Distribution Director

Company: Advocate
Location: Baton Rouge
Posted on: September 15, 2023

Job Description:

Department: CirculationReports to: Senior Distribution DirectorGeneral Summary of Position: The Distribution Director is responsible for all Home Delivery and Single Copy newspaper distribution in the Baton Rouge market. Baton Rouge is the state capital which is ideal for print news coverage. We are a media organization that is committed to our print subscribers and expect to adhere to quality service standards to retain our customers. Baton Rouge has multiple community publications that are delivered to non-subscribers with delivery to thousands of households weekly. Our Baton Rouge market is where The Advocate began and is of the utmost importance to the company. The Baton Rouge Director must be driven, insightful, dedicated, and task oriented. Of most importance, ensuring superior customer service is required of this leadership position. The Distribution Director of Metro establishes and maintains all negotiations, contracting, and terminations of independent contractors in the Baton Rouge market and communicates with customers to uphold consistent quality service. Leads a team of one area manager and six distribution managers. This position will be paramount in ensuring all contractor routes are filled with quality candidates, maintain the expected complaint level while keeping an eye on the expense budget to be met. Due to the nature of this position, the candidate is expected to work on site at the Baton Rouge location.This position includes a bonus structure opportunity which is negotiable upon offer. -Primary Responsibilities and Essential Duties: This position requires bending, lifting and/or carrying up to ten pounds less than once a week. -A. Planning and Supervision -

• Evaluates, trains, coaches and/or disciplines employees in accordance with company policies. -
• Negotiates contracts with independent contractors, prepares changes and additions to contractual agreement. Develops independent contractor routes and boundaries. Terminates independent contractor routes when necessary. Delivers downed routes when necessary.
• Resolves conflict between and among circulation employees and contractors, listening to issues of all parties and making fair and appropriate decisions. -
• Coordinates leave requests, compiles, and maintains employee attendance records in an accurate and timely manner ensuring records are correct. Reviews and submits timesheets for payroll every two weeks. -B. Monitoring and Accountability
  • Reviews CPM Reports and strives to maintain a Blended CPM rating of 2.0 - 2.5 on a weekly basis for the Baton Rouge markets.
  • Keep Expense budget within expected parameters. -C. Customer Interaction/Communication -
    • Contacts Customers to respond to inquiries, enhances customer service by asking relevant questions to determine the needs of the customers.
    • Resolves customers' complaints, concerns, and delivery issues by performing activities such as redelivery of product, refunding money, or adjusting bills.
    • Reviews daily service reports to obtain and examine all relevant information to assess validity of complaints and to determine possible causes.
    • Monitors delivery of various products in keeping with the service goals.
    • Fields activity to assess customer and contractor issues in resolution attempts. -D. Administrative -
      • Works with the Accounting department to resolve independent contractor issues for final printing and mails such as return credit, shortages, credits, delivery fees, direct deposit, vendors' numbers, etc. Home delivery customer accounts are often adjusted for non-delivery, vacation hold and wrong service. -
      • Works with consumer sales leaders to increase circulation.
      • Writes service correction notices and collection unpaid invoices to carriers as needed. Communicates with customers via email/phone to apologize for poor service issues, correct service issues and/or verify credit due to an account. -E. Other duties as assignedEducation, Experience, and Knowledge Requirements:
        • 5+ years newspaper circulation and/or managerial experience preferred. -
        • Thorough knowledge of communications and media - knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods
        • Experience with contractsSupervision Requirements (total number of people supervised may vary): -
          • Single Market distribution directors, Area Managers, District Managers, and oversees Independent Contractors (Carriers)Salary: Commensurate with experience- bonus structure opportunity negotiable upon offer.Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, Life, Short Term Disability (STD), Long Term Disability (LTD), Paternity Leave, PTO and 401k Retirement Savings company match.The Advocate is an equal employment opportunity employer, committed to recruiting, developing, and promoting a diverse workforce while providing unique opportunities and career paths for our employees. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds and experience levels to apply.

Keywords: Advocate, Baton Rouge , Distribution Director, Professions , Baton Rouge, Louisiana