About the Role: The Carrier Management Lead owns the strategic management of carrier relationships, transportation sourcing, performance governance, and network capacity across inbound and outbound freight lanes. This role drives the annual RFP process, maintains the carrier portfolio, governs CNCR (Carrier Non-Conforming Report) performance management, and ensures Knauf has sufficient, cost-effective, and reliable carrier coverage to meet distribution requirements, while establishing the systems, data, and process foundations for a mature carrier management function.
ResponsibilitiesCarrier Strategy & Network Capacity Planning- Define and maintain the carrier network strategy including mode mix, lane coverage priorities, and minimum carrier redundancy standards by lane
- Assess carrier portfolio capacity against projected freight volumes; identify coverage gaps by lane, mode, and season and develop mitigation plans
- Align carrier supply-side capacity with demand signals from SC Planning and S&OP; flag constraints to the Transportation Management Lead for cross-functional escalation
Carrier Identification, Qualification & Onboarding- Manage end-to-end carrier qualification including compliance screening (CarrierSource, SAFER scores, insurance) and lane coverage assessment
- Lead carrier solicitation through a controlled intake process; evaluate submitted rates against CPM benchmarks and threshold criteria
- Own carrier onboarding including SAP setup, TMS profile configuration, implementation calls, and FourKites activation
Rate Management & Annual RFP- Own the annual RFP process including scope definition, carrier list criteria, rate evaluation methodology, and approval authority
- Manage rate review and negotiation cycles; capture lane-by-lane rate changes and update TMS per contractual agreement
- Establish and enforce a standard rate input format; define decision logic and threshold scoring for rate comparisons
Freight Settlement & Audit Coordination- Review and approve carrier-submitted freight invoices including drop trailer charges, detention, and accessorial fees; flag discrepancies for resolution
- Maintain visibility into freight cost variances by carrier and lane; surface patterns as inputs to carrier performance and contract discussions
- Coordinate with Finance on invoice approval workflows and aging report oversight
Carrier Performance Governance (CNCR)- Run the monthly CNCR process: define parameters, execute TMS scorecards, facilitate corrective action calls, and document outcomes in SharePoint
- Monitor carrier OTD, accessorial frequency, load note compliance, and tender acceptance rates
- Define and manage escalation thresholds for carrier relationship engagement at senior/executive level
Carrier Relationship Management- Serve as primary point of contact for strategic carrier relationships; manage communication logs and carrier contact tracking
- Lead implementation calls for new carriers and re-onboarding when carrier contacts change; ensure Knauf requirements are understood and upheld
- Conduct periodic network portfolio reviews; adjust carrier mix to optimize service, cost, and capacity coverage
Systems & Data Governance- Maintain carrier profiles in TMS and CarrierSource; govern carrier data integrity across SAP, TMS, and FourKites
- Drive integration of CNCR documentation with TMS performance data for a consolidated carrier health view
QualificationsEducation:- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field required
Experience:- 6-8 years of transportation or carrier sourcing experience
- Experience leading RFP processes and managing carrier performance programs
- Experience with TMS, SAP, and CarrierSource preferred
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:- Strong negotiation skills with proven experience leading carrier RFP and rate negotiation processes
- Deep understanding of carrier qualification, compliance, and onboarding requirements
- Ability to build and govern carrier performance programs, including scorecards and corrective action processes
- Strong analytical skills to assess network capacity, coverage gaps, and rate benchmarks
- Working knowledge of SAP, TMS, CarrierSource, and FourKites
- Skilled at building and maintaining strategic carrier relationships
- Ability to coordinate freight settlement and invoice audit processes with Finance
- Strong attention to detail and data governance discipline across multiple systems
- Effective cross-functional communication with Transportation, Procurement, and Distribution Analytics
- Ability to manage competing priorities across strategic sourcing and daily carrier performance issues
Technical Competencies:- Carrier Sourcing & RFP Management: Leads the annual RFP process and rate negotiation cycles to secure cost-effective, reliable carrier capacity
- Carrier Performance Governance: Builds and runs CNCR scorecards and corrective action processes to manage carrier performance
- TMS/SAP/CarrierSource Proficiency: Maintains carrier data integrity and system configuration across TMS, SAP, and CarrierSource
- Contract & Rate Administration: Negotiates and administers carrier contracts, accessorial terms, and fuel surcharge programs
- Freight Audit & Settlement: Oversees freight invoice audit and settlement processes to ensure billing accuracy and cost control
- Market & Capacity Intelligence: Monitors freight market trends and capacity conditions to inform sourcing strategy and mitigate coverage risk
General competencies- Deliver Results: Take ownership, focus on solutions and act with the customer in mind to drive long-lasting results
- Empower Change: Embrace change, question status quo to drive continuous improvement
- Build Collaboration: Encourage diverse ideas, share knowledge, build networks to shape an environment of belonging
