Woolworths

We are seeking an influential, strategic leader to optimise our complex store delivery network across road, rail, and sea, ensuring the seamless movement of goods from our distribution centres to stores across Australia and New Zealand.

• Shape a transport optimisation vision and provide executive leadership for a $1.2B annual transport operations portfolio
• Lead systems governance across all regions to synchronise local operations with national strategic objectives
• High-impact hybrid role: Based in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane

Welcome to Primary Connect

Primary Connect is the most extensive food and retail supply chain network in Australia and New Zealand. Our 10,000-strong team are an essential part of the expansive Woolworths Group, which encompasses Woolworths Supermarkets and Metro stores, BIG W, Countdown NZ, Quantium, and more. With us, your possibilities are not limited to a single opportunity. 

We’re delivering to more than 3,000 retail stores every day (stores like Woolworths, BIG W, Dan Murphy’s, and BWS), but at Primary Connect, we’re more than just a supply chain business. We’re a big team, but every individual plays a pivotal role and leaves a distinctive impact. 

Our extensive reach opens up boundless opportunities for learning, growth, and professional development. By raising your hand, fostering relationships, and seizing the moment, you can take control of your own unique path. 

What you’ll do

• National Store Delivery Leadership & Strategy: Lead the diagnostic and strategic direction of a $1.2B annual transport spend. You will drive fleet efficiency, minimize "empty runners," and maintain relentless cost control to exceed savings targets across the national network.
• Transport and fleet operational excellence: Systematically remove waste and standardise processes across all states to eliminate silos. You will mature operational tools—including demand forecasting and KPI visibility—to embed data-driven decision-making at every level.
• Systems Integration and Strategy: Lead the Store Delivery systems roadmap, acting as the national Subject Matter Expert (SME) to create advanced reporting tools to support the long-term Store Delivery Strategy.
• Empower a Trans-Tasman Team: Foster a collaborative, safety-first, and high-performing culture within a geographically dispersed team of specialists, ensuring alignment to deliver a seamless national function.
• Regional Alignment: Act as the central point of alignment for five regional Optimisation Managers (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA/NT, and WA), ensuring local execution remains consistent with national strategic goals.
• Serve as the primary link between frontline transport operations and the executive suite, translating complex metrics into compelling "data stories" that influence high-level strategy.
• Maintain a strong presence "on the floor" through regular site visits to DCs and transport hubs, ensuring national strategies remain grounded in operational reality and identifying local wins for national rollout.

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience (8+) in managing multiple concurrent work streams and delivering large-scale national transformations on time and within budget in a complex FMCG, Retail, or Supply Chain environment.
• Deep expertise within high-volume transport systems, with a specific focus on integrating operational workflows with digital strategies.
• Executive-level communication skills, with the demonstrated ability to present sophisticated operational strategies with clarity to stakeholders at all seniority levels.
• Expert-level utilisation of process mapping and value stream definition methodologies to identify, categorise, and systematically remove waste from the national network.
• Highly analytical with the unique ability to "story-tell" through data; translating raw metrics into clear, timely, and actionable insights that drive executive decision-making.
• Advanced commercial and financial acumen, with experience managing substantial business financials and complex transport commercials, including contract management and cost-to-serve modelling.
• Experience leading and energising large, geographically dispersed operational transport teams.  
• A track record of embedding changes and navigating complex projects with real finesse.
• Strong commercial negotiation skills and experience managing complex business implementations.   

If you are eager to apply your expertise in project management, contract negotiation, but do not tick all the boxes, we encourage you to apply. 

Endless possibilities with Woolworths Group

We’re a proud part of the Woolworths Group – 200,000+ bright minds, passionate hearts and unique perspectives working together connected by a shared Purpose – ‘to create better experiences together for a better tomorrow.’ 

Here you’ll be supported and empowered to explore new ideas, make brave commitments and innovate better ways to meet the food and everyday needs of more than 24 million customers every week. Backed by a culture of genuine care, a flexible approach to work and the support to grow your career and make a meaningful impact, the possibilities for what we can achieve together are endless.

Everyone belongs at Woolworths Group

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are key to realising our purpose of better together for a better tomorrow. We recognise the value our team’s diversity brings to our business, customers, and communities and that teams with diverse experiences and backgrounds enrich our group and are better able to innovate and solve problems. As one of the largest employers in Australia and New Zealand, we aim to create a truly inclusive workplace where everyone feels that they belong, can be their best selves, and reach their full potential.

We encourage all candidates to apply; please let us know in your application if we can support you with any adjustments in the hiring process.

Platinum Tier Employer - Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQ+ inclusion

Employer of Choice for Gender Equality - Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

Our Talent Acquisition Team and Hiring Leaders kindly request no unsolicited resumes or approaches from Recruitment Agencies. Woolworths Group is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes