Logistics Manager - Talent Acquisitions Group Inc - Executive Search Firm : Job Details

Title: US Logistics Manager

Reports To: Global Logistics Manager

Location: Kennett Square, PA

Travel Required: Yes

Position Overview

The US Logistics Manager oversees, negotiates, and manages the transportation of mushrooms and produce in refrigerated trucks from our central facility. This role ensures timely, compliant, and cost-effective delivery to distribution centers and customers. The position requires strategic use of owner-operator vehicles, a smaller fleet of company-owned trucks, and common carriers, with a focus on leveraging backhaul and LTL networks to optimize costs and efficiency.

Reporting directly to the Global Logistics Manager, this role is critical in driving operational excellence, managing carrier relationships, and achieving key performance indicators across the US transportation network.

Key Responsibilities

Freight Management & Cost Optimization

• Manage overall freight expenditures while developing strategies to reduce transportation costs without compromising service.
• Identify and execute refrigerated backhaul and LTL opportunities to maximize truck utilization and minimize empty miles.
• Benchmark carrier rates against market trends to ensure competitive pricing.

Carrier & Vendor Relationships

• Build, negotiate, and maintain strong relationships with owner-operators, company drivers, and third-party carriers.
• Source, vet, and onboard new carrier partners to strengthen transportation capacity and flexibility.
• Serve as the escalation point for carrier service issues, ensuring timely resolution.

Operational Excellence & Performance

• Serve as the authority for all activities related to OTIF (On Time In Full) performance.
• Ensure compliance with DOT, FMCSA, and food safety regulations governing refrigerated transport.
• Advise Sales and Operations on inefficiencies and improvement opportunities based on transportation KPIs.

Planning & Coordination

• Collaborate with Sales, Production, and Supply Chain teams to forecast transportation demand and align resources accordingly.
• Optimize daily load planning, routing, and scheduling to enhance service levels and minimize costs.

Continuous Improvement

• Support global logistics initiatives by aligning US transportation strategy with overall company objectives.
• Conduct regular business reviews with carriers and internal stakeholders to evaluate performance and identify process improvement opportunities.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree preferred (not required).
• 5+ years of logistics management experience in cold chain transportation.
• Proven ability to build and maintain a US-based LTL and backhaul network.
• Strong communication skills: written, verbal, and interpersonal.
• Quick critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent customer service and client relationship skills.
• Existing relationships with refrigerated backhaul providers strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership, goal-setting, and team management abilities.