Director, Logistics

Our team members are the key to our company’s success, and their health and well-being, as well as that of their families, is very important to us. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that allows our team members stay healthy, plan for their future and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Benefits may vary with employment status.  To see our fill list of Team Member Benefits please visit our career site: www.gotoworkhappy.com/benefits

Job Description:

The Director of Global Logistics is responsible for developing and executing enterprise-wide logistics, transportation, distribution, warehousing, inventory deployment, import/export, customs compliance, and trade management strategies that support business growth while optimizing cost, service, inventory performance, and operational efficiency.

This role provides strategic leadership for domestic and international logistics operations, including transportation management, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution center operations, warehouse performance, inventory movement, trade compliance, and global supply chain risk management. The Director will ensure efficient movement of products from suppliers through distribution networks and into retail locations, fulfillment centers, operating properties, and ecommerce channels.

The position serves as the enterprise subject matter expert for tariffs, duties, customs regulations, landed cost management, free trade agreements, transportation economics, and logistics network optimization. The Director will partner closely with Procurement, Finance, Operations, Legal, Merchandising, Inventory Planning, and external logistics providers to drive service excellence, cost savings, inventory productivity, and supply chain resiliency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Logistics Leadership

• Develop and execute the enterprise global logistics strategy supporting domestic and international supply chain operations.
• Establish long-term transportation, distribution, warehousing, and inventory flow strategies that align with corporate growth objectives.
• Lead logistics transformation initiatives focused on operational excellence, cost reduction, inventory optimization, and customer service improvements.
• Design scalable logistics and distribution capabilities that support evolving retail, ecommerce, wholesale, and operational requirements.
• Provide executive leadership and direction regarding logistics performance, transportation risks, trade compliance matters, and supply chain continuity planning.

Logistics, Distribution & Warehouse Management

• Provide strategic oversight of logistics, warehousing, distribution, inventory deployment, and fulfillment operations.
• Ensure efficient movement of inventory from suppliers through distribution centers and into retail stores, operating locations, and ecommerce fulfillment channels.
• Lead initiatives that improve warehouse productivity, inventory accuracy, fulfillment speed, throughput capacity, and labor efficiency.
• Develop transportation and distribution strategies that optimize service levels while reducing logistics and operating costs.
• Oversee inventory transfer and deployment strategies to maintain appropriate inventory levels throughout the network.
• Establish warehouse and logistics performance standards supporting enterprise sales, service, and profitability objectives.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives that increase operational efficiency, improve inventory visibility, and enhance overall supply chain performance.
• Evaluate warehouse network design, storage utilization, slotting methodologies, and fulfillment processes to maximize operational effectiveness.

Transportation & Freight Management

• Direct domestic and international transportation operations including ocean, air, rail, parcel, LTL, FTL, intermodal, drayage, and final-mile delivery services.
• Develop transportation sourcing strategies and negotiate carrier agreements that improve service performance while reducing freight spend.
• Manage freight forwarders, transportation providers, customs brokers, 3PLs, and logistics service partners.
• Monitor transportation capacity, carrier performance, freight market conditions, and emerging logistics trends.
• Establish transportation KPIs focused on cost, transit time, on-time delivery, claims, and service reliability.
• Identify opportunities for freight consolidation, route optimization, load utilization, and network efficiencies.

Global Trade, Tariffs & Customs Compliance

• Serve as the organization's subject matter expert on international trade, tariffs, duties, customs compliance, and cross-border logistics.
• Develop strategies to minimize tariff exposure, duty costs, brokerage expenses, and overall landed cost while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
• Evaluate sourcing decisions and supplier locations to identify opportunities associated with free trade agreements and duty reduction programs.
• Provide guidance regarding Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications, country-of-origin requirements, customs valuation, and import/export regulations.
• Oversee customs brokerage activities and ensure accurate execution of import and export documentation.
• Monitor global trade developments, tariff changes, geopolitical events, customs regulations, and regulatory changes affecting supply chain operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable customs, trade, import/export, and transportation regulations.

Cost Savings & Supply Chain Optimization

• Lead strategic initiatives designed to reduce overall logistics, warehousing, transportation, and landed costs.
• Develop and execute logistics cost reduction programs involving carrier sourcing, network optimization, inventory positioning, freight consolidation, routing strategies, and distribution efficiency improvements.
• Analyze total landed cost, transportation spend, warehousing expenses, inventory carrying costs, and supply chain operating expenses.
• Identify opportunities to leverage tariffs, duty programs, foreign trade zones, free trade agreements, and alternative sourcing strategies to improve profitability.
• Collaborate with Procurement and Finance to evaluate sourcing alternatives and total cost of ownership impacts.
• Establish annual logistics savings targets and drive continuous value creation initiatives across the enterprise.

Supplier & Third-Party Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with freight carriers, customs brokers, warehouse operators, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics providers.
• Lead RFPs, contract negotiations, rate reviews, and service-level agreement development for logistics-related services.
• Monitor supplier performance through scorecards, business reviews, compliance audits, and continuous improvement programs.
• Ensure external service providers meet operational, financial, quality, and compliance expectations.

Performance Management & Analytics

• Establish comprehensive logistics KPIs and performance reporting frameworks.
• Develop dashboards measuring transportation cost, landed cost, inventory velocity, warehouse productivity, order fulfillment, service levels, and supply chain efficiency.
• Analyze operational and financial performance data to identify trends, gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Present performance results, cost savings initiatives, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Risk Management & Business Continuity

• Identify logistics, transportation, inventory, and trade-related risks that could impact business operations.
• Develop contingency plans for transportation disruptions, port congestion, customs delays, geopolitical events, carrier failures, and supply chain interruptions.
• Lead issue resolution involving shipment delays, customs holds, claims, shortages, damages, and service failures.
• Maintain business continuity strategies that ensure uninterrupted product flow and operational support.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, International Business, Operations Management, Finance, or related field required.
• Master's degree (MBA, Supply Chain Management, or related discipline) preferred.
• Professional certifications such as CSCP, CLTD, CPSM, C.P.M., CSCMP, or equivalent preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive logistics, transportation, distribution, supply chain, or global trade experience.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing logistics teams, distribution operations, transportation functions, or supply chain organizations.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale domestic and international logistics networks.
• Extensive experience with tariffs, duties, customs brokerage, trade compliance, landed cost analysis, and international transportation.
• Experience negotiating transportation contracts, logistics agreements, and third-party logistics partnerships.
• Retail, ecommerce, consumer goods, hospitality, gaming, distribution, or multi-location operational experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Expert knowledge of global logistics, transportation management, warehousing, distribution, inventory deployment, and supply chain operations.
• Strong understanding of tariffs, duties, customs compliance, HTS classifications, Incoterms, landed cost analysis, free trade agreements, and cross-border trade requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of transportation sourcing, carrier negotiations, freight economics, and logistics network optimization.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to identify cost-saving opportunities and quantify business impact.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement logistics strategies that improve service, inventory performance, and profitability.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience utilizing transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS), ERP platforms, and supply chain analytics tools.
• Ability to influence executive leadership and drive cross-functional alignment across complex organizations.