Senior Global Logistics Planner

VIRA Insight; Lewisville (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

VIRA Insight, a design, engineering and manufacturing firm, seeks a Senior Global Logistics Planner to develop and manage transportation plans for programs, balancing freight cost with client delivery commitments. You will oversee shipping from Asia to the United States and coordinate 3PLs, carriers, and internal teams.

This hands-on role requires end-to-end ownership from planning through customs clearance and delivery, with a focus on repeatable processes, training coordinators, and improving

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive experience in international logistics, freight forwarding, transportation planning, or a related supply chain role.
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, logistics, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience coordinating with freight forwarders, carriers, 3PLs, suppliers, and internal stakeholders across multiple locations and time zones.
• Strong analytical skills, including advanced Excel proficiency and experience comparing shipping scenarios, managing freight budgets, and reporting shipment performance.
• Ability to manage multiple programs, anticipate risks, resolve delivery issues, and communicate recommendations clearly to commercial and operational teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop program logistics plans that define shipping mode, route, cargo release dates, delivery sequence, destination, transit assumptions, and schedule buffers.
• Evaluate air, ocean, and domestic transportation options, including full-container and less-than-container shipments, consolidation, and split shipments, to meet delivery commitments at the best total cost.
• Compare delivery through a 3PL, direct to store, or through VIRA facilities, considering handling requirements, receiving capacity, storage, and final delivery needs.
• Build freight estimates and budgets; analyze transportation, handling, storage, and accessorial charges; track actual costs against approved plans and explain variances.
• Partner with Product and Asia teams to confirm cargo readiness, quantities, dimensions, weight, packaging, and production completion dates before finalizing shipping plans.
• Align with Project Management and Account Management on client deadlines, store delivery requirements, installation schedules, and changes affecting cost or timing.
• Execute and close assigned logistics programs end-to-end, including obtaining and evaluating freight quotes, booking transportation and related services, coordinating capacity and shipment release with freight forwarders, carriers, regional logistics teams, and 3PLs, monitoring milestones, following up with service providers, resolving exceptions, confirming final delivery, and completing shipment closeout within approved authority.
• Maintain a shared shipment tracker with milestones, estimated arrival dates, delivery status, costs, risks, and responsible owners; provide clear updates to stakeholders.
• Identify delays, missed sailing or flight connections, customs holds, and receiving constraints early; develop recovery options and escape cost or delivery tradeoffs for approval.
• Partner directly with VIRA's China and regional teams, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and other service providers to gather, prepare, validate, and coordinate commercial invoices, packing lists, shipping instructions, customs documentation, and other information required for clearance and delivery.
• Establish program-specific logistics processes based on customer requirements, product characteristics, shipping mode, destination, delivery requirements, and required service levels; document clear workflows, responsibilities, and escalation procedures.
• Develop shipping coordinators and supporting teams by providing step-by-step execution instructions, training, documentation, and ongoing guidance, gradually transitioning repeatable execution activities as capabilities develop while retaining accountability for successful program delivery.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Freight budgeting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, logistics, business, or related field

