The
Senior Manager of Logistics Operations provides broad leadership across the organization's transportation and distribution network, with primary emphasis on rail operations, warehousing, fleet management, and driver management. The role develops and executes reliable, cost-effective, safe, and compliant logistics solutions while supporting additional modes as business needs require, including but not limited to bulk tanker, dry van, truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal, and parcel freight.
This role directly supervises the Fleet Coordinator, Fleet Transportation Supervisor, and Fleet Compliance Specialist. Through these positions, the Senior Manager leads driver dispatch and support, fleet execution and maintenance coordination, transportation safety and compliance, and service to plants, warehouses, suppliers, and customers. The position partners cross-functionally to manage capacity, inventory flow, carrier and warehouse performance, operating costs, and disruptions across the logistics network.
Essential Responsibilties:- Lead day-to-day and long-range logistics operations across rail, warehousing, company fleet, dedicated and third-party transportation, and other modes required to support the business.
- Direct rail operations, including carrier relationships, routing, railcar availability and utilization, switching coordination, shipment visibility, service recovery, storage, demurrage, and accessorial cost management.
- Provide operational oversight for company and third-party warehousing, including capacity planning, inventory flow, material handling, service expectations, cost control, and coordination among plants, warehouses, suppliers, and customers.
- Lead fleet operations, including equipment planning, dispatch, tractor and trailer utilization, preventive maintenance, repairs, leases, fuel programs, registrations, permits, licensing, and replacement recommendations.
- Oversee driver management activities, including workforce planning, recruiting, qualification, onboarding, scheduling, dispatch, training, performance management, pay review support, retention, and employee relations in partnership with Human Resources.
- Ensure driver and fleet operations comply with applicable Department of Transportation requirements, company policies, food safety expectations, and customer requirements, including drug and alcohol testing, medical cards, motor vehicle record reviews, hours-of-service records, and required training documentation.
- Promote a strong safety culture by monitoring incidents, leading corrective actions, supporting audits, reviewing trends, and ensuring transportation and warehouse risks are addressed promptly.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators for safety, service, cost, capacity, asset utilization, warehouse performance, driver performance, and on-time delivery; use results to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
- Develop and manage relationships with railroads, motor carriers, warehouse providers, maintenance vendors, and other logistics partners; support sourcing, rate reviews, contract administration, and performance discussions.
- Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Sales, Procurement, Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, and other teams to align logistics plans with production schedules, inventory needs, customer commitments, and business priorities.
- Lead response to service disruptions, equipment shortages, weather events, carrier failures, inventory constraints, and other operational issues; develop practical contingency and recovery plans.
- Prepare and manage logistics budgets, forecasts, accruals, and cost analyses, including freight, rail, warehousing, fleet assets, fuel, maintenance, leases, accessorial charges, and third-party driver costs.
- Use transportation, warehouse, telematics, scheduling, rating, and business systems to improve shipment visibility, data accuracy, reporting, decision-making, and process efficiency.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Transportation team; establish clear responsibilities, cross-training, and coverage plans that support consistent execution during travel, PTO, and peak business needs.
- Support the Director of Transportation with strategic initiatives, network optimization, capital planning, special projects, and other logistics responsibilities as assigned.
Position Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
- 10+ years of progressive logistics, transportation, distribution, or supply chain experience, including significant leadership responsibility in rail, warehousing, fleet operations, and/or driver management; experience in food-grade or ingredient manufacturing is preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of multimodal transportation, including rail, bulk tanker, dry van, truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal, parcel, and other modes used to support a manufacturing and distribution network.
- Working knowledge of warehouse operations, inventory flow, capacity planning, third-party logistics providers, fleet dispatch, fleet maintenance, and transportation safety and compliance requirements.
- Proven ability to lead employees and frontline operations, establish accountability, develop talent, and manage performance in a fast-paced, geographically dispersed environment.
- Strong financial and analytical skills, including budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, rate and accessorial review, key performance indicator development, and data-based decision-making.
- Strong customer focus and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, with drivers, employees, leaders, customers, suppliers, carriers, and service providers.
- Strong organizational, prioritization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments, respond to urgent operational issues, and meet established deadlines.
- Understanding of transportation equipment and mechanical operations is preferred, along with the ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating instructions, maintenance information, contracts, and procedure manuals.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with transportation management, warehouse management, telematics, freight scheduling, rating, or related business systems.
- Collaborative, hands-on leadership style with a commitment to safety, integrity, continuous improvement, and results in an evolving logistics environment.
The salary range for this position is $90,000.00 - $110,0000.00 USD based on experience. Applicable pay within the posted range may vary based on factors including, but not limited to education, skill set and depth of experience.
