Job Description Summary:The
Senior Manager, Transportation Strategic Sourcing & Procurement is accountable for the development, execution, and governance of Lindt & Sprüngli North America's enterprise transportation procurement strategy across all modes, systems, and services. This role owns carrier sourcing, contract negotiations, supplier performance management, and financial stewardship for
$100M+ in annual transportation spend, ensuring service excellence, cost optimization, and supply chain resiliency.
Acting as the primary authority for transportation procurement, this role partners closely with Transportation Operations, Finance, Sales, and external providers to align commercial strategies with operational and customer requirements. The Senior Manager serves as the escalation point for supplier performance, contractual compliance, and transportation cost variances, while providing market intelligence and insights to senior leadership.
Essential FunctionsStrategic Procurement & Financial Stewardship- Own development and execution of annual transportation budgets, sourcing strategies, and savings initiatives within an established Performance Control System
- Lead all carrier sourcing, RFPs, negotiations, and award decisions, balancing total landed cost, service performance, and risk mitigation
- Govern freight rate structures, accessorials, and contract compliance to ensure budget adherence and financial transparency
- Provide executive-level analysis of transportation cost drivers, variances, and market conditions
Carrier & Supplier Governance- Establish and maintain carrier qualification standards, onboarding processes, and contractual performance expectations
- Lead supplier performance management through scorecards, service reviews, and corrective action plans
- Ensure carriers meet contractual commitments related to capacity, seasonality, service, and volume allocation
- Serve as escalation authority for carrier and operational issues impacting contractual terms or service levels
Analytics, Systems & Market Intelligence- Oversee rate loading, routing authorizations, and audit readiness within the Transportation Management System
- Drive freight audit, payment reconciliation, exception management, and claims resolution processes
- Conduct ongoing market analysis, freight studies, and capacity assessments to inform sourcing strategies
- Develop and enhance transportation dashboards, KPIs, and reporting for leadership visibility
Cross-Functional Leadership- Partner with Sales and Finance to deliver accurate freight economics, customer shipping models, and pricing support
- Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure transportation strategies align with network design, plant operations, and customer delivery requirements
- Act as the single point of accountability for transportation procurement inquiries from internal stakeholders and external partners
People Leadership & Continuous Improvement- Lead, mentor, and develop team members through coaching, training, and performance management
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, analytical rigor, and enterprise-first decision making
- Identify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, productivity, and service quality
Basic Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Transportation, Finance, or related field
- 8+ years of progressive experience in transportation, logistics, strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain
- Demonstrated experience managing large, complex transportation spend portfolios ($50M+)
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong data analysis and financial modeling capability
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional leaders and present insights at the executive level
- Strong organizational, prioritization, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to travel up to 15%
Preferred Qualifications- Masters' degree, preferably in Business, Transportation, or Supply Chain
- Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills
- Financial acumen and strong analytical skills
- Experience with scorecards/metrics
Company DescriptionLindt and Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is the Supply Chain and Business Shared Services Company supporting the Lindt & Sprüngli family of brands (Lindt USA, Ghirardelli Chocolates and Russell Stover Chocolates), headquartered in Kansas City, MO.
Employment by Lindt & Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, and satis
factory employment and background checks.
