Sr Manager, SC Route Optimization & Compliance

KeHE Distributors, LLC; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 97,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Rx

Dental

Vision

FSA/HSA

Life Insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Paid sick time

STD/LTD

ESOP

Holiday pay

Job summary

KeHE Distributors, a employee-owned natural and organic products distributor, seeks a Senior Manager to lead route optimization & compliance for inbound transportation. You’ll guide a team, align cross-functional partners, and drive cost-effective decisions that impact on-time performance.

The role emphasizes data-driven analysis, leadership presence, and collaboration with Supply Chain, Procurement, and Load Planning to maximize lane profitability in a complex network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Operations, Engineering, Analytics or related field.
• 6+ years in supply chain, transportation, logistics or related fields.
• At least 2 years of people management experience.
• Experience in food distribution or code-sensitive environments preferred.
• Leadership experience in cross-functional settings is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing transportation team with accountability and continuous improvement.
• Analyze freight patterns, lane performance, and costs to identify savings.
• Develop and execute inbound freight strategies to improve network efficiency.
• Ensure routing guides and transit tables support on-time pickup and delivery.
• Partner with Procurement, Load Planning, Warehouse Ops to reduce costs and improve service.
• Use data and metrics to drive recommendations to senior leadership.
• Identify gaps and implement improvements for transportation efficiency.

Skills

Data analytics

Executive communication

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Transportation strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Operations, Engineering, Analytics or related field

Tools

Manhattan

ArrowStream

Blue Yonder

SAP/APO

Logility

Oracle Demantra

Job description

Why Work for KeHE?

• Full-time
• Pay Range: $97,350.00/Yr. - $142,659.00/Yr.
• Shift Days: , Shift Time:
• Benefits on Day 1
  • Health/Rx
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
  • Supplemental life insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Paid time off
  • Paid sick time
  • Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
  • Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
  • Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Overview

At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others – and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

Primary Responsibilities

The Senior Manager, Supply Chain Route Optimization & Compliance provides strategic leadership for the development, optimization, and execution of the company’s inbound transportation strategy. This role leads a team responsible for engineering and maintaining transportation blueprints that enable efficient, reliable, and cost-effective movement of product throughout the network and partners cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Procurement, Load Planning, Warehouse Operations, and other key stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve transportation efficiency, optimize purchasing and freight decisions, and maximize lane profitability. The role is accountable for the accuracy and alignment of routing and transit tables, which serve as critical inputs to on-time pickup and delivery performance. As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Essential Functions

DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team with a strong focus on accountability, analytical rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Analyze freight patterns, purchasing decisions, lane performance, and transportation costs to identify opportunities for savings and improved profitability.
• Develop and execute transportation strategies that optimize inbound freight flows, improve network efficiency, and maximize lane profitability.
• Ensure routing guides, transportation blueprints, and transit tables are accurate, aligned, and maintained to support reliable on-time pickup and delivery performance.
• Partner with Procurement, Supply Chain, Load Planning, Warehouse Operations, and other functions to identify and implement opportunities to reduce freight costs and improve service.

• Leverage data and performance metrics to identify trends, diagnose root causes, and develop actionable recommendations for senior leadership.

• Identify process gaps and implement sustainable improvements that enhance transportation efficiency, service levels, and network execution.
• Lead cross-functional resolution of complex transportation and supply chain issues, balancing operational priorities with financial and customer-service objectives.

• Other duties and projects as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to leverage complex data and analytics to identify trends, assess transportation and network performance, and translate insights into strategic, financially sound business decisions.
• Ability to influence, educate, and align cross-functional organizations and senior stakeholders around transportation strategy, lane blueprinting, routing compliance, and the key drivers of network performance.
• Ability to design and implement scalable processes, governance frameworks, and performance reporting that enable proactive decision-making, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional executive presence and presentation skills, with the ability to distill complex business and transportation issues into clear, compelling recommendations and influence senior and executive-level decision-makers.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with a proven ability to build trusted relationships, navigate complex stakeholder environments, and drive alignment across functions and organizational levels.
• Ability to manage, lead, and coach a team to achieve business objectives.

• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to evaluate lane economics and quantify business impact.
• Advanced proficiency in planning systems (Manhattan, ArrowStrem, Blue Yonder, SAP/APO, Logility, Oracle Demantra, etc).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Operations, Engineering, Analytics or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of related supply chain, transportation, logistics, procurement or related fields preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of experience directly managing people, including hiring, developing, motivating, directing work and setting priorities.
• Prior leadership experience within food distribution, perishables, or other code-sensitive and highly regulated product environments preferred, with a strong understanding of the operational and compliance considerations unique to these businesses.
• Prior experience in food and/or code sensitive product environment preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

Requisition ID

2026-30197

Equal Employer Opportunity Statement

KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.