Director, Inbound Transportation

Job Description:

Director Inbound Transportation

Reports To: VP/GVP Transportation
Location: New Albany OH

Job Summary

The Director of Inbound Transportation leads A&Fs global inbound transportation network ensuring inventory moves predictably efficiently and reliably through a balanced focus on execution provider partnerships visibility forecasting cost and business integration.

This leader serves as the primary bridge between Transportation Planning Sourcing Finance Distribution Operations Product Management Data Solutions and third-party logistics partners translating transportation performance into the insights and actions needed to support inventory and supply chain decisions.

The ideal candidate combines logistics expertise with systems thinking data fluency commercial acumen executive communication cross-functional influence and strong execution discipline.

What Will You Be Doing

Network Strategy Freight Movement & Provider Leadership

• Develop and execute global air and ocean transportation strategies that balance service speed cost capacity predictability and resiliency.
• Lead end-to-end freight movement from origin handoff through DC receipt across key international and domestic inbound modes.
• Build resilient transportation solutions that support inventory flow business growth launch needs and operational continuity.
• Navigate market disruption geopolitical risk capacity constraints port congestion and changing provider dynamics with clear mitigation plans.
• Maintain strategic carrier and forwarder partnerships positioning A&F as a customer of choice while ensuring provider accountability.
• Partner with Procurement on sourcing strategies negotiations network design and provider performance expectations.

Transit Commitments Inventory Flow Visibility & Forecasting

• Establish and maintain transportation transit commitments that reflect network realities provider performance and business expectations.
• Communicate impacts to inventory flow planning assumptions sourcing decisions distribution operations and customer-facing priorities.
• Drive transportation visibility prediction accuracy forecast reliability and confidence in inbound reporting.
• Translate transportation data forecast changes performance risks and operational constraints into clear business insights.
• Build trust in reporting through disciplined KPI development root-cause analysis data validation and consistent metric definitions.
• Partner with Data Solutions Product Management visibility providers Planning Sourcing and Operations to improve reporting quality automation and decision support.

Financial Stewardship Freight Audit & Payment Governance

• Own inbound transportation budget development forecasting annual operating plan inputs and long-range financial planning assumptions.
• Manage transportation spend performance including cost-per-unit cost-per-container cost-per-kilo and total cost-to-serve metrics.
• Explain variances identify improvement opportunities and connect cost performance to service inventory flow and network resiliency.
• Partner with Supply Chain Finance and Transportation Expense Management on forecasting reporting variance analysis investment decisions and financial controls.
• Ensure rate accuracy invoice accuracy dispute resolution payment transparency and carrier accountability.
• Improve freight audit and payment processes to strengthen governance reduce leakage and create scalable accountability.

Business Integration Systems Thinking & Scalable Process

• Serve as a strategic business partner to Planning Sourcing Finance Distribution Operations Product Management Data Solutions Procurement and third-party logistics providers.
• Connect transportation decisions to enterprise outcomes across inventory availability receipt flow product launches sourcing commitments customer service cost and operational readiness.
• Create clarity from ambiguity by structuring complex problems aligning stakeholders and driving disciplined follow-through.
• Build scalable processes systems reporting and governance routines that reduce reliance on individual heroics.
• Represent Inbound Transportation in senior leadership forums with clear communication on performance risks financial impacts and recommended actions.
• Drive continuous improvement through SOPs carrier scorecards operational reviews reporting enhancements automation opportunities and governance routines.

Leadership Effectiveness & Organizational Impact

• Lead and develop a high-performing inbound transportation organization grounded in ownership accountability collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Independently own major operational visibility planning provider and financial challenges while escalating clearly when executive alignment is needed.
• Build credibility with internal partners so Inbound Transportation is viewed as a trusted business partner.
• Maintain provider relationships defined by both strong collaboration and clear accountability.
• Develop future transportation leaders through coaching stretch assignments succession planning and cross-functional exposure.

What Success Looks Like

• Business credibility: Planning Sourcing Operations Finance and regional teams trust Inbound Transportation and operate from common metrics and assumptions.
• Operational excellence : Network performance is achieved or proactively managed carrier performance improves and disruptions are communicated early with clear plans.
• Strategic provider leadership : A&F remains a customer of choice with strategic carriers and forwarders while maintaining accountability and strong executive partnerships.
• Visibility and data confidence: Forecasts metrics and reporting are trusted explainable and used to support inventory and supply chain decisions.
• Leadership effectiveness : The Director independently owns major challenges and can represent the function confidently in executive updates.
• Organizational impact : Business questions are answered through scalable processes systems and reporting.

What Do You Need To Bring

• Bachelors Degree in Supply Chain Logistics Business Engineering or related field preferred.
• 10 years of progressive supply chain retail operations planning inventory management logistics transportation or network strategy experience.
• 5 years leading teams cross-functional initiatives and/or strategic service provider relationships.
• Retail apparel omnichannel consumer products or high-volume distribution experience preferred including exposure to retail planning inventory management and related systems and processes.
• Working knowledge of global air and ocean transportation including carrier and forwarder management market dynamics disruption management and resiliency planning; direct transportation expertise can be developed in role.
• Proven ability to build strategic provider partnerships while balancing collaboration commercial discipline and accountability.
• Strong commercial and sourcing acumen including provider performance management network design transportation sourcing and negotiation support.
• Strong partnership orientation with Planning Sourcing Operations Finance Product Management Data Solutions Procurement and third-party logistics partners.
• Ability to translate transportation challenges into business impacts across inventory flow forecast confidence receipt timing cost service and operational readiness.
• Strong data fluency including forecast interpretation KPI development root-cause analysis visibility platforms and reporting confidence.
• Systems thinking with the ability to connect transportation execution to enterprise outcomes.
• Financial acumen across budgeting forecasting variance explanation transportation cost metrics freight audit payment governance and controls.
• Executive communication skills with the ability to simplify complexity create clarity from ambiguity and influence through clear recommendations.
• Strong execution leadership including ownership structured problem solving prioritization accountability management change leadership and disciplined follow-through.
• Experience with transportation systems visibility platforms TMS solutions reporting tools analytics capabilities and process automation preferred.
• Willingness to travel and build strategic provider relationships.

Company Description

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) is a global digitally led omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs.

The company operates a family of brands including Abercrombie brands and Hollister brands each sharing a commitment to offer products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that support global customers on their journey to being and becoming who they are. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates stores under these brands across North America Europe Asia and the Middle East as well as the e-commerce sites and .

Learn more about A&F Co. by visiting our corporate website here.

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Required Experience:

Director