Transportation Analyst

Overall Goal of the Position:

The Transportation Analyst will collaborate with Sauer Brands’ internal and external partners and stakeholders to exceed the requirements, goals and standards of the Sauer Brands Supply Chain organization. This position will have direct responsibility to ensure the efficient and effective transportation planning of all Sauer shipments. The Transportation Analyst will be responsible for supporting the strategic and tactical execution of Sauer Brands’ TMS (Transportation Management System). This role will be responsible for maintaining a transportation environment that supports and builds upon the Sauer Brands Recipe of executional excellence that delights and exceeds the expectations of our customers. Job Summary: This position will have direct responsibility to ensure the efficient and effective transportation planning of all Sauer Brands freight shipments. The Transportation Analyst will support the strategic and tactical execution of Sauer Brands’ TMS. In addition, the Analyst must be an effective team member capable of coordinating logistical processes, communicating root cause and corrective action, and ensuring the quality of deliveries shipped to customers exceeds Sauer Brands’ standards. The successful candidate must be dependable, have excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, and the ability to multitask. As a Sauer Brands team member, the candidate will execute special projects and initiatives as assigned, accept safety as a condition of employment, and support factory and supply chain operations. Furthermore, the candidate must embrace and support the building of the Sauer Brands Recipe. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Plans all shipments in the TMS daily in a cost-effective and efficient manner, optimizing both service and cost. Develops recommendations for transportation utilization and mode optimization within Sauer Brands’ transportation network. Performs transportation analysis through a combination of data mining, data modeling, data analysis, cost/benefit analysis, process mapping, and problem analysis while executing day-to-day processes related to the area of responsibility. Develops and maintains cost estimates, forecasts, and cost models. Develops and analyzes key performance metrics and makes data-driven operational recommendations to meet and exceed Sauer Brands’ customer service and financial targets. Builds and maintains reporting and dashboards in Power BI and Excel to track freight cost, service performance, and network trends. Supports the annual transportation budget (AOP) and monthly budget-to-actual variance reporting by plant, including root-cause analysis of rate, volume, mode mix, fuel, and utilization drivers. Assists in the analysis of transportation costs and budgets across all Sauer Brands transportation spend categories, including freight-out, intercompany transfers, purchased finished goods freight-in, and raw material and packaging freight-in standards. Utilizes Sauer Brands’ carrier scorecard programs to monitor overall carrier performance against goals and expectations. Builds and maintains partnerships with customers, vendors, and Sauer Brands’ carrier base through timely, data-driven feedback to improve cost and service performance. Supports and communicates with internal business partners by providing updates on delivery service and accommodating routing and service level changes to meet Sauer Brands customer requirements. Supports and coordinates RFPs and carrier bids to improve Sauer Brands’ transportation network costs and service, and monitors post-award routing compliance against awarded carriers and rates. Supports freight bill audit, carrier accessorial and deduction review, and OS&D/claims resolution to ensure Sauer Brands is billed accurately. Identifies systemic and process improvement opportunities within the TMS through critical thinking and analysis. Supports the maintenance of the TMS; structure, set up, data integrity, and logic. Responsible for project management and oversight of initiatives that generate cost savings, cost avoidance, and/or service improvements to Sauer Brands’ transportation network. Supports monthly reporting analysis for transportation. Develops functional expertise in Transportation and Supply Chain Operations, identifying the key performance drivers of each area. What Are We Looking For Personal Characteristics Professional demeanor and a customer-centric mindset Results-oriented, with a disciplined approach and accountability for KPIs Integrity — does the right thing even when no one is looking Communicates clear, concise facts comfortably Curious and creative in approaching problems Dependable, accountable team player with a positive attitude Detail-oriented, with the ability to reconcile and manage multiple tasks and objectives Personal values that align with Sauer Brands values Performance History Documented history of making improvements in assigned work areas and responsibilities Analytical experience in a transportation or logistics environment Demonstrated Skills Experience with and understanding of an industry-leading TMS (Transportation Management System) Fluency in logistics analysis, including KPI development and metric reporting Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, large data sets) and proficiency with PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word Experience building and maintaining reports in Power BI or a comparable business intelligence tool Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and meet specific goals and deadlines Clarifies and resolves complex business issues by breaking them into meaningful components to determine root cause, and redesigns internal and external business processes Writes, speaks, and presents clearly and succinctly across a variety of settings, adjusting communication style to the audience and translating technical concepts Demonstrates originality and imagination in developing solutions to problems Applies fundamental concepts of finance to manage budgets, forecast costs, and account for the financial impact of decision-making Strong problem-solving skills Ability to work and thrive under time constraints while juggling and prioritizing responsibilities Strong project management skills with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives across a variety of stakeholders Team-oriented, collaborative, diplomatic, and flexible Education and Experience College degree in Business, Supply Chain, or Logistics, OR 2+ years of related experience in supply chain, transportation, or logistics Experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS); knowledge of Shipwell preferred Experience with ERP systems; Oracle (PeopleSoft) preferred Other This position is based onsite at the Sauer Brands corporate office in Richmond, Virginia. What Is In It For You? Our company acknowledges talented people are attracted to companies that provide competitive pay, comprehensive benefits packages and outstanding advancement opportunities. For this reason, we offer a Comprehensive Benefits Plan that includes the following: 401K Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage Vacation, Sick Days and Holidays Parental Leave Flexible Spending Accounts Tuition Reimbursement Employee and Dependent Life Insurance Voluntary Disability Insurance Other Voluntary Insurance Options Sauer Brands, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.