Transportation Manager

Valley Queen Cheese; Milbank (SD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Valley Queen Cheese in Milbank, SD, seeks a Transportation Manager to own logistics operations across fleet, carriers, and 3PLs, driving service, efficiency, and scalability in the dairy supply chain.

You will lead frontline supervisors, reinforce standards, and ensure system integrity while aligning with strategic goals and regulatory requirements. This role focuses on performance and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least two (2) years demonstrated success leading teams and delivering results.
• Experience in logistics or transportation management is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Owns day-to-day performance of liquid load transportation across owned, contracted, and outside hauler carriers, ensuring safety, quality, and standards.
• Executes departmental goals and priorities aligned with company strategy.
• Establishes and delivers KPI’s aligned with goals.
• Leads and develops Supervisors and Leads to ensure strong execution.
• Reinforces culture, expectations, and leadership behaviors.
• Ensures role clarity and accountability across their team to drive efficient operations.
• Builds and maintains an engaged, performance-driven team environment.
• Supports talent development by coaching employees and identifying growth opportunities.
• Drives accountability through regular performance discussions and follow-up.
• Identifies operational challenges and implements solutions to improve performance.
• Ensures regulatory compliance.
• Executes continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency and cost control.
• Uses data and metrics to improve decision-making and performance.
• Supports budget adherence by managing resources effectively.
• Coordinates and supports execution of projects within scope and timelines.
• Communicates effectively across departments.
• Partners with cross-functional teams to improve operations.

Skills

Leadership

Business Acumen

Problem Solving

Technical Capacity

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Valley Queen is a privately owned dairy manufacturer located in Milbank, South Dakota. Founded in 1929, Valley Queen has established itself as a leading producer of high-quality cheese and dairy ingredients, serving customers across the United States and around the world. Valley Queen processes nearly 3 billion pounds of milk each year, producing a diverse portfolio of products that includes natural cheeses, whey protein concentrate, lactose, and anhydrous milk fat. At Valley Queen, we are dedicated to excellence, continuous improvement, and conducting our operations ethically. Our success is built on strong relationships with our employees, dairy producers, and the communities we serve. We take pride in offering meaningful career opportunities and aim to be the premier privately owned dairy manufacturer in the United States.

About the Role

The Transportation Manager is responsible for end-to-end ownership of logistics operations, including fleet, carrier, and 3PL transportation networks, ensuring alignment of transportation execution, cost management, and system integrity. Drives disciplined logistics processes, carrier performance, and technology enablement to deliver reliable service, operational efficiency, and network scalability across the dairy supply chain. Executing direction set by the Director and ensuring consistent performance across their team. This position is accountable for team performance, operational results, and developing front-line leadership capability. This role plays a critical part in driving consistency, reinforcing standards, and ensuring that systems, processes, and expectations are effectively implemented to support Valley Queen’s operational and business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Owns the day-to-day performance of all liquid load transportation across owned, contracted, and outside hauler carriers, ensuring safety, quality, and operational standards are consistently met along with schedules, staffing plans, and processes.
• Executes departmental goals and priorities aligned with company strategy.
• Establishes, monitors, and delivers KPI’s aligned with departmental and organizational goals.
• Leads and develops Supervisors and Leads to ensure strong execution and team effectiveness.
• Reinforces culture, expectations, and leadership behaviors established by the organization.
• Ensures role clarity and accountability across their team to drive efficient operations.
• Builds and maintains a highly engaged, performance-driven team environment.
• Supports talent development by coaching employees and identifying growth opportunities.
• Drives accountability through regular performance discussions and follow-up.
• Identifies operational challenges and implements solutions to improve performance.
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements.
• Executes continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency and cost control.
• Utilizes data and metrics to improve decision-making and performance.
• Supports budget adherence by managing resources effectively.
• Coordinates and supports execution of projects within scope and timelines.
• Communicates effectively across departments.
• Partners with cross-functional teams to improve operations.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience in the applicable area of responsibility. Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least two (2) years demonstrated success leading teams and delivering results is essential.

Required Skills

• Leadership / Accountability
• Business Acumen
• Problem Solving / Analysis
• Technical Capacity

Preferred Skills

• Experience in dairy processing or manufacturing.

This job description is not designed to cover all duties. Responsibilities may change at any time.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Valley Queen is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.