Inbound Transportation Manager
Charlotte, NC, United States
Ref#: 1085010
Date published: 5-May-2015
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Position Summary:
The Inbound Transportation Manager will manage and coordinate all domestic transportation activities with a major focus on the development, implementation and advancement of inbound transportation strategies and processes in order to advance the competitive position and profitability of the company. The position will take a strategic leadership approach and will be located at the corporate office for improved collaboration with merchandising, vendors and stores.
The Inbound Transportation Manager ensures that internal and external customers receive the highest level of service, makes decisions that maximize the operation’s performance and cost metrics, and builds strong associate work teams with a positive work environment.
The Inbound Transportation Manager will work in partnership with the Director of Transportation to create a more strategic supply chain approach for the company to include vendors, trading partners and all distribution and transportation functions. He / she will have operational and fiscal responsibility for all aspects of domestic transportation to the company’s distribution centers. Belk will look to this position to integrate and develop the transportation capabilities of the organization.
The ideal candidate will be highly knowledgeable, who has gained transportation experience in an organization with a total supply chain approach. He / she will have a career path which shows increasingly responsible roles in logistics and supply chain leadership. He / she must be able to project immediate credibility regarding his / her understanding of an integrated transportation environment within the broader supply chain. He / she will be a seasoned manager who has a background in supporting the supply chain for a customer-centric environment.
Essential Functions/Responsibilities:
- Lead the inbound domestic transportation team, supporting Belk’s business goals and strategy and achieving key performance metrics.
- Directly responsible for managing the routing of all domestic inbound freight and cost management.
- Demonstrate support for the merchandising, vendors and stores organization by fostering effective communication through transparency of strategies and processes, and promoting relationship building initiatives.
- Proactively manage, design and develop national solutions for transportation capacity, ensuring the integration of technology, people and processes across the enterprise.
- Foster a desire and commitment for continuous improvement. Drive an environment that builds team camaraderie.
- Lead / manage change internally within supply chain, cross-functionally and externally.
- Drive the development and attainment of short and long-range goals and objectives. Review and analyze activities, costs, operations, and forecast data to determine progress toward stated goals and objectives.
- Confer with Director of Transportation and other administrative personnel to review achievements and discuss required changes in goals or objectives resulting from current status and conditions.
- Ensure that the transportation organization is a ‘customer-centric’ team supported by a strong technology infrastructure that provides the foundation for business growth.
- Identify and create a new level of information connectivity between suppliers, service providers, distribution and logistics, and create customer value through technology-driven transportation services.
- Evaluate and recommend new or revised freight compliance processes and procedures, and assist with audits to ensure compliance with established standards.
- Manage integration and flow for the distribution of all products; ensure effective distribution of product, incorporating best practices and processes to support evolving sourcing models; proactively enhance supply chain visibility.
- Assist in the development of improved transportation expertise and practices including negotiation of transportation contracts and domestic courier services; familiar with all modes and regulations, providers, etc.
- Formulate, manage, coordinate, and oversee projects across transportation for which responsibility is delegated in a manner that optimizes and meets customer needs, quality standards and cost objectives.
- Responsible for motivating, training, recruitment, retention and career development. Direct key talent attraction, selection, and development of external providers as needed.
- Assess and develop the talent needs of the transportation team. Develop "bench strength" in the organization to enable future growth strategies.
- Prepare the capacity of the team to deal proactively with the future by engaging the team to develop a complete understanding of the business, short and long-term business plans and objectives, the organization's core competencies, and current and required skill sets; develops and builds dashboards to track and measure results.
- Assist in the development of expense and capital budgets, controls, and measurements to monitor progress, including service-level agreements. Report budget status to appropriate stakeholders.
- Understand best practice metrics and the requirements for operational compliance / commitment and be a key leader in meeting the guidelines for effective service levels and risk management.
- Demonstrate support for the merchandising and stores organizations by fostering effective communication
Requirements/Qualifications:
- Skilled in the practice of Transportation Management.
- A proven track record of at least 3 to 5 years in transportation management, with a history of increasing responsibility.
- Track record of working cross-functionally with merchandising, vendors & customers / stores.
- Well-developed numerical and analytical skills with reference to merchandise, vendors and freight; identification and development of supply chain trends; distribution and transportation systems operations; and expense control efforts.
- Ability to persuade and influence others, collaborative, accountable for results, impeccable record of delivering on their promise.
- Contemporary technology savvy; experience in transportation technology / management systems.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare strong business cases and to support and defend ideas and positions.
- Proven change management skills and reputation for building and leading high-performing, cross-functional teams that achieve their goals; track record in attracting, developing, and retaining talent.
- A champion on new initiatives with an ability to successfully work across different groups, and to execute by bridging functional and divisional silos.
