influencing processes, risk management, and logistics strategy. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced logistics leader who thrives on autonomy, operational excellence, and making a tangible impact in the rapidly evolving AI infrastructure sector. This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a 3PL Operations Manager based in Portugal. As a 3PL Operations Manager, you will oversee a network of third-party logistics providers and external warehouses, ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable handling of high-value data center hardware across international markets. You will take full ownership of partner performance, operational standards, inventory accuracy, and logistics costs, playing a critical role in maintaining hardware availability and supporting large-scale infrastructure growth. Working across logistics, procurement, transport, security, and data center operations, you will coordinate complex supply chain activities and drive continuous improvement across external sites. You will establish performance expectations, monitor service levels, lead audits, and resolve operational issues to ensure consistent execution. The role combines strategic network development with hands-on operational management in a fast-moving, international environment. You will also have the opportunity to build and develop a growing team while influencing processes, risk management, and logistics strategy. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced logistics leader who thrives on autonomy, operational excellence, and making a tangible impact in the rapidly evolving AI infrastructure sector. Accountabilities: - Manage the international 3PL network: Oversee external warehouses and third-party logistics partners across EMEA, the United States, and APAC, ensuring consistent operational performance and compliance with established standards. - Lead partner and contract management: Own service-level agreements (SLAs), rate cards, contract renewals, and renegotiations in collaboration with Procurement and Legal. Conduct monthly operational reviews and quarterly business reviews, agree on improvement plans, and act as the primary escalation point for partner-related issues. - Oversee daily warehouse operations: Establish and enforce standard operating procedures covering receiving, put-away, storage, picking, packing, dispatch, and returns. Ensure appropriate handling of heavy, fragile, and high-value equipment, including racks, GPU servers, and hardware security modules. - Monitor performance and resolve incidents: Track operational KPIs through warehouse management systems, reports, and site visits. Lead root-cause investigations into damaged or missing inventory, incorrect shipments, and delivery delays, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are completed on time. - Maintain inventory accuracy and audit readiness: Coordinate cycle counts, annual stocktakes, and reconciliations between physical inventory and ERP/WMS records. Organize warehouse inspections, resolve stock discrepancies with Back Office teams, maintain accurate asset records, and support internal and external audits, including SOX-related controls. - Coordinate cross-functional logistics activities: Align inbound and outbound volumes with Logistics Planning and Transport teams, coordinate hardware staging and kitting with data center operations and project managers, and work with Security to enforce access controls, surveillance, pre-arrival procedures, and secure-storage requirements. - Ensure reliable systems and data exchange: Maintain accurate, timely information flows between external logistics providers and internal ERP/WMS platforms, including advance shipping notices, inventory reports, and system integrations. - Control budgets and optimize costs: Own the 3PL budget across storage, handling, value-added services, and additional charges. Validate invoices against contractual terms and actual activity, resolve billing disputes, monitor cost per pallet, rack, or movement, and identify savings through consolidation, space optimization, and contract renegotiation. - Develop and optimize the warehouse network: Assess storage capacity requirements against data center expansion plans and demand forecasts. Lead provider selection through RFI/RFQ processes and site assessments, coordinate onboarding and go-live activities, and manage provider exits and stock transfers with complete traceability and no inventory loss. - Manage compliance and operational risks: Ensure external warehouses meet applicable security, safety, insurance, and customs requirements, including bonded-storage requirements where relevant. Maintain audit-ready documentation and develop contingency plans to mitigate operational disruptions and supplier dependency risks. - Lead and develop the 3PL team: Manage and develop external warehouse specialists as the function grows, establish priorities and clear responsibilities, and define effective workflows and escalation paths across 3PL operations, warehouse teams, and transport functions. - Drive continuous improvement: Track and improve key performance indicators, including SLA compliance, inventory accuracy, incident rates, corrective-action closure, audit outcomes, cost efficiency, and invoice accuracy. Requirements: - Relevant professional experience: Demonstrated experience in third-party logistics, warehouse operations, supply chain management, or a similar operational leadership role, ideally managing multiple external warehouse locations across international markets. - 3PL partner management: Proven ability to manage external logistics providers, negotiate service expectations, oversee contracts and SLAs, conduct business reviews, and drive partner accountability without relying on direct authority. - Warehouse operations expertise: Strong understanding of end-to-end warehouse processes, including inbound and outbound logistics, inventory handling, storage, picking, packing, dispatch, returns, and stock transfers. - Inventory control and auditing: Experience implementing inventory accuracy controls, cycle counts, stock reconciliations, warehouse audits, and documented corrective actions. Familiarity with SOX-related inventory controls is an advantage. - Logistics systems proficiency: Ability to work with warehouse management systems (WMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms, operational reports, and system integrations to monitor performance and maintain reliable inventory data. - Financial and analytical skills: Experience managing logistics budgets, reviewing invoices, monitoring unit costs, analyzing KPIs, resolving discrepancies, and identifying opportunities for cost optimization. - Compliance and risk management: Understanding of warehouse security, health and safety, insurance, customs procedures, and asset protection. Experience handling high-value or sensitive equipment is particularly valuable. - Operational problem-solving: Strong analytical skills and the ability to investigate incidents, identify root causes, implement corrective and preventive actions, and maintain operational continuity in complex logistics environments. - Project and network development experience: Ability to assess capacity needs, evaluate potential logistics partners, coordinate warehouse onboarding, implement operating procedures, and manage transitions between providers. - Leadership and stakeholder management: Experience leading teams or coordinating external partners, with strong communication, negotiation, prioritization, and relationship-building skills. - Autonomy and accountability: A proactive, structured working style, with the ability to take ownership of operational performance, make informed decisions, and escalate significant contractual, budgetary, or risk-related matters appropriately. - International collaboration: Comfort working with distributed teams and stakeholders across multiple regions, adapting to different operational requirements and time zones. - Travel and work arrangements: Willingness to travel regularly to external warehouse locations for audits, partner reviews, and onboarding activities. The position follows a hybrid working model with regular presence at key logistics sites. - Employment eligibility: Applicants must be authorized to work in the country where they apply and provide acceptable evidence of their identity and employment eligibility. Immigration assistance or visa sponsorship is not guaranteed. Benefits: - Competitive compensation: A competitive remuneration package reflecting experience, responsibilities, and expertise. - Career development: Opportunities for professional growth, continuous learning, and advancement in a rapidly expanding technology and infrastructure environment. - Flexibility and ownership: A working environment that encourages autonomy, accountability, and ownership of operational decisions. - International collaboration: Work alongside talented professionals and cross-functional teams in a global, innovative environment. - Meaningful industry impact: Contribute to the logistics infrastructure supporting advanced AI technologies and large-scale data center operations. - Leadership opportunities: Help shape the development of the external warehouse function, improve operational processes, and grow a specialist team. - Continuous improvement culture: Opportunity to introduce new processes, optimize costs, strengthen compliance, and improve service quality across an international logistics network. - Collaborative environment: Join a fast-moving organization that values bold thinking, trust, innovation, and meaningful contributions. How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best! Why Apply Through Jobgether? Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time. #LI-CL1

3PL Operations Manager

similar openings