Transportation Manager

Description Transportation Manager Department: Merchandising| Reports to: VP of Merchandising (dotted line to Operations) | Location: Seattle, WA | Type: Full-time About BuyWander BuyWander is rebuilding the $850B retail returns industry. We take chaotic truckloads of returned goods and transform them into a fast, fun, treasure-hunt shopping experience powered by AI, real-time auctions, and in-store pickup. The Role Every unit we sell arrives on a truck. You'll own inbound freight end to end: the carriers we use, the rates we pay, the lanes we run, and whether trucks show up on time and on budget. Day to day you're keeping loads moving and drivers on task. Quarter to quarter you're bending the cost curve - negotiating rates, consolidating loads, cutting detention and accessorials, and building the carrier network that supports 10X our current footprint. What You'll Do Freight Cost & Carrier Strategy Own freight cost as a percentage of net revenue as your primary metric, and drive it down against plan. Negotiate rates, lane pricing, and terms with carriers and brokers; build and manage a carrier network rather than booking one-off loads. Maintain a carrier scorecard covering cost, on-time performance, damage, and responsiveness - and reallocate volume based on it. Identify consolidation, backhaul, and lane-optimization opportunities as our market footprint grows and density improves. Manage and pursue freight claims for damage, shortage, and service failures. Scheduling & Dock Flow Schedule and manage inbound deliveries across all BuyWander facilities; proactively prevent congestion and truck stacking at receiving docks. Coordinate appointment windows and communicate delivery expectations to drivers, carriers, and internal teams. Partner with Merchandise Planning and the Buyer so inbound flow matches each market's receiving and processing capacity. Tracking & Visibility Track every load from booking to delivery in Chuk, our internal platform; keep records complete and current. Provide near real-time visibility into inbound operations for merchandising, finance, and store leadership. Report on the KPIs that matter - freight cost per load, cost as a percentage of net revenue, on-time delivery, schedule adherence, detention, and accessorial charges - and surface trends and recommendations to leadership. Driver & Carrier Communication Serve as the primary point of contact for drivers: appointment confirmations, directions, and real-time issue resolution by phone throughout the day. Communicate proactively with carrier dispatch on delays, reschedules, and exceptions - keeping loads on task and internal teams informed. Evaluate and onboard new carriers to improve reliability and cost performance. Scaling the Network Build the freight playbook for new market launches: carrier coverage, lane setup, receiving standards, and cost benchmarks. Improve the systems and processes behind scheduling, tracking, and performance reporting as volume grows. Requirements What You'll Bring 4+ years in transportation, freight brokerage, dispatch, or logistics operations, including direct experience negotiating rates with carriers A track record of measurably reducing freight cost - not just coordinating shipments Strong verbal communication and the confidence to hold carriers accountable. Clear, real-time phone communication with drivers and carrier dispatchers is an essential daily function of this role. Strong spreadsheet skills; comfort building tracking and reporting tools, and working in an internally built platform (Chuk) rather than off-the-shelf software Highly organized, with the ability to manage many moving parts and stay ahead of exceptions Experience with a TMS or load-tracking platform is a plus High school diploma or equivalent required; coursework or certification in logistics or supply chain is a plus Success in This Role Freight cost as a percentage of net revenue trending down against plan, quarter over quarter A carrier scorecard in place, with volume actively allocated based on performance Detention and accessorial charges materially reduced On-time delivery and schedule adherence improving, with dock congestion the exception rather than routine Every new market launched with carrier coverage and cost benchmarks in place before the first load arrives Working Conditions This is primarily a desk-based role based in Seattle. It includes periodic travel to our facilities to observe receiving and processing firsthand, identify bottlenecks, and build working relationships with market teams. Time on site involves moving about an active warehouse environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Schedule and Benefits Salary: $70,000-$90,000 DOE Unlimited PTO Health, dental & vision 401(k) BuyWander is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make employment decisions based on qualifications, skills, merit, and business needs. We believe a range of skills, perspectives, and experiences strengthens our team and supports better outcomes for our employees and customers. #J-18808-Ljbffr