Head of Academic and Research Logistics Operations - Logistics

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Head of Academic and Research Logistics Operations reporting to the Executive Director, Finance and Budget.

Head of Academic and Research Logistics Operations should be a visionary person that will be responsible for understanding the long-term strategic vision of the University’s leadership and consequently develop a strategic vision for Logistics that supports the University’s mission and for developing and executing a tactical operating plan that supports Academic and research business units.  The position over-the-horizon planning will be flexible enough to evolve as needed to support the ever changing internationally collaborative research landscape that Logistics is required to support.

Head of Academic and Research Logistics Operations will be responsible for leading the day to day International Logistics operations and supporting the transportation and importation of products within academic and research from a worldwide network of vendors and collaboration partners. The ability to understand the trade-offs associated with Supply Chain decisions and understand the complexities of performing business internationally will be critical. This person will be comfortable conversing with every level of the organization, building organizational relationships with the many internal customers (especially with the Research Community, Supply Chain/Procurement, Compliance, Research and Lab Operations) while working collaboratively to reach resolution to ongoing and developing problems. The candidate will be business savvy, with the ability to self-educate to keep current in the evolving International Logistics arena.

Head of Academic and Research Logistics Operations will be responsible for supporting the NYUAD Supply Chain by managing all global logistics activities across academic and research operations, including developing and implementing global strategies for warehousing, transportation, trade compliance, reverse logistics, packaging, network optimization, process and system flows, strategic warehousing, and assisting with strategic supplier management by helping develop an extensive and complex global 3PL network across the Americas, EMEA and APAC.

Head of Academic and Research Logistics Operations will be responsible for managing a team of logistics professionals responsible for international freight forwarding and the related operational administrative duties, including but not limited to, determining the correct method of shipment and providing an unbroken logistics chain for different goods (i.e. chemicals, biological items, equipment) including any goods deemed necessary to support the logistic activities across the multiple business units within the academic areas. The logistics team will manage the end to end logistics chain in compliance with the different applicable Export / Import control rules, including obtaining any required Ministry Licenses and Permits required for custom clearance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a strategic vision that executes a tactical plan to manage the end to end logistics chain from factory to campus, or from campus to other collaborators’ destinations, in compliance with the different applicable export / import control rules, including obtaining any required Licenses and Permits required for custom clearance at both source and destination locations
• Provide oversight and guidance to the logistics team to manage the day-to-day international operations and trade partners (ocean freight, drayage, brokers, freight forwarders, air freight etc.) associated with flowing product from NYUADs supplier base and to our collaborators around the world.  Manage the end to end logistics chain from factory to campus, or from campus to other collaborators’ destinations, in compliance with the different applicable export / import control rules, including obtaining any required Ministry Licenses and Permits required for custom clearance. All outstanding and concluded Logistics Transactions should be maintained in an organized and structured way, and kept up to date, and ready for sharing with all University’s key stakeholders
• Understand and manage the trade-offs between costs, service and inventory associated with various flow paths (transload, CFS, North American ports of entry, port to port/port to door etc.). Create the strategy for importing product throughout the NYUAD supply chain network, considering service requirements, cost models, flow path optimization tools, customs and compliance, cold chain requirements and replenishment needs
• Work with Trade Partners in pursuit of continuous process improvement, enhancing reporting, visibility, data integrity, SOP etc. Create / maintain policies or procedures for logistics activities as required
• Communicate with foreign based NYUAD offices, Suppliers and forwarders for timely booking and shipment
• Stay abreast of market conditions (ocean freight, domestic drayage/trucking, international airfreight) and best practices to develop and execute strategies to flow product in the most economical manner
• Develop and be accountable for KPIs associated with International Logistics, including cost, on time performance, accessorial, lead time container utilization and volume.  Provide KPIs to stakeholders and perform quarterly 360 reviews for insights into current performance and data required for process improvements.  Eventually the 360 reviews will transition to semi-annual reviews
• Work effectively with cross functional partners (e.g. procurement/supply chain and NYUNY logistics) to develop and execute end-to-end logistics strategies and manage the day to day operational requirements
• Assist in negotiating and managing contracts associated with the International Supply Chain (ocean, drayage, brokers, freight forwarders). Lead carrier management activities for international Trade Partners
• Provide leadership and support the team by motivating, evaluating and developing them for future growth. Establish a working environment that encourages knowledge sharing, relationship building and innovation
• Develop SOPs that establish department standards for communications with stakeholders which includes setting expectations, providing status updates of goods in transit, providing relevant information such as costs and timing of shipments, etc
• Develops SOPs that guide the department on how to provide customs clearance support to ensure timely and smooth delivery of goods
• Develop and manage standard operating procedures and shipping practices to effectively and efficiently carry out logistics activities. Lead policy development that guides the development of the standard operating procedures
• Manage the logistics chain effectively and efficiently and participate in optimizing the Logistics function in deciding when and where to rely on goods providers to manage the Logistics and deliver to Campus, and where and when we need to rely on our logistics vendors partners

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, Logistics, or Business
• IATA Cat Six Dangerous Goods Regulations, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management

Preferred Education:

• Master of Science or higher in Global Supply Chain Logistics or Supply Chain Management

Required Experience: 

• Global Logistics Expertise with 10+years of supply chain experience
• 8+ years of international logistics, freight forwarding and distribution experience
• Demonstrated experience in managing logistics Trade Partners and carriers
• Demonstrated ability to map and analyze processes from a lean perspective, integrating the system, data, reporting and process components into an efficient operating model

Preferred Experience:

• 15 years of global operations management experience in manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain, including experience leading multi-site/international warehousing, supply chain, or manufacturing operations
• 10 years of experience managing third-party logistics suppliers including 8+ years of international logistics, freight forwarding and distribution experience
• Experience in higher education in the UAE is a plus.
• Experience with various UAE ministries that influence and/or regulate imported goods, materials, animals, biologicals, etc

About NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.