Director of Transportation

Smart Foodservice Stores; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Employee stock purchase plan

Life insurance

Job summary

US Foods is seeking a Director of Transportation to lead a department focused on safety, service, and cost efficiency. You will drive strategic direction, ensure safe and timely outbound shipments, and mentor Transportation Managers while maintaining compliance with DOT regulations.

The role emphasizes safety culture, people development, and cross-functional collaboration with operations and distribution centers. Significant travel may be involved.

Qualifications

• Minimum seven years in transportation/delivery management.
• Strong leadership and people development.
• Broad knowledge of DOT, OSHA and regulatory requirements.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Achieve safety, service, and cost targets in the Transportation department.
• Plan and achieve short/mid-term department objectives.
• Develop Transportation Managers through coaching and training.
• Oversee drivers and transportation personnel; drive engagement.
• Plan headcount to maintain service levels and monitor hiring.
• Implement technology to improve execution and ensure DOT compliance.
• Analyze daily performance and propose productivity improvements.
• Ensure on-time outbound shipments to customers and distribution centers.
• Participate in union/HR matters per bargaining agreements where applicable.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

People development

DOT regulations

OSHA compliance

Transportation ops

Financial data

Microsoft Excel

Office Suite

Safety culture

Strategic planning

Education

High school diploma or GED

College degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Office 365

Job description

Join Our Community of Food People!

The Director, Transportation will ensure a Transportation department culture focused on people, safety, service, and cost through meaningful engagements with Transportation leaders and associates, best in-class service to customers, and safe and profitable operations. They will use their expertise in leading transportation operations to inform the strategic direction of the Transportation department. They will ensure the safe, accurate and timely daily outbound shipments to customers and other distribution centers within the organization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Achieve all safety, service, and cost targets in the Transportation department, and oversee all Transportation department operations. Plan and ensure achievement of short/mid-term department objectives. Participate in strategic planning by identifying mid and long-term strategies for the department. Direct management to bring about action towards desired objectives.
• Lead with a safety mindset that ensures that every US Foods associate, our customers, and the general public with whom our drivers interact remain injury free, always. Champion safety procedures, processes and training to create and maintain a safety-first culture in the Transportation department.
• Develop Transportation Managers and Sr. Transportation Managers through one-on-one coaching, training on policy & procedures, assisting in problem resolution when required, and leading by example.
• Oversee and develop drivers and Transportation personnel by discussing performance with Sr. Transportation Managers and creating plans to address gaps. Drive associate engagement and retention, and create a culture that embodies US Foods values.
• Attract talent and build high-performing teams. Plan headcount needed to maintain service levels, and monitor hiring and interviewing
• Plan and implement technology affecting functional area to improve execution, productivity, and quality while ensuring compliance with company, state, and federal DOT regulations.
• Monitor production goals and maintain a zero-error attitude to ensure accuracy and customer satisfaction. Anticipate, analyze and troubleshoot problems with deliveries and devise cost-effective and compliant solutions; direct managers on implementation.
• Ensure optimum delivery reliability to the customer by developing efficient and effective production flow processes and identifying process improvement and cost reduction strategies that are in line with business objectives.
• Identify and stop waste and improve processes to complete work more safely and efficiently.
• Analyze daily performance measures; identify any weaknesses; and recommend changes to the VP Operations to ensure that productivity objectives are achieved.
• In union facilities, assist HR and the VP Operations in interpreting the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, administering appropriate discipline, settling routine grievances and participating in arbitrations as required.
• Other duties assigned by manager.

SUPERVISION

• Direct: Transportation Managers, union and/or non-union transportation associates (Dispatchers, Transportation Clerks, etc.), Routers (location-dependent)
• Indirect: Union and/or non-union drivers

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Transportation leaders and coworkers; VP Operations; Drivers; Warehouse leaders; Internal customers across departments (e.g., Sales)
• External: Customers

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Will spend time in an office working on a computer. Must spend portion of working time in a truck with drivers, exposed to noise and vibration levels which may be higher than those typically experienced in passenger cars.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education/Training: High school diploma or GED required; college degree preferred.
• Related Experience/Requirements: Minimum of seven years of experience in transportation/delivery management required.
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Broad knowledge of transportation/delivery operations, methods and procedures.
• Strong leadership, communication and people development skills.
• Ability to openly and effectively communicate with all associates/departments within the company.
• Strong understanding of DOT, inventory control, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to interpret financial and operational data.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.).

Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance.

Travel

• -25% travel required, typically for mandatory meetings and/or training.

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be able to perform the following physical activities for de