Strategy & Operations Manager in Folkestone

Location: Sandgate, Kent (5 days per week in office)

Reports to: CEO

About JCL

JCL is an established international transport, logistics, removals and storage business operating across domestic, international, and intercontinental markets. With a decade of operational excellence and a truly global footprint, we are at an inflection point—ready to scale, professionalise, and capture the significant growth opportunity ahead of us. This is a rare chance to join a profitable, well-regarded business with strong foundations and transform it into something exceptional.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced operations leader who has done the “big company” thing and is now ready to build something of their own. Someone who has seen what good looks like at scale and wants the autonomy to implement it. Someone who thrives on variety, gets energised by solving problems across the business, and wants genuine ownership of outcomes. This isn’t a “maintain the status quo” role. Your job is to drive growth, modernise operations, and position JCL for its next chapter. You will have full P&L oversight, manage all vertical heads, and work directly with the CEO to set strategy and execute it. If you have been frustrated by bureaucracy, want to see the direct impact of your work, and are excited by the prospect of building operational excellence from the ground up—this role is for you.

What You’ll Do

• Strategic Leadership
  • Own the operational strategy across all business verticals: Domestic Removals, International Removals, Intercontinental Removals, Commercial Transport, Storage, and Customs
  • Drive revenue growth with a goal of doubling the business over the next 2-3 years
  • Identify new market opportunities, operational efficiencies, and competitive advantages
  • Work directly with the CEO to shape the long-term vision and execute against it
• Operational Excellence
  • Manage and develop the heads of each vertical (3 direct reports)
  • Implement robust processes, KPIs, and reporting across all operations
  • Digitalise and professionalise systems—bringing structure without losing agility
  • Optimise margins, improve customer experience, and drive operational efficiency
  • Balance hands-on problem-solving with strategic thinking
• P&L Management
  • Own financial performance across all verticals
  • Build and manage budgets, forecasts, and profitability analysis
  • Make data-driven decisions on resource allocation and investment priorities
• Change Management
  • Lead the team through a period of modernisation and growth
  • Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in operations or general management within logistics, transport, or a related industry
• P&L responsibility in a previous role—you understand the numbers and how to move them
• Track record of scaling operations—you’ve driven growth, improved processes, or led transformation initiatives
• Leadership capability—you’ve managed teams and know how to get the best from people
• Strategic thinking with executional rigour—you can see the big picture and roll up your sleeves to make it happen
• Comfort with ambiguity—you don’t need perfect systems or clear playbooks to be effective
• Location: Must be based in or willing to relocate to the Sandgate/Kent area
• Experience in multiple logistics verticals (removals, freight, warehousing, customs)
• Background in a larger organisation with exposure to best-in-class systems and processes
• Lean/Six Sigma or other process improvement methodologies
• Experience with digitalisation or technology implementation projects
• International operations experience

What You’ll Get

• Base salary of £40,000 - £50,000 depending on experience
• Performance-based bonus with OTE of £60,000 - £70,000
• Genuine long-term progression potential to executive leadership

The Role

• Real autonomy and ownership—your decisions will shape the business
• Direct access to the CEO and ability to influence strategy at the highest level
• Variety and challenge across multiple business areas (you’ll never be bored)
• The opportunity to build something significant and see the tangible results of your work

Progression

• This is a career-defining role with clear progression to a senior executive position
• Succession planning opportunity as the business scales
• A chance to be part of the founding leadership team of JCL’s next phase

The Day-to-Day Reality

Let’s be honest about what this role is and isn’t: It’s currently a small business with 10 employees - you’ll need to be hands-on and comfortable with ambiguity. Systems need building—if you need perfect infrastructure to thrive, this isn’t the role. Change won’t be easy—you’ll need to bring people along and navigate resistance. It’s five days a week in the office—we’re building something together and that requires presence. But: You’ll have genuine ownership, real impact, and the chance to build operational excellence your way. If you’re energised rather than daunted by the above, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re looking to move quickly for the right candidate. JCL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.