Head of Driver Supply
Join the leading logistics company with a strong reputation for quality and service.
Kim Johansen International Transport (KJIT) is a leading European transport company specialising in time-sensitive goods. Founded in 1980, the company has grown to operate a modern fleet of 500 trucks with approximately 900 employees across Europe, of which 750 are drivers. KJIT serves airlines, freight forwarders, and logistics companies with 24/7 non-stop services, maintaining a strong reputation for precision and reliability.
The company is headquartered in Greve, Denmark, with operations in the Nordics, Baltics, France, Slovakia, Poland, and Romania, supported by a network of driver hubs across Europe.
KJIT is creating a new role: Head of Driver Supply, based in Tallinn, Estonia.
We are looking for someone who can build and optimise a driver supply operation - a pipeline that delivers qualified drivers in the right quantity, at the right time, at the right cost, and at the right quality.
The European transport industry faces a structural driver shortage of approximately 400,000 unfilled positions. For KJIT, securing a reliable supply of qualified drivers is not an HR challenge - it is an operational imperative that directly impacts our ability to serve customers and grow the business.
We need someone who thinks in terms of throughout, lead time, bottlenecks, and capacity planning - not in terms of traditional recruitment.
About the role
Reporting to the CEO and joining the Danish leadership team, the Head of Driver Supply will be responsible for the entire driver supply chain:
From sourcing candidates in origin countries (e.g., Turkey, Uzbekistan) through screening, training, certification, and deployment to European operations.
Key responsibilities
Pipeline design and optimisation. Design and continuously improve the end-to-end process for driver supply. Identify bottlenecks, eliminate waste, and reduce lead time while maintaining quality. Move activities earlier in the process and closer to the candidate’s home country where it makes sense - for example, initial skills testing before investing in European training.
Capacity planning and forecasting. Work with operations to forecast driver demand. KJIT recruits 250-300 drivers per year to maintain and grow its fleet. Maintain a balanced pipeline with two tracks: a steady basis-pipeline for predictable replacement needs, and a flex-pipeline that can accelerate delivery when demand increases or attrition spikes.
Partner network development. Build and manage partnerships with driving schools, training providers, recruitment agencies, and other local partners in source countries. Negotiate agreements, define quality standards, and ensure partners deliver to specification. Be prepared to send team members - or go yourself - to set up new operations on the ground.
Training infrastructure in source countries. Establish local training capacity in source countries to reduce time and cost in Europe. This may include partnerships with local providers for certifications such as ADR, practical skills training, or facilities for remote online instruction in classroom-based onboarding modules. The goal is to ensure that candidates arrive in Europe as prepared as possible - reducing the training burden and cost after arrival.
Cost management. Own the cost-per-hire for driver supply. Understand the trade-offs between speed and cost, and optimise the mix between basis and flex pipelines. Build transparency into cost structures across geographies and partners.
Quality assurance. Ensure that drivers arriving for deployment are qualified to operate trucks with trailers without requiring an extended trainee period. Design screening and testing protocols that identify unsuitable candidates early - before significant training investment.
Team leadership. Lead a team of 20-25 people across multiple European locations (Baltics, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, France). Build capability, set clear expectations, and drive performance.
Skills and competencies
Strong analytical and process-oriented mindset
Proven ability to execute - you get things done, not just plan them
Comfortable building something new, including travel to source countries to establish
operations
Experience managing distributed teams across multiple locations
Commercial awareness and cost discipline
Ability to work with data and translate it into operational decisions
Fluent English (required),
Russian or Turkish is an advantage.
What we offer
A leadership role with significant impact on the company’s operational capability
Membership of the Danish leadership team with direct reporting to the CEO
Budget responsibility and autonomy to build partnerships within agreed frameworks
The opportunity to build a new function from the ground up
A company with a strong culture of ownership, respect, and continuous improvement
Apply now
Want to know more?
Recruiter from Southwestern Recruitment, Priit Suitslepp will answer your questions.
