Transportation Manager

Job Description

IS THIS YOU?

Are you a transportation expert who enjoys solving problems, optimizing networks, and improving performance through data and strategy? Do you take pride in leading teams and driving compliance, ensuring every load moves safely, efficiently, and reliably?

If that sounds like you, we'd love to meet you. Come join a passionate transportation team that keeps our operations moving safely and efficiently, playing a critical role in delivering products that support clean air, water, and soil globally.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Transportation Manager will play a key role in driving safe, cost-effective, and reliable transportation operations that directly support plant performance and customer delivery expectations.

Here’s what you’ll own:

• Lead end-to-end transportation operations across bulk, LTL, and FTL shipments, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient delivery performance.
• Drive transportation strategy and continuous improvement, establishing KPIs and leading initiatives that enhance service levels, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
• Ensure regulatory and EHSS compliance, overseeing DOT, FMCSA, and HAZMAT requirements while maintaining audit readiness and strong safety performance.
• Manage the transportation budget and assets, including forecasting, cost control, freight spend optimization, and capital planning for fleet and equipment.
• Own carrier and vendor strategy, including selection, contract negotiation, performance management, and network optimization opportunities.

Why you’ll love this role:

• Make a visible impact on the business: your decisions will directly influence cost efficiency, service reliability, safety performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Own a critical function end-to-end: you’ll have the autonomy to lead and improve transportation operations across multiple modes and sites.
• Drive meaningful improvement and innovation: lead initiatives that modernize processes, optimize freight spend, and elevate overall performance.
• Partner across the organization: work closely with operations, supply chain, EHSS, and finance to deliver results that keep the business moving forward.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

The right candidate is strategic, safety-focused transportation leader who thrives in a fast-paced, regulated environment and brings a strong balance of operational expertise, analytical thinking, and collaborative leadership.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, logistics, or related field
• 5-10+ years of progressive transportation or logistics experience, preferably in a regulated or manufacturing environment
• Proved experience managing transportation budgets, carrier network, and vendor relationships
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience with a focus on team development and performance
• Ability to travel up to 25% with additional flexibility during onboarding period

Bonus points if you also have:

• Experience in chemical manufacturing or highly regulated industries
• Familiarity with transportation systems (e.g., ELD, telematics, or Omnitracs)
• Strong background in compliance, audit readiness, and safety program leadership

THE COMPANY

Building Great Chemistry, Together

At Carus, we believe the best chemistry isn't just in our products - it's in our people. For over 110 years, we've manufactured products that clean the air, water, and soil, and we're always exploring new ways to expand our reach and impact. Guided by third-generation family leadership, we've built a culture rooted in Collaboration, Accountability, Results, and Engagement (CARE) - and a foundation of trust.

More than an acronym, CARE reflects how we make decisions, show up for each other, and invest in the people, communities, and environment around us.

What makes Carus different:

• Three-time Illinois Valley Top Workplaces winner - including recognition as a top "Company that Gives Back to the Community"
• Safety-first culture - every team member owns safety and is empowered to make decisions that keep themselves and others safe, because everyone deserves to go home the way they came in
• Values in Action Awards - we put our money where our values are, awarding quarterly bonuses to employees who exemplify our CARE core values
• Global footpr