Import Manager, Destination Operations
Dollar Tree Stores
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Dollar Tree Stores is seeking an Import Manager – Destination Operations to lead the U.S. import operations, overseeing international freight movement from ports and rail terminals through drayage and final delivery to distribution centers.
You will partner with ocean carriers, 3PLs, and internal teams to optimize capacity, develop forecasts, and control costs while driving continuous improvement across a fast-paced network.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
- 4+ years in import operations, international logistics, or supply chain management.
- 2–3+ years in leadership or supervisory roles.
- Experience with ocean/port operations and domestic transportation.
- Strong financial and analytical skills, including cost analysis.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence partners.
Responsibilities
- Lead daily U.S. import operations from ports to distribution centers.
- Partner with carriers, 3PLs, and internal teams to optimize capacity, routing, and contingency plans.
- Develop forecasts, budgets, and performance targets for the import network.
- Monitor KPIs, control costs, and manage vendor performance and payments.
- Coach and develop Import Logistics Analysts and drive continuous improvement.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Your leadership experience, import logistics expertise, and ability to drive operational performance across complex transportation networks make you a great fit for our Import Manager – Destination Operations position. Join our dynamic team and play a key role in leading U.S. import operations, optimizing freight movement, managing logistics partners, and ensuring international shipments move efficiently and cost-effectively from U.S. ports and rail terminals through final delivery to our distribution centers.
As an Import Manager – Destination Operations at Dollar Tree, you'll lead the day-to-day execution and performance of the company's U.S. import operations. You'll oversee the movement of international freight from U.S. ports and rail terminals through drayage, transload, and final delivery while partnering closely with logistics service providers, ocean carriers, internal transportation teams, distribution centers, Inventory Management, Merchandising, and other Supply Chain partners.
You'll use operational data, financial analysis, and key performance indicators to improve service, manage costs, optimize capacity, mitigate supply chain risks, and drive continuous improvement. You'll also lead and develop a team of Import Logistics Analysts, establishing clear expectations and accountability while supporting their continued growth and development.
- Lead daily destination import operations to ensure the timely, efficient, and cost-effective movement of international freight from U.S. ports and rail terminals through transload, drayage, and final delivery to distribution centers.
- Proactively identify and resolve operational issues affecting container dwell, transportation capacity, inventory flow, distribution center service, and overall supply chain performance.
- Partner with internal stakeholders and logistics providers to develop volume forecasts, capacity plans, routing strategies, and contingency plans that support changing business requirements.
- Collaborate with Inventory Management, Merchandising, Transportation, and other business partners to align logistics capacity with seasonal volume changes, promotional activity, product launches, and shipment forecasts.
- Develop and maintain contingency plans for potential disruptions involving ports, railroads, carriers, capacity constraints, labor events, weather, and other supply chain risks.
- Lead, coach, develop, and mentor a team of Import Logistics Analysts.
- Establish clear performance expectations, operational priorities, accountability, and development plans for the team.
- Build a culture focused on operational excellence, collaboration, continuous improvement, and measurable results.
- Provide direction and support to ensure the team effectively manages operational exceptions and changing business priorities.
- Serve as a primary liaison between ocean carriers, drayage providers, transload operators, third‑party logistics providers (3PLs), internal transportation teams, distribution centers, and other business partners.
- Lead procurement activities, contract negotiations, and performance management for drayage carriers, transload providers, and other destination logistics partners.
- Manage logistics service providers against contractual requirements and established service‑level expectations.
- Identify and implement corrective actions and improvement opportunities when vendor performance does not meet expectations.
- Monitor transportation capacity and provider performance to ensure adequate support for current and forecasted import volumes.
- Monitor and manage key performance indicators (KPIs), including container dwell, transit time, on‑time performance, transportation costs, capacity utilization, vendor performance, and demurrage and detention exposure.
- Develop reporting and data‑driven insights to support leadership decisions related to routing optimization, freight spend, capacity planning, service performance, and vendor management.
- Oversee freight payment and audit processes to ensure billing accuracy, appropriate cost allocation, timely payment, and identification of cost‑recovery opportunities.
- Compile, analyze, forecast, and present monthly transportation expenses and financial performance to senior leadership.
- Identify key financial drivers, risks, cost‑saving opportunities, and areas requiring corrective action.
- Drive cost optimization initiatives across drayage, transload, storage, demurrage, detention, rail, and other destination transportation expenses while balancing service and capacity requirements.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing container dwell and lead times, improving supply chain visibility, increasing operational efficiency, and strengthening service reliability.
- Analyze operational data to identify trends, root causes, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
- Stay current on global and domestic logistics trends, regulatory developments, port and rail conditions, transportation market dynamics, and geopolitical events that could affect international freight movement.
- Communicate operational risks, financial impacts, service issues, and recommended actions clearly and proactively to leadership and key business partners.
- Lead cross‑functional initiatives designed to strengthen import operations and overall supply chain performance.
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, Finance, or a related field.
- Four or more years of progressive experience in import operations, international logistics, transportation, or supply chain management.
- Two to three or more years of leadership or supervisory experience, including responsibility for coaching, developing, and managing team performance.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, establish performance expectations, drive accountability, and achieve measurable operational results.
- Strong knowledge of international and domestic transportation networks, including ocean freight, ports, rail/intermodal, drayage, transload operations, and third‑party logistics.
- Experience managing logistics service providers, transportation contracts, procurement activities, and vendor performance.
- Strong financial and analytical skills, including transportation cost analysis, forecasting, budgeting, invoice auditing, and identification of cost‑saving opportunities.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze operational data, identify trends and root causes, and translate findings into actionable business recommendations.
- Proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives and effectively influence internal and external business partners.
- Excellent communication, presentation, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
- Experience working with Transportation Management Systems (TMS), supply chain visibility platforms, reporting tools, and other logistics technologies.
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, high‑volume environment.
- Ability to proactively manage operational exceptions and make sound decisions when faced with time‑sensitive challenges.
- Retail, high‑volume import, or large‑scale distribution network experience.
- Direct experience with ocean shipping, port and terminal operations, rail/intermodal transportation, drayage, transload operations, and domestic transportation.
- Experience managing large import volumes across multiple U.S. ports, inland rail locations, transload facilities, and distribution centers.
- Experience developing and executing transportation RFPs, negotiating carrier and provider agreements, and managing transportation spend.
- Experience with container visibility, dwell management, demurrage and detention mitigation, and import transportation cost optimization.
Start Rate = $96,000 - $114,500 based on experience plus 20% bonus and equity.
The company offers Health, Dental, & Vision, a flexible spending account, life and disability insurance benefits, a 401k plan, PTO, paid holidays annually, and an employee stock purchase plan.
Our success is a team effort —
When we reach our goals, you'll be eligible for a yearly bonus!
We offer a wide variety of rewards to support your health, wealth, and mental well‑being. In addition to medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision insurance, we offer:
- Employee Assistance Program
- Retirement plans with matching contribution
- Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Educational Assistance
- Access to PerkSpot, an employee discount platform for goods and services
- And much more!
At Dollar Tree, we make a difference in the lives of our customers every day by exceeding their expectations and delivering value—it's what our business is built on. Our associates play an important role in this commitment by embracing change and showing up for their teams and their communities.
We see an exciting path forward as our company continues to grow and transform—and we know that this path starts with you.
Join our team today and discover The Value of You.
Dollar Tree is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.
This job specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. This is not to be considered a complete list of job duties, which may be amended from time to time at the discretion of Dollar Tree. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor.
Please note, this job description is not a contract of employment and may be modified to meet evolving business needs. Employment at Dollar Tree is at‑will, meaning that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.
Full time
500 Volvo Parkway, Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
Transportation
Dollar Tree
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