Head of Strategy & Consulting

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Do you want to be a valued part of the critical infrastructure that serves communities across Europe and beyond? Are you looking for a position in which you can set direction and help shape our company? If so, then you could be leading our Strategy & Consulting team reporting to the Group CFO.

Be part of the movement - and play your part.
About the role
The Strategy & Consulting team (S&C) supports the Executive Management in setting DFDS’ strategic direction and delivering some of the highest impact strategic projects across the company. Our team drives projects of high strategic importance to DFDS spanning across strategy, M&A, operations, commercial, green transition, digitalisation, and organisational topics.

Our current Head of S&C has been promoted internally and we are now looking for their replacement to lead and drive our S&C. The head of S&C reports to the CFO of DFDS.

The team consists of currently 10 passionate ex-management consultants and in-house trained consulting colleagues bringing experience from a multitude of industries and practices. The team appreciates spending time together and regularly arranges off-sites, dinners, and other social events. Furthermore, we take pride in a supporting professional environment where colleagues are always ready to help. The team (both the head and team members) have a strong track record of progressing to leadership position in the rest of DFDS. You will have a high degree of responsibility and exposure to the Executive Management.

The job is based in DFDS’ Headquarters in Copenhagen, occasional travel to onsite locations across Europe will be required.

What kind of exciting challenges can you expect to meet in this role?:
As a key leader you will manage a team of experienced ex-consultant colleagues. Your focus will be to lead, mentor, develop and support your team in their management of strategic projects. This will include, but is not limited to:

• Identifying and framing the key issues DFDS is facing
• Problem solving on some of the biggest challenges in DFDS
• Driving projects forward incl. project planning and management in collaboration with colleagues across the company
• Setting the organisation up for successful implementation
• Sparring on strategic topics with DFDS EMT members and senior leadership
• Heavy involvement with DFDS top management and Board of Directors to help shape and realise the group strategy

S&C’s projects span across the entirety of DFDS, and gives broad topic and stakeholder exposure. Examples of previous projects include:

• Development of DFDS’ new group strategy (Moving Together Towards 2030)
• Climate strategy and action plan to reduce DFDS’ environmental footprint including vessel electrification, shore power procurement and eTruck deployment
• Commercial due diligence and integration of recent acquisitions of Ekol Logistics and FRS Iberia
• Establishment of long-term digitalisation roadmap with most value creating areas for Ferry & Logistics divisions
• Turnaround project for an underperforming business entity in conjunction with local management
• Greenfield establishment of two new routes from France to Ireland and UK
• Reorganisation of Technology & Innovation (IT) division, and of Ferry division

Vessel schedule optimisation program to reduce carbon emissions and costs across DFDS is a leading player in the shipping and logistics industry in Europe and is underway in a large green transition of its entire operations along with an extensive digitalisation journey. In 2023, DFDS delivered an EBITDA of ~5,000 mDKK, revenue of 27 bDKK, and employs more than 12,000 people. Furthermore, DFDS has a strong continuing record of acquiring businesses, leading to close to a tripling in company size over the last 12 years.

S&C’s strategic projects support these journeys in an industry that is also undergoing significant changes. This includes an all-encompassing green transition, digitalising a traditionally handheld industry, consolidation resulting in much M&A activity, rapid technology changes such as autonomous transport and many players pursuing value chain integration strategies – all things which will drastically change the industry landscape, and present many exciting projects.

About you
We think the strongest teams are built on diversity and inclusivity. Contrasting opinions, varied skills and strong characters bring out the best in us all. With this in mind, we think it is important that you are ambitious, caring, sociable and highly capable of taking responsibility. You need to have a strong personal drive, a good sense of teamwork and general curiosity. You have a good sense of project management, strong problem solving and analytical skills and excellent communication skills.

Furthermore, the ideal person for this position will have the following qualifications:

• 6+ years relevant professional experience within strategy and management consulting
• Experience in leading high performing teams
• Master's degree e.g. in business administration, economics, finance, strategy, or engineering
• Full professional proficiency in English

Working at DFDS
Join the movement and grow with us.

While you’re with us, we want you to develop and move yourself on. We’ll encourage you to challenge yourself to acquire new skills and perspectives.

Personal development is high on the team agenda. It is supported by a structured feedback process, along with an extensive development curriculum consisting of both internal and external trainings. The team successfully transitions several colleagues into commercial and operational roles in the business every year and last year managed another Talent 100 winner and is proud of the track record.

At DFDS, we promote a great workplace with a diverse and vibrant community, and a healthy work/life balance, with flexible work arrangements. Our newly built headquarters in Copenhagen is a unique, modern workplace which received the award "Office building of the year 2023". Here, we enjoy our own game room, fitness facilities, cantina and café, and a rooftop terrace with a beautiful ocean view, all just 5 minutes from the nearest train & metro station.

Are we a match? Then what are you waiting for? Apply Now.
If you think your personality, skills, experience, and desire match this role, we’d love to hear from you. Send us your resume as soon as possible as we’re keen to meet potential candidates on an ongoing basis.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mette Boesgaard, Talent Acquisition Consultant, at [email protected].

We look forward to hearing from you.

Department Office careers Locations DFDS Headquarter (Marmorvej 18, Copenhagen) People manager position Yes

About DFDS Denmark
We are a transport and logistics company providing the safe, reliable and efficient movement of people and goods - more than 12,000 colleagues, all committed to transforming our business into a greener and more digitised operation. We are proud of our role as part of the critical infrastructure serving customers and communities across Europe and further afield.

Be part of DFDS and be part of the movement.