Summary

The Director of Transportation will be responsible for leading and optimizing transportation operations across multiple regions, including Europe, by developing and executing strategic logistics plans that maximize service performance while minimizing costs. This role oversees private fleet, carrier, and 3PL/4PL resources, ensuring efficient carrier management, regulatory compliance, and strong on-time delivery performance. The position partners with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to support growth initiatives, manage transportation budgets, drive continuous improvement, and enhance visibility through KPI reporting and transportation management systems (TMS). Additionally, the role leads transportation teams, manages fleet operations, negotiates carrier agreements, and ensures high service levels for internal stakeholders and customers.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute short- and long-term transportation strategies across multiple regions, including Europe.
• Continuously develop comprehensive plans for the most effective utilization of private fleet, common carrier and 3PL/4PL resources to maximize on-time delivery rates at the lowest possible cost.
• Develops and achieves the established budget for each month of a fiscal year; conducts in depth analysis of all budget variances and advises on root causes and corrective actions.
• Ensures that carrier selection, carrier performance, freight payment, and systems that support transportation management are managed for efficient and effective performance and results.
• Leads internal and external transportation team resources to consistently high-performance levels. Sets team/individual goals and tracks to annual performance planning objectives.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to support growth, expansion, and operational initiatives.
• Continues to develop detailed KPI reporting that enables reliable visibility of key transportation costs and service drivers.
• Drives continuous improvement initiatives within the carrier base that produces improved service levels and cost savings.
• Optimize TMS to track the movement and delivery of interplant shipments and customer deliveries and as a strategic tool for information gathering and planning.
• Builds effective cross functional integration between the transportation function, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, procurement, finance, customer service and businesses.
• Plans and coordinates fleet operations including acquisition, scheduling, maintenance service, repair, and disposal of fleet assets.
• Negotiates, analyzes and modifies nationwide freight movement based upon seasonal and current business conditions. Make proposals and adjustments as needed.
• Negotiates and verifies compliance of all carrier agreements and service levels.
• Engages the customer on quality performance issues, collaborative operational efficiency opportunities, and manages overall customer communications related to transportation activities or issues.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, U.S. DOT regulations and applicable European transportation regulations.

Required Qualifications, Education and Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics/Operations or related field required; Master’s Degree preferred.
• At least 10 years’ experience with US and Canadian Transportation/Operations with a proven record of cost saving and service enhancement success.
• Strong financial acumen and project management skills.
• Minimum of 5 years of Private Fleet management experience.
• Extensive experience in ERP (SAP Preferred), WMS and TMS.
• Experience working in a multiple facility operation including manufacturing plants and Distribution Centers. Retail customer experience helpful.
• Comprehensive understanding of DOT, OSHA, federal and state regulations.
• Excellent computer skills; Microsoft Office (i.e. Excel, Outlook, Word).
• Excellent communication and relationship skills at all internal and external levels are a key to success in this position.
• Excellent organization skills, time management, and results based leadership.
• 10% Travel.