Overview
The Senior Manager, Global Transportation leads the execution and day-to-day management of the company’s international freight, domestic transportation, and small parcel operations. This role is accountable for carrier and freight-forwarder performance, transportation cost and service results, shipment visibility, capacity planning, and supply chain risk mitigation
The Senior Manager balances cost, speed, capacity, and service reliability to support inventory availability, distribution operations, and customer service. The role uses data, technology, and market intelligence to improve transportation performance, reduce expense, and strengthen supply chain resiliency. This position partners closely with Sourcing, Planning and Allocation, Distribution, Finance, and other business functions to align global transportation strategies with company objectives.
Responsibilities
- Support the development and execution of international and domestic transportation strategies that support company service, inventory, and financial objectives.
- Lead carrier and freight-forwarder sourcing, contract negotiations, rate management, capacity planning, and service-level agreement development.
- Establish and monitor carrier and freight-forwarder performance through scorecards, business reviews, corrective action plans, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Oversee the authorization, booking, movement, tracking, and delivery of import shipments while balancing cost, speed, capacity, and service reliability.
- Establish carrier and freight-forwarder performance standards and lead scorecards, business reviews, corrective actions, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Develop transportation forecasts, capacity plans, and floor-set shipment visibility to support Distribution, Sourcing, Planning and Allocation, and other business partners.
- Monitor shipment milestones, market conditions, and supply chain risks; lead cross-functional response plans to minimize inventory and service disruptions.
- Define, analyze, and communicate logistics KPIs, including on-time performance, transit time, booking compliance, cost per unit, capacity utilization, exceptions, and provider performance.
- Identify and implement network optimization, cost-reduction, service-improvement, technology, automation, and shipment-visibility opportunities.
- Develop and manage the transportation budget, freight forecasts, accruals, rate schedules, and financial performance. Investigate material variances and implement corrective actions.
- Partner with Finance and service providers to improve freight-audit accuracy, resolve billing discrepancies, and reduce avoidable accessorial charges.
- Maintain effective freight-audit, invoice-approval, accessorial-control, customs, transportation, and recordkeeping processes in partnership with Finance, internal stakeholders, and external providers.
- Recruit, coach, develop, and evaluate team members while establishing clear priorities, accountability, and performance expectations.
- Lead special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits, Tailored for You.
- Bonus eligible
- 401(k) retirement plan with discretionary match and tuition reimbursement.
- Medical, dental, vision, company paid LTD/STD, and generous amount of paid time off.
- Office includes amenities such as a café, fitness center, free parking and Red Line shuttle.
- Generous associate discount; group discounts on auto, pet and homeowner insurance.
- Discount Marketplace for travel, consumer products, food, auto buying, etc.
- Associate resource groups.
Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of international import logistics, domestic transportation, freight forwarding, and carrier management
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate transportation contracts and manage complex service-provider relationships
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, freight-cost analysis, and cost-to-serve evaluation
- Ability to interpret logistics data, identify trends, and translate findings into actionable recommendations
- Experience developing KPIs, executive-level reporting, carrier scorecards, and corrective action plans
- Knowledge of transportation management systems, supply chain visibility tools, ERP systems, and freight audit and payment processes
- Advanced proficiency in Excel; experience with business intelligence and data-visualization tools preferred
- Strong written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills
- Ability to lead through ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and respond effectively to supply chain disruptions
- Strong people-leadership, coaching, and talent-development capabilities
- Continuous-improvement mindset with a high degree of accountability, curiosity, and initiative
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or a related field; equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered.
- Eight or more years of progressive experience in international import logistics, including ocean and air freight
- Experience with small-parcel operations /carriers - managing logistics for a mid-sized or large retailer, preferably within the apparel, footwear, accessories, or consumer-products industry.
- Five or more years of experience supporting distribution center, fulfillment, retail, or comparable supply chain operations.
- Three or more years of leadership or people-management experience.
- Experience negotiating contracts and managing third-party logistics providers preferred.
Physical Requirements
- Sedentary work, prolonged periods of time working at a desk and on a computer.
- Ability to communicate information and observe details at close range.
- Light to moderate lifting may be required
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this position.
