Outbound Planning Specialist

Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

DailyPay

401(k) Retirement savings plan with a 

Company matched

Job summary

Sprouts Farmers Market is seeking an Outbound Planning Specialist to optimize inbound and outbound freight from the Store Support Office in Phoenix. You will coordinate with Procurement, DCs, and Retail teams to ensure timely deliveries and efficient freight network operations.

The role requires strong analytical capabilities, Excel expertise, and experience with transportation management systems, preferably MercuryGate.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills with data interpretation to drive decisions.
• Experience using transportation management systems to optimize freight planning.
• Proven ability to balance service levels with cost and efficiency.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Familiarity with retail, distribution centers, and carrier operations.

Responsibilities

• Plan, build, and optimize outbound loads for efficient store deliveries.
• Execute transportation plans balancing service, cost, and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to reduce transportation costs and improve load utilization.
• Maintain collaboration with internal partners, carriers, and DCs.
• Manage TMS parameters to support accurate freight execution.
• Negotiate transportation capacity and spot market rates.
• Monitor daily freight activity and resolve issues affecting delivery performance.
• Lead outbound network analysis for DCs, evaluating routing and delivery patterns.
• Analyze historical data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Serve as liaison between carriers, DCs, and internal teams.
• Prepare and analyze transportation data and performance metrics.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Excel

TMS systems

MercuryGate

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field

Tools

MercuryGate

Job description

Overview

Job Description

The Outbound Planning Specialist is responsible for the planning of inbound and outbound Sprouts Farmers Market controlled freight being delivered to the Distribution Centers, retail locations, and other destinations as deemed necessary. This position uses the Transportation Management System for planning and optimization of this freight in adherence to Procurement, Distribution Center, and Retail teams’ scheduling policies. The Planning Specialist is responsible for aligning the inbound and outbound strategy with the Supply Chain and Distribution teams for the most efficient and timely flow of freight to its destination.

This position is located at our Store Support Office in Phoenix, Arizona,and operates on a Sunday through Thursday schedule, with in-office days Tuesday through Thursday.

Overview Of Responsibilities

• Plan, build, and optimize outbound loads to maximize cube and weight utilization while ensuring timely store and destination deliveries.
• Execute transportation plans that balance service, cost, and operational efficiency across the outbound freight network.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce transportation costs, improve load efficiency, and enhance network performance.
• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal business partners, distribution centers, carriers, brokers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Manage and maintain TMS planning and optimization parameters to support accurate and efficient freight execution.
• Procure transportation capacity and negotiate competitive spot market rates to support service requirements and cost objectives.
• Monitor daily freight activity and proactively resolve transportation issues that could impact delivery performance.
• Lead strategic outbound network analysis for each DC, evaluating fleet utilization, routing structures, and delivery patterns independently and collectively.
• Analyze historical shipment, route, and order data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities at the DC and network level.
• Serve as a key liaison between carriers, vendors, distribution centers, and internal teams to ensure alignment and successful freight execution.
• Prepare and analyze transportation data, performance metrics, reports, and operational correspondence to support business decision-making.
• Support transportation bids, carrier sourcing initiatives, continuous improvement efforts, and network optimization projects.
  
  

Qualifications

• Strong business acumen with the ability to evaluate transportation decisions through operational and financial impacts.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and recommend solutions.
• Strong problem-solving, prioritization, and decision-making skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective negotiation skills with the ability to secure transportation capacity and favorable pricing.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build partnerships across multiple functions and organizational levels.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines and maintaining a high level of accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis and reporting.
• Experience working with Transportation Management Systems, preferably MercuryGate.
• Knowledge of transportation operations, carrier management, freight planning, and logistics best practices.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Transportation, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous experience in transportation planning, logistics, supply chain, or freight operations.
• Experience using transportation management systems and transportation optimization tools.
• Familiarity with retail, grocery, distribution center, or high-volume supply chain environments.
  
  

Benefits

In addition to a rewarding career, Sprouts offers a comprehensive program to help support you and your family. These programs include:

• Competitive pay
• Sick time plan that you can use to support you or your immediate families health
• Vacation accrual plan
• Opportunities for career growth
• 15% discount for you and one other family member in your household on all purchases made at Sprouts
• Flexible schedules
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(K) Retirement savings plan with a generous company match
• Company paid life insurance
• Contests and appreciation events throughout the year full of prizes, food and fun!
  
  

Eligibility Requirements May Apply For The Following Benefits

• Bonus based on company and/or individual performance
• Affordable benefit coverage, including medical, dental and vision
• Health Savings Account with company match
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Company paid short-term disability coverage
• Paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers
• Paid holidays
  
  

Get Paid Every Day!

Sprouts Farmers Market offers DailyPay - if you’re hired as an eligible employee, you’ll be able to transfer the money you’ve already earned at no extra cost, and get it the next business day, for free. We offer DailyPay so you don’t have to wait for payday to access the money you’ve already worked for. With DailyPay, you can see how much you’ve made every day and you can transfer your money any time before payday.

You can learn more by visiting https://www.dailypay.com/partners/sprouts-farmers-market/.

Why Sprouts

Grow with us!

If you have a passion for inspiring people and a flair for fresh food, consider applying for a job at Sprouts! With a focus on customer service, our neighborhood grocery stores offer high-quality, farm fresh produce, natural meats, plenty of scoop-your-own bulk goods and much more in a fun, friendly, old-fashioned farmer’s market setting. Come grow your career in healthy living with a fast-paced, rapidly growing company and teams that pride themselves on empowering others along their journey.

At Sprouts, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and caring workplace culture.

Our Team Member Resource Groups (TMRGs) Create Spaces For Connection, Support, And Growth. Every Team Member Is Welcome To Join One Or More Of Our Five Groups

• Inspiring Women at Sprouts
• Rainbow Alliance at Sprouts
• Sabor at Sprouts
• Soul at Sprouts
• Honored to Serve at Sprouts
  
  

Together, these groups celebrate diversity and empower our team to thrive.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Sprouts’ management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Sprouts will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance.

California Residents: We collect information in accordance with California law, please see here for more information.