VP, Transportation

ShipMonk; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

ShipMonk is seeking a strategic transportation leader to own the entire transportation network including parcel, freight, air, and ocean. You will design networks, negotiate with carriers, and build a high-performing team to drive lower costs and faster delivery for customers.

You will guide the Virtual Carrier Network, align rate shopping and invoicing with revenue initiatives, and lead cross-functional efforts with Product, Revenue, and Operations to optimize the overall cost structure.

Qualifications

• Proven track record designing transportation networks and reducing costs.
• Experience leading and developing teams of transportation professionals.
• Strong negotiation skills with national and regional carriers.
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable quarterly plans.
• Ability to design incentives and performance metrics for a logistics team.
• Extensive experience with high-volume, multi-carrier shipping.

Responsibilities

• Set multi-year strategy for ShipMonk's transportation network and translate into quarterly plans.
• Design carrier network to lower cost and improve delivery times as lanes and volumes change.
• Build and lead a high-performing team with clear priorities and ownership.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives across Product, Revenue, and Operations.
• Negotiate contracts with national and regional carriers, including LTL, air, ocean.
• Collaborate with Product to optimize the VCN tool for cost and performance.
• Own carrier relationships and act as escalation point for vendor issues.
• Audit invoices and performance to sharpen strategy and savings.
• Create business analyses to surface opportunities to improve vendor processes.
• Apply zone skipping and other techniques to reduce transportation costs.

Skills

Strategic thinking

People leadership

Carrier negotiations

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Parcel/shipping expertise

Job description

ShipMonk is looking for a strategic transportation leader to own our entire transportation network: small parcel, freight (LTL and FTL), air, and ocean. The goal is lower cost, faster delivery, and a better customer experience, all at once. You'll get there through sharp network design, disciplined carrier negotiation, and a team you build and develop to run the details so you can stay focused on the strategy. You'll own the cost side of our Virtual Carrier Network, strategic carrier negotiation, guide the technical side (rate shopping algorithms, auditing, and rate reconciliation), and connect both to the revenue side (the services and pricing we offer customers and the initiatives that grow them).

What you'll do

• Set the multi-year strategy for ShipMonk's transportation network, then translate it into quarterly plans your team can execute.
• Design the carrier network to lower cost and cut delivery time, and redesign it as volume, lanes, and rates change.
• Build and develop a high-performing team. Set clear priorities, raise their capability, and give them room to own the day-to-day.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives across Product, Revenue, and Operations to strengthen supply chain efficiency and the overall cost structure.
• Negotiate contracts with national and regional carriers, and agreements with LTL, ocean, and air freight carriers.
• Partner with Product to keep the VCN tool selecting the right carrier and optimizing for lowest cost and highest performance.
• Own carrier relationships and act as the final point of escalation for vendor issues.
• Audit carrier invoices and performance, and turn the findings into sharper strategy.
• Build the business analyses that surface opportunities to improve internal and external vendor processes.
• Apply zone skipping, pre-sorting, drop-off rates, delivery to regional sorting centers or DDUs, and similar techniques to keep lowering transportation cost.
• Work with Revenue and Operations to shape an optimized delivery offering for ShipMonk's customers.

What you'll bring

• A strategic thinker who can zoom out to a multi-year plan and zoom into a single surcharge line, then move between the two quickly.
• A proven people leader who has built, developed, and retained strong teams.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills.
• Direct experience with high-volume small parcel shipping across multiple carriers.
• A deep understanding of carrier invoicing, including surcharges and accessorials.
• Experience with regional carriers and multiple modes of transportation to reach the best rates.
• Experience with zone skipping and postal sharing programs.
• The ability to prioritize and lead multiple projects in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• At least 3 years in a similar senior leadership position.
• At least 5 years in a similar environment.

About ShipMonk

ShipMonk isn't just a 3PL; we're a growth partner for merchants. We provide cutting-edge technology and a network of owned and operated fulfillment centers that empower high-growth ecommerce and DTC brands to stress less and grow more. With over 2,500 employees across five countries, we're on a mission to revolutionize fulfillment by providing everything from the fastest click-to-delivery and real-time inventory to custom solutions—all with a merchant-first mindset.

Why ShipMonk?

We believe in building for the long term, and our success is powered by five key differentiators that help us become true partners to our merchants.

• Global Fulfillment Network: Our 12+ owned and operated fulfillment centers span the US, Canada, the U.K., and Mainland Europe. We never outsource, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Proprietary Technology: We've eliminated the need for tribal knowledge with our AI-powered platform. It provides a real-time, unified view of inventory and orders, giving our merchants the control and visibility they need to succeed.
• Unrivaled Support: We provide hands-on, "mom and pop" support with a global reach. Our dedicated teams are on-site at every fulfillment center, ready to jump into action.
• Transparent Pricing: We believe in honest, long-term partnerships. Our all- inclusive pricing means predictable costs, with no hidden fees or surprises.
• Committed to the Future: We invest over $10 million annually in research and development to ensure our technology and services continually evolve, helping merchants plant roots with a partner who is here to stay.

Our Core Values

Our values are the heart of our culture. We're looking for individuals who embody these principles every day.

• Merchant-first: We handle the logistics so our merchants can focus on what they do best—growing their business.
• People make ShipMonk: We believe in our team and invest in our people.
• Own it: We take ownership of our work, our mistakes, and our successes.
• Get sh*t done: We're a fast-paced, high-growth company that values action and results.
• Change the score: We challenge the status quo, constantly innovating and improving.

ShipMonk is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.