Senior Inbound Logistics & Carrier Strategy Lead

fivebelow

Buckeye (AZ)

On-site

USD 90,000 - 120,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Five Below is seeking an experienced inbound transportation leader to optimize end-to-end domestic freight across TL, LTL, intermodal, and parcel. You will work with operations, procurement, customer service, and carriers to improve performance and compliance.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in supply chain or related field, 5–8+ years in logistics, strong TMS experience (Manhattan TMS preferred), and sharp analytical and negotiation skills to drive cost efficiency.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Logistics, Transportation, Business, or equivalent experience.
5–8+ years of experience in domestic transportation or logistics operations.
Strong knowledge of U.S. domestic freight modes and carrier operations.
Hands-on experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS).
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret freight data and KPIs.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
Proficient in using transportation management systems (Manhattan TMS preferred) and related software.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities.
Problem-solving skills to address issues related to shipments and transportation.
Negotiation skills for contract management with carriers and service providers.
Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, etc.)

Responsibilities

Coordinate and manage domestic inbound freight movements from suppliers, vendors, and transload facilities to distribution centers.
Plan and optimize transportation capacity across TL, LTL, intermodal, and rail networks.
Monitor shipment status and proactively address transit delays, service disruptions, and exceptions.
Ensure timely delivery of inventory to support distribution center and store replenishment requirements.
Build and maintain relationships with transportation providers and 3PL partners.
Monitor carrier performance through KPIs including on-time pickup, on-time delivery, tender acceptance, and claims ratios.
Participate in carrier sourcing events, RFPs, and rate negotiations.
Support carrier compliance with routing guides, service requirements, and operational expectations.
Primary contact for carrier onboarding/operational readiness
Partner with suppliers to ensure routing instructions, shipping requirements, and appointment scheduling processes.
Resolve vendor shipping issues impacting inventory flow or transportation costs.
Drive improvements in supplier shipping performance and compliance metrics.
Analyze freight forecasts and inventory flow to secure transportation capacity during peak and seasonal periods.
Collaborate with merchants, inventory planning, replenishment, and distribution center teams to align transportation resources with business demand.
Identify opportunities to improve load utilization, reduce empty miles, and increase transportation efficiency.
Manage daily transportation execution activities, including freight tendering, load planning, appointment scheduling, and shipment tracking.
Coordinate inbound delivery appointments with distribution centers and terminals.
Escalate and resolve service failures affecting inventory availability or distribution center operations.
Develop and maintain transportation performance dashboards and scorecards.
Analyze transportation spend, service metrics, freight trends, and network performance.
Communicate operational performance, risks, and opportunities to leadership.
Utilize TMS, and reporting tools to support decision-making.
Identify cost-saving and productivity improvement opportunities across the inbound transportation network.
Lead and support transportation initiatives related to process standardization, automation, and network optimization.
Develop and maintain SOPs and best practices for inbound transportation operations.
Participate in cross-functional projects supporting supply chain and logistics transformation initiatives.
Partner with Distribution Center Operations, Inventory Planning, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Finance, IT, and Procurement teams.
Coordinate transportation support for new store openings, DC transitions, seasonal sets, and network changes.
Ensure alignment between transportation execution and broader supply chain objectives.
Typical KPIs: On-Time Pickup %, On-Time Delivery %, Carrier Tender Acceptance %, Transportation Cost per Unit/Case, Load Fill/Density Utilization, Vendor Compliance %, Transit Time Performance, Claims and Damage Rates, Inbound Appointment Compliance, Freight Cost Savings and Avoidance.
Leadership Responsibilities: Serve as a subject matter expert for inbound transportation operations; Mentor and train logistics specialists and coordinators; Lead issue resolution during disruptions and peak shipping; Present performance to senior leadership.