Transportation Planner

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company; Kansas City (MO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Market competitive compensation

Annual bonus

Job summary

Lindt & Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is seeking a transportation planner to manage day-to-day load planning across intermodal, truckload, and LTL for multiple distribution locations.

You will collaborate with customer service, carriers, and planning to optimize service and costs, while ensuring on-time delivery and cost efficiency. The role requires a Bachelor's degree and strong Excel and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience in consumer-packaged goods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day load planning across multiple modes of transportation (intermodal, truckload, LTL).
• Coordinate with customer service, distribution centers, carriers, and planning teams to optimize service and cost.
• Monitor and improve carrier performance; adjust schedules and routes as needed.
• Use TMS to schedule, report, and analyze transportation activities.
• Collaborate across Logistics to provide feedback on transportation and warehouse providers.

Skills

Transportation/logistics management

Strong communication

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

TMS

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Company Introduction:

Lindt & Sprüngli is a Swiss chocolate manufacturer and recognized as a global leader in the market for premium chocolate, offering a large selection of products around the world. Lindt & Sprüngli looks back on a long-standing tradition of 175 years during which it has become known as one of the most innovative and creative companies making premium chocolate under the key brand Lindt.Lindt & Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is the holding company of the US family of companies Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) Inc. and Russell Stover Chocolates Inc. Lindt & Sprüngli (North America) Inc. offers a shared-services model acting as the Center of Excellence for the North American market by providing world-class Supply Chain, Project Management, Information Technology, and additional business services to the local entities.This is an exciting time to join our company as we are further accelerating the success story and market expansion over the next years. High performing, entrepreneurial, result driven and passionate employees are key success factors for Lindt & Sprüngli. We are warmly welcoming ambitious talents to join us.

What Lindt & Sprüngli offers:

• A highly passionate team driven for success
• A fast-changing business environment and entrepreneurial mindset
• Central and prime office location in Kansas City next to the Plaza
• US or international career opportunities within the Lindt Group
• Opportunities to be involved in employee committees
• A flexible work environment offering a hybrid model
• Market competitive compensation, annual bonus and benefits
• And of course - delicious premium chocolate!

Lindt & Sprüngli wants employees who align to our core values:

• Excellence: You have passion for what you are doing and strive for excellence
• Innovation: You are constantly looking for new and better ways to deliver success
• Entrepreneurship: You are empowered and accountable for your actions and results
• Responsibility: You act with integrity and treat everyone with respect
• Collaboration: You support your colleagues across disciplines, business segments and geographies

Job Description Summary:

Overall responsibility for day-to-day load planning execution of multiple modes of transportation (intermodal, truckload, multi-stop, and less-than-truckload) for specific distribution/ manufacturing location(s). Coordinate daily load planning across all modes of transportation, reviewing and making recommendations for operational improvements. Work with customer service, distribution centers, carriers, and planning to optimize customer service and operational efficiencies. Resolve any shipment or delivery issues with warehousing and transportation partners. Collaborate with all functions within Logistics to provide performance feedback on transportation and warehouse providers.

Essential Functions

• Must be able to multi-task and work under a demanding, fast-paced environment
• Review shipment routing and freight costs to optimize service and cost according to published routing guide
• Use knowledge of transit time, carrier base, and cost to determine how and when to assign our refrigerated carriers to daily shipments, adjusting pickup and delivery dates as needed
• Effectively and proactively communicate with customer service, plants/DCs, and carriers to minimize impact of late/potentially late trucks
• Must understand financials of transportation and impact on department P&L to make effective current and future operational decisions
• Ensure that carrier(s) follow LSNA protocol-timely appointing, appropriate drop trailer pools, timely pickup and delivery, timely status updates, tender acceptance rate, on-time pickup, and on-time delivery
• Work daily within our Transportation Management System (TMS) for scheduling, reporting, and analytics
• Monitor carrier performance and follow-up with carriers when improvements are needed
• Approve upcharges and additional costs with carriers when needed
• Take on special projects and duties as assigned by management

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or a combination of experience and education
• Experience in consumer-packaged goods
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel

Preferred Qualifications

• Transportation/logistics management experience
• Working knowledge of TMS
• Experience in refrigerated and less-than-truckload transportation
• Ability to prioritize and organize assignments
• Strong analytical skills

Company Description

Lindt and Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is the Supply Chain and Business Shared Services Company supporting the Lindt & Sprüngli family of brands (Lindt USA, Ghirardelli Chocolates and Russell Stover Chocolates), headquartered in Kansas City, MO.

Employment by Lindt & Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, and satisfactory employment and background checks.

Lindt & Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is a