Director, Transportation

Position Summary Accountable for transportation strategy, execution, and annual freight spend for LATICRETE International – North America, including inbound, interplant, and outbound movements across multiple modes (TL, LTL, parcel, rail, intermodal, ocean, air, and bulk tanker) and operating models (dedicated/private fleet, customer pickup, and 3PL). Provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure customer delivery commitments are met at the lowest total delivered cost, while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations and supporting corporate safety and sustainability objectives. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Transportation Strategy & Network Optimization (25%) Own multi-mode transportation strategy and carrier alignment, including origin optimization across the manufacturing network, routing guide governance, and service recovery. Define and govern transportation service-level commitments (delivery windows, mode-by-mode lead times, customer-tier expectations) in partnership with Sales and Customer Service. Lead transportation risk management and business continuity planning for disruption scenarios (carrier financial distress, port and gateway disruptions, weather and climate events, geopolitical and trade-policy shifts). Monitor transportation market trends and trade policy changes (tariffs, customs, import/export regulations); translate insights into routing guides, carrier strategies, forecasts, and contingency plans. Support network and facility investment decisions with transportation analytics, business cases, and recommendations. Carrier Management, Cost & Performance (30%) Lead carrier and 3PL strategy, contract negotiation, and ongoing performance governance across all modes. Define, publish, and govern transportation KPIs on a weekly/monthly cadence (on-time pickup and delivery, cost per pound, tender acceptance, claims rate, invoice accuracy). Own governance for cargo claims prevention and resolution; analyze trends, recover costs, and implement corrective actions. Develop and manage the transportation budget, freight PPV, and related forecasting. Lead freight audit and payment governance: validate rates and contracts, enforce accessorial controls, resolve disputes, ensure accrual accuracy. Partner with Sales and Finance to govern freight terms strategy and customer-pickup policy. Govern retailer compliance programs (OTIF, MABD, ASN accuracy, appointment scheduling) and reverse logistics processes. Represent transportation in strategic customer engagements to strengthen service relationships. Compliance, Systems & Continuous Improvement (25%) Ensure shipping operations comply with DOT, OSHA, and other transportation regulatory requirements. Maintain carrier safety qualification and audit cadence; manage hazmat training and shipping paper accuracy. Oversee customs brokers and forwarders; manage future trade compliance engagements. Owner of transportation systems strategy (TMS, ERP module, visibility and analytics tools); evaluate emerging technologies. Partner with Continuous Improvement to track sustainability indicators and embed criteria into carrier scorecards. People Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence (20%) Lead and develop the transportation team through hiring, coaching, performance management, and succession planning. Serve as transportation voice in the monthly IBP cycle; translate supply commitments into shipping feasibility. Influence cross-functional leaders by articulating trade-offs and decision impacts. Prepare and deliver executive-level reports translating performance, risks, and cost drivers into actionable business decisions. Required Skills & Qualifications BS/BA degree in Logistics, Business, Engineering, or a related field. 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in transportation/logistics in a multi-location environment. Comfortable managing $50M–$100M in annual freight spend across inbound, interplant, and outbound movements. Demonstrated multimodal transportation expertise and experience evaluating dedicated/private fleet operating models. Strong negotiation, influence, and stakeholder management skills; proven ability to lead RFPs, manage contracts, and drive performance governance. Strong analytical capabilities; experience defining KPIs, building dashboards, and establishing operating cadence. Proficient in Excel and presentation tools (Power BI, Tableau). Preferred: Knowledge of import/customs operations, broker/forwarder management, HTS classification; familiarity with export documentation; DOT hazmat regulations; FMCSA carrier safety standards. ERP experience (e.g., JD Edwards) is a plus. Continuous improvement mindset with experience partnering with CI/OpEx functions. Travel: 20–30% domestic and international; passport required. Physical requirements: standing for 20% of the day. Benefits Medical, Dental, Vision 401(k) retirement plan Tuition reimbursement 13 paid holidays Paid vacation and sick time Flexible spending account Life Insurance, AD&D, and Supplemental Insurance 1 week paid plant shutdown (Christmas/New Year) #J-18808-Ljbffr