Senior Director, Transportation

Join Smithfield:
Senior Director, Transportation

When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our core four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

The senior director, transportation is a pivotal role for Smithfield foods, where your leadership will drive the future of our logistics and transportation operations, seamlessly aligning them with our company's ambitious goals. In this high-impact position, you will craft and execute forward-thinking transportation strategies that propel our business forward. You'll streamline operations and manage costs, ensuring our fleet and logistics are both nimble and cohesive.

Your mission? To lead a talented team with vision and flair, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment that delivers stellar performance. You will harness your strategic mindset to manage budgets and resources efficiently, uncovering growth opportunities and driving innovations. Building strong partnerships and integrating cutting-edge technology will be your tools to elevate our operations to new heights.

• Strategic planning:
  Develop and implement transportation strategies that align with the company's overall business goals. Analyze market trends and forecast future transportation needs. Implement and leverage technology solutions for transportation management, such as GPS tracking systems and route optimization software. Stay updated on technological advancements and assess their potential impact on operations.
• Operational oversight:
  Manage day-to-day transportation operations, including fleet management, route planning, and delivery schedules. Ensure compliance with transportation regulations and industry standards. Cross functional team building is critical to execute strategies to drive efficiency and new ways of thinking. Utilize data and KPI's to drive change and reduce costs.
• Team leadership:
  Lead and mentor a team of transportation managers and staff. Foster a collaborative and performance-driven work environment. Have a high sense of ownership of the department and foster critical thinking.
• Budget management:
  Develop and manage the transportation budget, including cost control and financial forecasting. Identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements. Strong financial acumen and an understanding of what drives our transportation costs.
• Vendor and partner management:
  Partnering with procurement, negotiate and manage relationships with third-party carriers, logistics providers, and suppliers. Oversee contract management and service level agreements. Ensure each carrier contract, for both over the road carriers and dedicated carriers, is being adhered to and execute strategies based on contractual obligations.
• Customer service:
  Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction by delivering on-time and accurate shipments. Address and resolve any transportation-related issues or complaints. Perform root cause analysis on issues engaging the appropriate departments that influence transportation activities.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in supply chain or related field and 12+ years' relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• 5+ years' experience in a position of leadership to include team development and management, required.
• Proven track record of leading and managing large teams and complex transportation operations.
• In-depth knowledge of transportation management, including fleet management, route optimization, and logistics coordination.
• Expertise in integrating transportation strategies within the broader supply chain, including inventory management, demand planning, and distribution network optimization.
• Strong skills in negotiating and managing relationships with third-party carriers and logistics providers.
• Ability to lead organizational change initiatives related to transportation and logistics, including technology upgrades, process improvements, and restructuring efforts.
• Expertise in managing private and dedicate fleets and driving efficiency by improving KPI's such as asset utilization, driver optimization, fuel management and other operational KPI's.
• Refrigerated supply chain and short shelf-life product handling experience.

• An MBA, master's in supply chain management, or other relevant advanced degree that enhances strategic and operational insight.
• Capability to drive operational excellence through methodologies such as lean six sigma, including process mapping, continuous…