Strategic Logistics Procurement Lead

Watco; Lowell (AR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Watco is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead strategic logistics sourcing and cost-saving initiatives across our network of rail, switching sites, terminals and hubs. You will drive route optimization, carrier partnerships, and bid management using data-driven insights to improve efficiency and margins.

In this role you will map lanes, rebid opportunities, collaborate with pricing, and implement technology to optimize procurement operations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience building and maintaining carrier relationships and negotiating pricing.
• Logistics professional with procurement and transportation management expertise.
• Strategic thinker who designs solutions to improve operational performance and procurement goals.
• Advanced knowledge of carrier management, route optimization, and yield analysis.
• Strong analytical skills with data-driven decision making.
• Experience with procurement technology and bid optimization tools.
• Expertise in carrier pricing negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver measurable cost savings and margin improvement by reducing PT spend.
• Build and maintain strong carrier relationships to ensure capacity and service quality.
• Implement route optimization strategies to maximize carrier utilization.
• Expand carrier footprint to win spot bids and rebid lost opportunities.
• Launch and manage carrier recognition programs.
• Evaluate and implement carrier bid optimization technology.
• Archive and analyze historical bids for strategic insights.
• Map carrier density by lane and zip code to identify growth areas.
• Identify and improve low-yield lanes.
• Collaborate with pricing manager for decision making.
• Benchmark best practices for procurement operations.

Skills

Carrier relationships

Pricing negotiation

Route optimization

Yield analysis

Procurement technology

Data-driven decision making

Carrier management

Transportation management

Strategic procurement

Bid optimization tools

Tools

Bid optimization tools

Job description

Watco is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead strategic logistics sourcing and cost-saving initiatives across our network of rail, switching sites, terminals and hubs. You will drive route optimization, carrier partnerships, and bid management using data-driven insights to improve efficiency and margins.

In this role you will map lanes, rebid opportunities, collaborate with pricing, and implement technology to optimize procurement operations.