This role is responsible for leading and supporting the execution of strategic customer programs by translating customer requirements and growth objectives into effective, reliable, and cost-efficient procurement and logistics solutions. The position works closely with manufacturing operations, suppliers, vendors, and logistics providers to ensure continuity of service, resolve operational issues, and support program expansion.
This is an individual contributor role partnering across the Fiber Business Unit, Operations, Planning, Customer Service, Manufacturing, Procurement, regional teams, and external providers. The role performs routine buying activities, including purchase order management, material follow-up, and supplier coordination.
A key responsibility of this role is owning relationships with third-party logistics (3PL) providers, including negotiating transportation and warehousing rates, establishing and managing service-level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs), and driving continuous performance improvements to optimize cost, service, and operational efficiency. The role leverages data-driven insights and cross-functional collaboration to ensure logistics partners meet business objectives and customer expectations.
Customer Logistics Program Leadership - Coordinate logistics activities for assigned strategic customer programs, translating customer demand, forecasts, launches, and service expectations into executable plans.
- Maintain program milestones, risks, action plans, dependencies, and performance metrics, with clear updates for customer-facing teams and leadership.
- Coordinate project readiness and execution across operations, suppliers/vendors, Planning, Customer Service, and vendors, ensuring clear ownership and timely follow-through.
- Support issue resolution and escalation for risks affecting delivery, capacity, inventory flow, cost, or customer service.
- Represent logistics in cross-functional customer program forums and help ensure commitments are documented, assigned, and completed.
Buying, Supplier & 3PL Operations - Purchase direct and indirect materials, components, equipment, and services, including reviewing supplier quotations and supporting pricing, delivery, and commercial discussions.
- Create and manage purchase orders through delivery, receipt, and invoice issue resolution, while maintaining accurate purchasing and supplier records in SAP or other ERP systems.
- Monitor material requirements, follow up with suppliers, and expedite critical materials to support production schedules, customer demand, and issue resolution.
- Coordinate day-to-day performance of suppliers, freight forwarders, carriers, warehouse operators, and other service providers supporting assigned customer programs.
- Confirm suppliers and logistics providers are prepared to meet volume, capacity, routing, inventory control, documentation, and customer requirements.
Program Analytics & Continuous Improvement - Support transportation, warehousing, distribution, inventory-flow, launch readiness, and recovery planning for assigned programs, balancing service, cost, capacity, and risk.
- Prepare program dashboards and reviews covering shipment status, service, capacity, cost, inventory flow, risks, and action closure.
- Identify process gaps and coordinate improvements in routing, consolidation, handoffs, visibility, exception management, inventory flow, and provider execution.
- Document standard work and provide timely, fact-based updates to internal stakeholders and leadership, including decisions required, owners, and due dates.
Basic Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field.
- 3-5 + years of experience in purchasing, procurement, materials, logistics, supply chain operations, or customer program support.
Experience & Qualifications - Experience creating and managing purchase orders, coordinating with suppliers, and supporting material availability in a customer program environment.
- Experience supporting customer-facing programs across multiple functions, sites, or vendors.
- Experience working with freight forwarders, carriers, warehouse operators, or other 3PL partners, including service reviews, scorecards, corrective actions, and escalations.
- Experience supporting program milestones, action plans, dashboards, and leadership updates.
- Strong coordination, analytical thinking, communication, problem solving, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and follow through across teams without direct organizational authority.
Systems & Technical Skills Working experience with SAP or a similar ERP system, Microsoft Excel, and PowerPoint. Preferred: Experience with transportation management systems (TMS), GoComet, Power BI, logistics visibility tools, warehouse management systems, or customer program reporting solutions.
Key Competencies Customer Program Coordination; Buying and Purchase Orders; Supplier and 3PL Coordination; Transportation and Warehousing; Cross-Functional Collaboration; Risk and Escalation Management; Data Analysis; Communication; Problem Solving; Continuous Improvement.
