Senior Manager, Transportation (Ambient Logistics)

BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.

Whats it like to work at Kinders Well theres a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that theres also plenty of hard work. Because we dont just like flavor were obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide were now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco Walmart Whole Foods and more. Were not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships . Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue we need more smart-and-scrappy flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If youre looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it! Every day youll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

About The Role

Kinders is seeking an experienced Senior Manager Ambient Logistics to own the transportation strategy 4PL partnership and carrier base behind our shelf-stable business: the seasonings rubs sauces and marinades that built our brand.

We are a fast-growing company working hard to bring amazing flavor solutions that are as exciting and delicious as they are simple to use to our consumers whether they are experienced cooks or first-timers in the kitchen. We are obsessed with quality and 100% committed to being the most innovative company in any market we serve. Our mission is to bring awesome flavor to consumers whenever and wherever they are looking for it and in whatever they are looking for it in (seasonings sauces rubs marinades frozen favorites or anything else we can come up with). We have experienced tremendous growth over the last 5 years but we think we are just getting started.

Today we have over 100 products sold nationwide at retailers including Costco Walmart Sams Club Whole Foods Sprouts Kroger Safeway and many more. While we have been around for 80 years we are now a top 5 brand in the U.S. in multiple flavor categories including seasoning blends BBQ sauce and wing sauce. To keep our momentum rolling we need more passionate builders to join our team and help us reach every kitchen across the U.S. and maybe even the world.

How youll have an impact at Kinders:

As the Senior Manager Ambient Logistics you will be the single accountable owner of how our Dry and Liquid freight moves from more than a dozen co-manufacturers and internal plants through our warehouses to retail and club customers nationwide. This is a strategic role. You wont run loads day to day; our 4PL partner does that. You will decide how they run hold them to it and keep redesigning the network as we scale.

You will own the relationship with our ambient 4PL partner set and govern the routing guide lead our ambient carrier strategy and work with our consolidation partners to keep inbound freight moving efficiently. You will partner closely with Sales Supply Planning Finance Operations and our internal Logistics Operations and Analytics teams and you will report to the Senior Director Transportation & Logistics Strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Ambient Transportation Strategy:

• Develop and own the multi-year transportation strategy for the Dry and Liquid businesses aligned with company growth plans and built to scale with volume new items and new channels.
• Design the ambient network end to end inbound from co-manufacturers and plants consolidation warehouse replenishment and outbound to customers balancing service cost and resilience.
• Drive mode strategy (truckload LTL consolidation intermodal where it fits) and decide which lanes Kinders contracts directly versus through partners.
• Translate commercial plans promotions and seasonal peaks (grilling season holidays) into transportation capacity plans well ahead of demand.
• Bring a point of view to cross-functional leaders on how ambient transportation can create advantage for our customers and consumers.

4PL Partner Ownership:

• Serve as the accountable owner of our ambient 4PL relationship: scope of work service level agreements governance cadence and quarterly business reviews.
• Set clear expectations for what the partner executes day to day tendering appointment scheduling tracking exception handling carrier payment freight audit and claims and hold them accountable for delivering it.
• Negotiate and manage partner agreements including service levels service credits rate and cost transparency data access and audit rights.
• Direct the partner to operate within the Kinders routing guide and over Kinders-contracted carriers and push them for continuous improvement ideas not just reports.
• Manage consolidation and 3PL partners supporting inbound ambient freight ensuring they work as one system with the 4PL.

Carrier Strategy & Procurement:

• Own the ambient carrier portfolio asset carriers and brokers including carrier selection contracting onboarding and performance management.
• Lead ambient freight bids with our procurement partner: define lanes and requirements evaluate responses award and build the routing guide from the results.
• Build strategic relationships with core carriers so Kinders is a shipper of choice with capacity we can count on through market swings.
• Manage accessorial detention and fuel programs to keep costs transparent fair and controlled.

Performance Cost & Data:

• Partner with Logistics Analytics to define and review carrier and partner scorecards cost-to-serve and network performance and act on what the data shows.
• Own the ambient freight budget and forecast in partnership with Finance; identify and deliver cost improvements without compromising service.
• Protect customer service and retailer compliance (on-time in-full appointment and routing requirements) for our largest retail and club customers.
• Champion the transportation technology stack TMS visibility and analytics tools and make sure partner systems give Kinders the data it needs.
• Apply AI and automation to transportation work rate and capacity analysis bid evaluation exception management partner reporting and forecasting and push our partners to do the same.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Culture:

• Work with Supply Planning Sales Customer Operations and Finance so transportation decisions support the overall business not just freight cost.
• Provide direction and escalation support to the Logistics Operations team on ambient pre-shipment work and partner handoffs.
• Lead with Kinders values Humility Integrity Collaboration Innovation Curiosity and Results asking great questions and owning outcomes without excuses.
• Support the evaluation and launch of new channels and partners as the business grows.

Risk & Continuity:

• Anticipate capacity rate and service risk in the ambient network and build contingency plans with partners and carriers.
• Lead response to disruptions weather capacity crunches partner or carrier failures always doing what is right for customers and the business over the long term.

Reporting & Scope

• Reports to the Senior Director Transportation & Logistics Strategy
• Owns the ambient 4PL partner consolidation partners and ambient carrier base
• Works closely with the Logistics Operations team (coordinators) and Logistics Analytics

What You Bring to the Table

• 8 years of transportation or logistics experience with at least 3 years in a strategic or leadership role in food beverage or consumer goods
• Proven experience owning a 3PL 4PL or managed transportation relationship including contracts service levels and performance governance
• Deep knowledge of dry van truckload and LTL markets carrier procurement and freight bid management
• Track record of designing or improving transportation networks that scaled with fast growth
• Experience meeting the routing and compliance requirements of large retail and club customers such as Walmart Costco and Kroger
• Strong commercial and financial acumen comfortable negotiating building cost models and making trade-offs in the face of incomplete information
• Data-driven mindset with hands-on experience using TMS and BI tools (e.g. Tableau or Power BI); familiarity with SAP a plus
• Working knowledge of AI tools (e.g. generative AI assistants machine-learning forecasting AI-enabled TMS and visibility platforms) and how to apply them to transportation decisions analysis and partner management
• Excellent communication and influence skills with executives partners and cross-functional teams
• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Business or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered

Location and Travel

The position can be based out of either one of our offices in Walnut Creek CA or Bentonville AR. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumers and to have more fun. Fridays are flex days with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them. This role requires travel of approximately 20% to partner carrier co-manufacturer and warehouse locations.

Pay Transparency

The expected starting salary range for this role is $160000- $180000 per year. The salary range posted for this role reflects the good-faith base pay range Kinders reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will be determined based on factors such as relevant education experience qualifications skills and business needs .

SEASONED FOR SUCCESS:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators but we dont live by hierarchy and structure everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We arent trying to be average we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE:

We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off 401k bonus / incentive eligibility equity grants competitive health benefits and other family-friendly benefits including parental leave. Kinders benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:

We believe great culture starts with people. Were a people-first company built on connection collaboration and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.

WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:

Kinders is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ancestry national origin gender citizenship marital status religion age disability gender identity results of genetic testing veteran status as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements please reach out to us at

Required Experience:

Senior Manager