TDMK-Manager, Transportation Procurement

KeHE Distributors, LLC; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 87,230 - 127,897; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Rx

Dental

Vision

Flexible and health spending accounts

Supplemental life insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Paid sick time

Disability coverage

Employee stock ownership (ESOP)

Holiday pay for company designated?

Job summary

KeHE Distributors, LLC in Naperville, IL is seeking a Transportation Procurement Manager to lead Trademark Transportation's procurement strategy across Truckload and LTL services. You will build a scalable carrier network and set performance standards to support aggressive growth while balancing service, cost, and risk.

Reporting to leadership, you will optimize procurement processes, manage carrier onboarding, and ensure compliance with FMCSA regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Transportation, or related field.
• 4+ years of transportation brokerage, carrier procurement, or related logistics experience.
• 1+ years of leadership experience managing carrier procurement, carrier sales, compliance, and/or transportation operations teams.
• Experience managing multi-modal transportation procurement, including Truckload and LTL preferred.
• Experience building procurement organizations within a high-growth brokerage environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute transportation procurement strategies across Truckload and LTL services to build and maintain a high-performing carrier network supporting customer growth, service expectations, and profitability.
• Establish sourcing strategies, carrier segmentation models, and preferred carrier programs to improve capacity access and network resiliency.
• Identify market trends, capacity risks, and emerging opportunities to proactively strengthen Trademark's transportation network, partnering with Sales, Pricing, and Operations leadership to align procurement strategies with customer requirements and growth initiatives.
• Lead the development of scalable procurement processes, technology, and best practices that enable long-term growth.
• Define, measure, and continuously improve procurement productivity, service, and financial performance metrics through carrier scorecards, KPIs, and reporting frameworks that drive accountability and informed decision-making.
• Monitor network performance and lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on service reliability, risk mitigation, and margin preservation, using data and market intelligence to optimize procurement effectiveness and transportation spend.
• Partner cross-functionally to improve execution, reduce service failures, and enhance the overall customer experience.

Skills

Truckload procurement

Carrier network development

FMCSA regulations

Analytical skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

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

Job description

Why Work for KeHE?

• Full-time
• Pay Range: $87,230.00/Yr. - $127,897.00/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 Transportation Procurement Manager for Trademark is responsible for developing and executing Trademark Transportation's procurement strategy across Truckload and Less Than Truckload transportation services. This leader will build and optimize a scalable carrier network, establish performance and compliance standards, and drive procurement excellence to support aggressive commercial growth objectives. Serving as the organization's transportation procurement subject matter expert, this role balances service, cost, capacity, and risk while ensuring carrier selection, onboarding, and performance management practices align with evolving regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and brokerage liability standards. 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:

Procurement Strategy & Network Development

• Develop and execute transportation procurement strategies across Truckload and LTL services to build and maintain a high-performing carrier network supporting customer growth, service expectations, and profitability.
• Establish sourcing strategies, carrier segmentation models, and preferred carrier programs to improve capacity access and network resiliency.
• Identify market trends, capacity risks, and emerging opportunities to proactively strengthen Trademark's transportation network, partnering with Sales, Pricing, and Operations leadership to align procurement strategies with customer requirements and growth initiatives.
• Lead the development of scalable procurement processes, technology, and best practices that enable long-term growth.

Performance & Operational Excellence

• Define, measure, and continuously improve procurement productivity, service, and financial performance metrics through carrier scorecards, KPIs, and reporting frameworks that drive accountability and informed decision-making.
• Monitor network performance and lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on service reliability, risk mitigation, and margin preservation, using data and market intelligence to optimize procurement effectiveness and transportation spend.
• Partner cross-functionally to improve execution, reduce service failures, and enhance the overall customer experience.

Compliance, Claims & Risk Management

• Lead carrier qualification, onboarding, monitoring, and compliance programs, establishing selection criteria around safety performance, insurance, reliability, financial stability, and fraud risk while maintaining expertise in FMCSA regulations and brokerage liability considerations.
• Develop and strengthen processes that mitigate exposure to negligent selection, cargo theft, fraud, double brokering, and other transportation risks, including oversight of claims in partnership with Operations, Legal, and Risk Management to drive corrective action.
• Continuously evaluate and enhance procurement governance to ensure compliance with customer requirements, contractual obligations, and internal policies.

People Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop Carrier Sales, Procurement, and Compliance teams by setting clear performance expectations, productivity standards, and individual development plans that drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Build onboarding, training, and career development programs that strengthen procurement expertise, negotiation skills, and risk awareness, while cultivating future leaders.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, customer service, compliance, and collaboration to support a scalable procurement organization aligned with Trademark's growth.

Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated expertise in truckload procurement, carrier network development, transportation operations, and carrier negotiations.
• Strong understanding of FMCSA regulations, carrier safety programs, transportation claims, fraud prevention, and brokerage compliance requirements.
• Proven analytical, negotiation, relationship management, and leadership skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills both verbal and written.
• Ability to lead, manage, and develop a team.
• Knowledge of transportation risk management, carrier compliance programs, brokerage liability, and carrier performance management best practices.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Transportation, or related field.
• 4+ years of transportation brokerage, carrier procurement, or related logistics experience.
• 1+ years of leadership experience managing carrier procurement, carrier sales, compliance, and/or transportation operations teams.
• Experience managing multi-modal transportation procurement, including Truckload and LTL preferred.
• Experience building procurement organizations within a high-growth brokerage environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods, use of computer and phone on a daily basis.

Minimal travel may be required (e.g., to trade shows, customer or carrier visits)

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.