Sr Director - Transportation & Logistics

Sr Director - Transportation & Logistics

Job Category:
Logistics & Distribution

Requisition Number: SRDIR
003294

• Posted :
  May 29, 2026
• Full-Time

Emeryville, CA 94608, USA

• Our Mission:
  Touching lives for the better
• Our Vision:
  Touching lives by being the first choice for bargain-minded consumers in the U.S.

Our Supply Chain team is responsible for ensuring the right product is in the right place at the right time—supporting our stores, our operators, and ultimately our customers. The team operates in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment driven by Grocery Outlet’s opportunistic buying model. We are builders, problem solvers, and business partners who thrive on complexity and are committed to enabling speed, flexibility, and execution across the network.

As the Sr. Director of Transportation & Logistics, you will lead Grocery Outlet’s inbound and outbound freight network—owning carrier relationships, transportation execution, cost management, and the systems and processes that move product from suppliers to distribution centers to stores. You will play a critical role in ensuring our supply chain can absorb the variable and opportunistic nature of our buying model while delivering consistent, cost-effective service.

This is a high-impact leadership role where you will drive strategy, manage a dynamic carrier network, and build a best-in-class transportation function that scales with Grocery Outlet’s growth. You will operate at the intersection of execution and continuous improvement—managing day-to-day performance while developing the capabilities, tools, and talent needed for the long term. The Sr. Director, Transportation & Logistics reports to the Chief Supply Chain Officer.

• Own and evolve Grocery Outlet’s transportation network strategy, including carrier mix, modal optimization, and lane design for both inbound and outbound freight
• Lead the carrier procurement and RFP process, managing a diversified portfolio of truckload, LTL, and specialized carriers aligned to service and cost objectives
• Establish and manage freight cost targets, rate benchmarks, and fuel surcharge frameworks; ensure contractual compliance and performance accountability
• Drive continuous network optimization—evaluating routing, load efficiency, and mode selection to reduce cost per case and improve service reliability

• Lead daily transportation execution, ensuring on-time pickup and delivery performance across inbound and outbound lanes
• Maintain a rigorous KPI framework covering on-time performance, cost per mile/case, tender acceptance, carrier scorecard compliance, and claims management
• Partner with Distribution Center operations to align inbound scheduling, dock capacity, and carrier performance with DC throughput goals
• Oversee the implementation and utilization of transportation management and visibility platforms to drive real-time execution and proactive exception management
• Manage carrier escalations, service failures, and claims resolution with urgency and accountability
• Own the First Mile Operations to ensure supplier pickup scheduling, routing guides, and compliance expectations with inbound flow requirements
• Develop and enforce supplier transportation compliance standards, including routing guide adherence, lead time expectations, and shipment accuracy
• Drive improvement in collect freight execution, including carrier assignment, load tendering, and pickup compliance from vendor locations
• Support the broader First Mile Perfect Flow initiative by owning the PO lifecycle from supplier to DC receipt

• Own the transportation expense budget, delivering accurate forecasts and variance analysis with clear rate vs. volume decomposition
• Partner with Finance to align transportation costs with P&L targets; provide executive-ready reporting on freight cost trends, risks, and opportunities
• Identify and execute cost reduction initiatives—including backhaul programs, load consolidation, and carrier optimization—while protecting service levels
• Monitor and manage…