Director, Transportation (Confidential) in Hickory, North Carolina

Posted 09/19/23

Position Function:
This position oversees and gives support to the inbound, outbound and inter-plant transportation management operations for all manufacturing & distribution locations in North America.
We are seeking a transportation professional who has the skills to navigate a complex manufacturing and distribution environment, as well being a strategic thinker that can transform Transportation. A strong financial acumen with emphasis on leading to financial success and KPIs.

Position Responsibilities:

Has overall responsibility of transportation for four business units within a shared services organization
Directly responsible for development of transportation plan and financial performance to plan
Manages direct and indirect reports across the network of plants
Responsible for continuous improvement to how the company ships product to our customers
Responsible to improve delivered quality to our customers
Develops and manages cost reductions for each business unit annually
Ability to communicate effectively to executive level in all matters relating to transportation
Develop, monitor, and report KPI’s to measure performance of carriers, shipping, and financials
Establishes process & procedure for satisfying customer requirements for effective delivery of finished product
Establishes process & procedure for the timely and efficient flow of inbound raw materials for manufacturing and distribution locations
Selects mode & specific routings within each mode for each of the above described operations to accommodate the unique requirements of each
Negotiates with all carriers as to rate levels, to ensure adequate transportation capacity and to establish and enforce service levels for each phase of transportation
Supervises and coaches the transportation managers at each location and assists in solving problems which must be escalated above the local level
Recommends and assists in the implementation of new practices and procedures to reduce cost and/or improve service at all locations
Coordinates the efforts of all locations to achieve the maximum effective use of available transportation assets
Sets policy for and monitors the performance of the several Dedicated Contract Carriers engaged in essential transportation services
Gathers data and processes information to evaluate the cost of dedicated contract services and to fairly allocate those costs among the locations receiving the benefit of the service
Coordinates the payment of all freight invoices with 3rd party audit & payment firms
Assists all locations in documenting, filing, and recovering freight loss and damage claims
Monitors freight payments for proper application of general ledger accounts
Maintains knowledge of transportation and logistics industry trends, product innovations, and new product and services to provide better service to the customer while reducing cost to the organization
Is knowledgeable with all Federal laws and regulations governing shipper/carrier contracts and ensures that the organization is protected from any negative implications
Understands the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and develops policies and procedures to insure compliance with those regulations in all corporate locations

Position Qualifications:

Proficient in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Experience in managing dedicated fleets
Knowledge of DOT regulations
Strong supply chain and logistics knowledge and familiarity with general manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution flow and operation
Ability to develop new vendor relationships
Strong business acumen and analytical skills
Ability to influence members of cross functional teams, strong negotiation skills
Self-motivated and results oriented
Experience in industry trends and best practices for carrier and 3PL environments. Must have experience in procuring (purchasing) freight, and leading / driving freight bids across national accounts, as well as execution of warehouse 3PL sourcing and governance.
Oracle and OTM experience a plus.
This role may require up to 25% travel.