About Nebius:
Nebius is leading a new era in cloud infrastructure for the global AI economy. We are building a full-stack AI cloud platform that supports developers and enterprises from data and model training through to production deployment, without the cost and complexity of building large in-house AI/ML infrastructure.
Built by engineers, for engineers. From large-scale GPU orchestration to inference optimization, we own the hard problems across compute, storage, networking and applied AI.
Listed on Nasdaq (NBIS) and headquartered in Amsterdam, we have a global footprint with R&D hubs across Europe, the UK, North America and Israel. Our team of 1,500+ includes hundreds of engineers with deep expertise across hardware, software and AI R&D.
The role
We are looking for an experienced Regional Transport Manager to build and lead our APAC transport operations from the ground up. This is a greenfield role — you will be responsible for establishing the regional transport function, including processes, carrier relationships, team structure, and operational playbooks, across a fast-growing network of data center sites.
The role covers air freight and road transport across the APAC region, with a primary focus on shipments from Taiwan to key APAC destinations including India, Malaysia, Japan, and additional markets to be announced. You will manage the movement of high-value IT hardware — including server racks, GPUs, and data center equipment — and work closely with global logistics, procurement, and data center operations teams to ensure on-time, damage-free delivery across all lanes.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, build-from-scratch environment and has the experience to make sound decisions independently while scaling a regional team around them.
Key Responsibilities
Regional Operations — Build & Run
- Establish and lead the APAC transport function from scratch, including defining processes, workflows, carrier networks, and operational standards across the region.
- Build and manage a regional transport team, defining roles, responsibilities, and hiring roadmap as the business scales.
- Manage end-to-end air freight and road transport of high-value IT hardware — including server racks, GPUs, servers, and data center equipment — across APAC lanes.
- Oversee shipments from Taiwan to APAC destinations including India, Malaysia, Japan, and other markets, as well as reverse flows where required.
- Coordinate inbound freight scheduling, carrier and freight forwarder selection, and delivery execution to ensure on-time, damage-free arrival at APAC data center sites.
- Handle all RMA and RMS shipments within the region, ensuring accurate and timely processing in coordination with vendors, carriers, and internal teams.
- Maintain full visibility over active shipments across all APAC lanes and proactively resolve transit issues, delays, or exceptions.
- Develop contingency plans and alternative routing strategies to ensure business continuity across the region.
Coordination & Documentation
- Coordinate closely with data center operations teams across APAC to support staging, buffering, and just-in-time hardware deployment.
- Maintain accurate in-transit inventory records and ensure proper chain-of-custody documentation for all shipments.
- Manage all shipment-related documentation in relevant systems (Jira, TMS, or equivalent), ensuring records are complete, accurate, and audit-ready.
- Manage customs documentation and clearance processes for all cross-border shipments within APAC, including imports into India, Malaysia, Japan, and other destinations.
- Process and reconcile logistics invoices and manage payments for transportation operations across the region.
- Work with the security team to establish and maintain secure shipment protocols for high-value hardware across APAC.
Compliance & Quality
- Ensure all shipments comply with applicable regulations across APAC jurisdictions, including country-specific import/export requirements, customs procedures, and trade compliance obligations.
- Manage duties, taxes, and customs declarations for inbound and outbound shipments across the region.
- Establish and enforce SLAs and KPIs with freight carriers, forwarders, and 3PL partners; drive accountability through regular performance reviews.
- Maintain audit-ready documentation for all logistics activities across the region.
- Identify and escalate compliance gaps or process deviations, implementing corrective actions as needed.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with hardware engineering, procurement, finance, and data center operations to align APAC logistics execution with deployment timelines and business priorities.
- Collaborate with OEM suppliers based in Taiwan to coordinate shipping windows, batch tracking, customs documentation, and inbound scheduling into APAC facilities.
- Work closely with the global transport leadership team to align regional operations with global standards, processes, and reporting requirements.
- Act as the primary escalation point for all transport-related issues across the APAC region.
- Drive continuous improvement through KPI tracking, root cause analysis, and process standardisation across the region.
Planning & Cost Management
- Forecast transportation demand for the APAC region based on data center expansion plans, hardware deployment schedules, and capacity needs.
- Build the regional carrier and forwarder network from the ground up, negotiating rates and service agreements across APAC lanes.
- Identify cost optimisation opportunities through carrier consolidation, routing improvements, and smarter scheduling.
- Track and report on regional logistics costs, flagging variances and recommending corrective actions.
- Support data-driven decision-making through regular reporting, dashboards, and operational analytics.
Team Leadership
- Recruit, onboard, and develop the APAC transport team as the regional operation scales.
- Define team structure, roles, and responsibilities to support operational growth across new markets.
- Mentor team members and foster a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Provide clear direction and priorities to the team while maintaining hands-on involvement in day-to-day operations during the build phase.
Requirements
- 7+ years of experience in transportation, freight, or logistics management, with at least 3 years in a management or team leadership role.
- Proven experience building or significantly scaling a transport or logistics function — greenfield or high-growth environment experience is strongly preferred.
- Deep expertise in air freight and road transport across APAC, with strong knowledge of key lanes including Taiwan, India, Malaysia, and Japan.
- Hands-on experience managing high-value, time-critical IT hardware shipments — server racks, GPUs, data center equipment, or similar cargo.
- Strong understanding of customs regulations, import/export procedures, and trade compliance across multiple APAC jurisdictions.
- Experience managing and negotiating with carriers, freight forwarders, and 3PL partners across the APAC region.
- Hands-on experience with RMA/RMS shipment processes and reverse logistics flows.
- Familiarity with TMS platforms, Jira, or similar systems used for shipment tracking and documentation.
- Excellent organisational and documentation skills with a high standard for accuracy and completeness.
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills; able to work cross-functionally across technical and non-technical teams in a global environment.
- Comfortable operating independently in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with limited established process — a builder mindset is essential.
- Based in the APAC region; Taiwan preferred given the primary shipping origin, though other APAC locations will be considered.
- Fluency in English required; Mandarin or other regional languages are a strong advantage.
Nice to Have
- Experience in a hyperscaler, cloud provider, or large-scale data center build-out environment.
- Familiarity with ATA Carnet processes and temporary import/export mechanisms for repair and return shipments.
- Background in supply chain analytics, reporting, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Familiarity with physical security protocols for high-value hardware shipments.
- Experience expanding transport operations into new APAC markets such as Indonesia, South Korea, or Singapore.
Benefits & Perks:
- Competitive compensation
- Career growth and learning opportunities
- Flexibility and ownership
- Collaborative and innovative culture
- Opportunity to work on impactful AI projects
- International environment and talented teams
What's it like to work at Nebius:
Fast moving - Bold thinking - Constant growth - Meaningful impact - Trust and real ownership - Opportunity to shape the future of AI
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Nebius is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the country in which they apply and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility as a condition of hire.
If you need accommodations during the application process, please let us know.