Director of Backhaul & Freight

Company: Associated Grocers, Inc.
Location: Baton Rouge
Posted on: September 17, 2023

Job Description:

The Director of Backhaul & Freight plays a crucial role in overseeing and managing the backhaul and freight operations of a company. This position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and in-depth knowledge of logistics and supply chain management. Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• -Strategic Planning: Develop and implement strategic plans to optimize backhaul and freight operations, aligning them with the company's overall goals and objectives.
• -Backhaul Optimization: Identify opportunities to maximize backhaul utilization and minimize empty miles by developing efficient routing strategies and collaborating with internal teams, carriers, and logistics providers.
• Freight Management : Oversee the transportation of goods, ensuring timely and cost-effective movement of products from origin to destination. This includes coordinating with carriers, negotiating rates, and monitoring performance to ensure compliance with service level agreements.
• Vendor Management : Build and maintain relationships with carriers, freight brokers, and other logistics partners to secure capacity, negotiate contracts, and manage ongoing performance. Evaluate vendor performance regularly and implement improvement plans when necessary.
• Cost Management : Develop and execute strategies to optimize transportation costs, such as negotiating favorable rates, implementing efficient freight consolidation practices, and leveraging technology solutions.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure compliance with transportation regulations, safety standards, and industry best practices. Mitigate risks associated with freight operations, such as insurance coverage, claims management, and driver safety.
• Team Leadership : Build and lead a high-performing team, providing guidance, mentorship, and training to ensure the professional growth and success of team members. Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Performance Analysis and Reporting : