Manager of Produce Procurement

Unlimited Logistics, LLC.; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Unlimited Logistics, LLC in Kansas City seeks a Manager of Produce Procurement to lead refrigeration capacity sourcing and fleet relationships for fresh produce shipments. You will develop a team of carrier representatives and account managers, guide pricing decisions, and align procurement with growth objectives.

The role requires hands-on leadership, deep knowledge of perishable freight, and a track record of strengthening carrier partnerships while maintaining service and margin in a

Qualifications

• Three to five years of experience in fresh produce logistics or refrigerated freight brokerage.
• Two or more years in leadership or supervisory roles.
• Strong knowledge of seasonality, growing regions, and temperature-controlled transport.
• Proven ability to negotiate rates, manage margins, and secure capacity.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of carrier representatives and account managers.
• Establish clear performance expectations and provide regular feedback, training, and support.
• Help the team strengthen its negotiation, carrier development, customer service, and problem-solving skills.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, and a high level of service across the department.
• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with refrigerated carriers, asset-based fleets, and owner-operators.
• Oversee daily capacity sourcing and rate negotiations to balance service, cost, and profitability.
• Collaborate with account managers to retain and grow existing customer relationships.
• Monitor market conditions and guide procurement, pricing, and capacity-planning decisions.
• Ensure shipments comply with food-safety and transportation standards.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Negotiation

Communication

Problem-solving

Excel

Tools

Transportation Management Systems

Load boards

MS Office (Excel)

Job description

Unlimited Logistics, LLC is seeking an experienced and driven Manager of Produce Procurement to lead the transportation procurement function supporting Keith Connell Inc., our affiliated fresh produce wholesale and brokerage company.

This role will lead and develop a team of carrier representatives and account managers while ensuring reliable, cost-effective refrigerated capacity for fresh produce shipments. The Manager of Produce Procurement will strengthen carrier partnerships, guide daily pricing and procurement decisions, support account growth, and help the team navigate the seasonality and urgency of the fresh produce industry.

The ideal candidate understands fresh produce transportation, refrigerated freight, carrier development, and brokerage operations. This individual should be a hands-on leader who can build strong relationships, make sound decisions in a fast-moving environment, and hold a team accountable for service, margin, and execution.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of carrier representatives and account managers.
• Establish clear performance expectations and provide regular feedback, training, and support.
• Help the team strengthen its negotiation, carrier development, customer service, and problem-solving skills.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, and a high level of service across the department.

Carrier Development and Capacity Procurement

• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with refrigerated carriers, asset-based fleets, and owner-operators.
• Build a dependable carrier network capable of supporting seasonal produce volumes, contracted freight, and spot-market needs.
• Oversee daily capacity sourcing and rate negotiations to balance service, cost, and profitability.
• Identify opportunities to expand the company’s core carrier base and reduce reliance on transactional capacity.

Account Support and Growth

• Partner with account managers to retain and grow existing customer relationships.
• Support pricing, capacity planning, and transportation strategies for current and prospective accounts.
• Assist with escalated customer or carrier issues and ensure timely, professional resolution.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on strategies that support revenue, margin, service, and growth objectives.

Market Intelligence and Pricing

• Monitor produce seasons, growing regions, weather events, market conditions, and capacity shifts.
• Use market information to guide procurement, pricing, and capacity-planning decisions.
• Anticipate seasonal surges and potential disruptions and develop plans to protect service and margin.
• Communicate relevant market updates and recommendations to the team and senior leadership.

Operational Excellence and Compliance

• Ensure shipments are executed in accordance with customer requirements and applicable food-safety and transportation standards.
• Reinforce expectations related to refrigerated equipment, temperature requirements, cold-chain integrity, and FSMA compliance.
• Help resolve service failures, transit delays, temperature concerns, and claims.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, carrier performance, communication, and overall execution.

Qualifications

• Three to five years of experience in fresh produce logistics, refrigerated freight brokerage, transportation procurement, or supply chain management.
• At least two years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of the fresh produce industry, including seasonality, growing regions, refrigerated equipment, and temperature-controlled transportation.
• Demonstrated success developing carriers, negotiating rates, managing margins, and securing capacity.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and hold a team accountable in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain organized and responsive while managing competing priorities and time-sensitive issues.
• Experience using transportation management systems, load boards, and Microsoft Office, including Excel.

What Success Looks Like

• A reliable and growing network of qualified refrigerated carriers.
• Strong team performance, accountability, and professional development.
• Consistent service for customers during both routine operations and seasonal surges.
• Competitive transportation costs and healthy margins.
• Proactive communication and quick resolution of operational challenges.
• Strong collaboration between carrier representatives, account managers, leadership, and the KCI team.