Tools

Epicor ERP

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Global Logistics Planner develops and manages transportation plans for VIRA programs, balancing total freight cost with client delivery commitments. The role plans cargo movement from suppliers and manufacturing locations in Asia, including China and Vietnam, through final delivery to third-party logistics providers (3PLs), retail stores, or VIRA's Texas facilities. This position owns shipping strategy, cost analysis, schedule alignment, and shipment visibility. Working closely with Product, Project Management, Account Management, and regional logistics teams, the planner translates production schedules and client requirements into executable shipping plans and monitors performance through final delivery. This is a hands-on planning and execution role. The Senior Global Logistics Planner is expected to maintain end-to-end ownership of assigned programs, from initial transportation planning through shipment execution, customs clearance, final delivery, and program closeout. As supporting logistics capabilities develop, this position will also establish repeatable processes, provide step-by-step direction, and train coordinators and regional teams to support execution.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop program logistics plans that define shipping mode, route, cargo release dates, delivery sequence, destination, transit assumptions, and schedule buffers.
• Evaluate air, ocean, and domestic transportation options, including full-container and less-than-container shipments, consolidation, and split shipments, to meet delivery commitments at the best total cost.
• Compare delivery through a 3PL, direct to store, or through VIRA facilities, considering handling requirements, receiving capacity, storage, and final delivery needs.
• Build freight estimates and budgets; analyze transportation, handling, storage, and accessorial charges; track actual costs against approved plans and explain variances.
• Partner with Product and Asia teams to confirm cargo readiness, quantities, dimensions, weight, packaging, and production completion dates before finalizing shipping plans.
• Align with Project Management and Account Management on client deadlines, store delivery requirements, installation schedules, and changes affecting cost or timing.
• Execute and close assigned logistics programs end-to-end, including obtaining and evaluating freight quotes, booking transportation and related services, coordinating capacity and shipment release with freight forwarders, carriers, regional logistics teams, and 3PLs, monitoring milestones, following up with service providers, resolving exceptions, confirming final delivery, and completing shipment closeout within approved authority.
• Maintain a shared shipment tracker with milestones, estimated arrival dates, delivery status, costs, risks, and responsible owners; provide clear updates to stakeholders.
• Identify delays, missed sailing or flight connections, customs holds, and receiving constraints early; develop recovery options and escape cost or delivery tradeoffs for approval.
• Partner directly with VIRA's China and regional teams, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and other service providers to gather, prepare, validate, and coordinate commercial invoices, packing lists, shipping instructions, customs documentation, and other information required for clearance and delivery.
• Establish program-specific logistics processes based on customer requirements, product characteristics, shipping mode, destination, delivery requirements, and required service levels; document clear workflows, responsibilities, and escalation procedures.
• Develop shipping coordinators and supporting teams by providing step-by-step execution instructions, training, documentation, and ongoing guidance, gradually transitioning repeatable execution activities as capabilities develop while retaining accountability for successful program delivery.

PERFORMANCE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Track on-time delivery against agreed dates, freight cost versus budget, avoidable expedited freight, shipment visibility, and carrier and 3PL performance.
• Analyze recurring delays and cost drivers; improve routing, consolidation, shipment planning, and freight partner performance.
• Lead logistics reviews for active programs and capture lessons learned after major deliveries to improve future plans.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position has no direct reports.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Demonstrated experience planning cargo movement from Asia to the United States using both ocean and air freight. Working knowledge of container utilization, consolidation, freight pricing, Incoterms, customs brokerage coordination, and domestic delivery requirements. Experience coordinating with freight forwarders, carriers, 3PLs, suppliers, and internal stakeholders across multiple locations and time zones. Strong analytical skills, including advanced Excel proficiency and experience comparing shipping scenarios, managing freight budgets, and reporting shipment performance. Ability to manage multiple programs, anticipate risks, resolve delivery issues, and communicate recommendations clearly to commercial and operational teams.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Five or more years of progressive experience in international logistics, freight forwarding, transportation planning, or a related supply chain role, including independent ownership of complex shipments.
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, logistics, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Retail fixture, display, manufacturing, or store rollout programs with firm delivery or installation dates.
• Direct-to-store delivery planning and coordination of receiving appointments, delivery windows, and special handling requirements.
• Transportation management systems, ERP systems, or logistics reporting tools; Epicor experience is a plus.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear.
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard and other standard office equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret shipping documentation, logistics reports, and other business materials.
• Ability to communicate effectively by telephone, email, and other electronic communication methods.
• Ability to work across multiple time zones as business needs require.

STATEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT

All employees of VIRA Insight are expected to: Act as an ambassador of and in accordance with the company's Core Values. Adhere to the company's Principles of Business and Conduct. Demonstrate good judgment and respect the confidentiality of company and personnel information. Deal professionally and courteously with all internal and/or external contacts. Seek guidance and direction as necessary in the performance of duties.

Founded in 1996, VIRA Insight is a premier design, engineering, and manufacturing firm dedicated to creating innovative retail solutions. For more than 25 years, we have partnered with leading retailers and brands to enhance the shopping experience through bespoke fixtures, furniture, and visual merchandising displays. Our expertise spans diverse offerings, including pop-up shops, signage, AR/VR design development, omni-channel solutions, and more. Renowned clients such as Walmart, Walgreens, CVS and e.l.f Beauty value our expertise, efficiency, and customer-focused approach, trusting us to handle their needs from concept to delivery. To thrive in a rapidly evolving global market, VIRA Insight has adopted a Multi-National Manufacturing Strategy. This strategy supports resilience and adaptability by leveraging operations across strategic regions, including our corporate headquarters in Lewisville, Texas, as well as facilities in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and soon, Malaysia. Our diversified supply chain ensures agility and precision, enabling seamless project execution customized to meet each client's unique requirements. With a legacy of excellence and a vision for the future, VIRA Insight is committed to redefining the retail experience, delivering innovative solutions that inspire and engage customers.