DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) is the world leader in air freight services and one of the leading providers of ocean freight services. Around 30,000 employees work to ensure we transport our customers of shipments by air or sea. DGF's logistics solutions span the entire supply chain, from the factory to the shop floor. This also includes special transport-related services.

As the experts in freight forwarding, we deliver 100% assurance to our customers via a mindset that’s always looking ahead to the next commercial opportunity, predicting the next potential issue, anticipating the next global trend.

Because at DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, we’re not simply about freight forwarding. We’re about forward-thinking ways to connect people – and improve their lives.

Job purpose

Seasoned commercial and sector leader with deep expertise in data center logistics and mission-critical supply chains. Proven ability to define sector strategy, drive multimillion-dollar revenue growth, and build trusted C-suite relationships with hyperscalers, colocation providers, and enterprise data center operators. Brings a strong understanding of the full data center lifecycle—from site selection and build through deployment, expansion, refresh, and decommissioning—translating customer growth ambitions into scalable, execution-ready logistics programs. Combines strategic vision with operational depth to position the organization as a long-term, strategic partner within the global data center ecosystem.

Principal accountabilities

• Strategic Market & Sector Leadership
  Defines data center sector strategy, prioritizes growth opportunities, and steers multi-year commercial roadmaps aligned to customer deployment cycles.
• Executive Relationship Management
  Builds and sustains senior partnerships across customer organizations, including C-suite, procurement, engineering, construction, and program management teams.
• Commercial Excellence & Financial Acumen
  Strong track record in enterprise and solution selling, global MSAs, contract negotiations, pricing governance, and P&L, OPEX, and gross margin oversight.
• End-to-End Data Center Lifecycle Expertise
  Deep understanding of logistics requirements across build, fit-out, deployment waves, expansions, refresh cycles, and decommissioning.
• Program & Solution Architecture
  Designs scalable, repeatable sector playbooks—deployment models, global rate cards, SLAs, governance frameworks, and operating principles—enabling rapid multi-country execution.
• Cross-Functional Influence
  Leads and aligns global teams across operations, engineering, product, and business units without direct authority.
• Thought Leadership & Market Presence
  Represents the organization at industry conferences, customer boards, and technical forums, shaping dialogue on data center logistics trends and best practices.
• Sustainability & Energy-Aware Logistics
  Integrates low-carbon transport options, consolidation strategies, and sustainability requirements aligned to hyperscaler and colo net-zero commitments.
• Own operational solution design for Data Center Logistics customers, ensuring all bids and programs are fully executable, resilient, and aligned to mission-critical requirements.
• Serve as the operational subject-matter expert across hyperscaler, colocation, and enterprise data center customers, with deep understanding of how deployments are built, staged, installed, expanded, and refreshed.
• Partner closely with Commercial and Global RFQ teams to translate customer requirements into robust operating models, cost drivers, and delivery assumptions.
• Design and validate end-to-end operating solutions, including construction logistics, white-glove handling, secure transport, site coordination, and deployment wave management.
• Own operational risk assessment and mitigation, stress-testing timelines, capacity, security, compliance, and contingency planning before bid submission.
• Ensure consistency and scalability of execution, developing standard operating models, playbooks, and control points that can be deployed across regions.
• Act as senior escalation point during delivery, ensuring rapid resolution of issues and protecting customer trust in high-impact, time-critical programs.
• Manage above in a matrix, XBU environment across multiple stakeholders

Required Skills & Capabilities

• Visionary, execution-focused leader with strong strategic planning capability.
• Commercially driven and financially literate, with experience in forecasting, margin optimization, and scenario-based pricing.
• Skilled communicator able to influence senior executives and internal stakeholders alike.
• Strong governance mindset with disciplined approach to risk management and compliance.
• Highly collaborative, aligning global and regional commercial teams around consistent sector growth priorities.
• Thrives in high-growth, fast-evolving, and time-critical environments.

Experience & Other Requirements

• 10–15+ years in logistics, supply chain, project logistics, or mission-critical infrastructure, with at least 5 years in senior commercial leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success leading commercial strategy and delivering high-value solutions to hyperscalers, colocation providers, and enterprise data center customers.
• Extensive experience managing complex global accounts and driving long-term sector development.
• Strong familiarity with construction logistics, technical installations, white-glove handling, secure transport, and high-value equipment flows.
• Comfortable navigating technical, regulatory, geopolitical, and capacity-related complexities impacting global data center deployments.

Location

Bonn and flexible

RCS Grade

H

Your benefits

We offer excellent employee benefits, a competitive salary package and great development opportunities.

• Positive work environment: Our TOP EMPLOYER prestigious certification attests to our best-in-class efforts to attract and retain talent by fostering a positive work environment and encouraging personal and professional development among employees
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement plans, social counseling, generous corporate discount programs and other employee wellbeing programs.
• Global Exposure: Joining DHL Global Forwarding means being part of a truly global organization, providing you with the opportunity to work with diverse teams and gain exposure to international markets and practices.
• Work-Life Balance: We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and we strive to provide a flexible work environment.
• Continuous Learning and Development: We invest in our employees' growth by offering training programs, coaching, workshops, and resources to enhance your skills and knowledge.
• Onboarding: Individual onboarding, training on the job, networking, a dedicated certified program.

Interested in this position? Just click on “Apply”!

Are you curious to learn more about us?

Our official website: DHL Global Forwarding

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We are looking forward to your application.

DGF HR Team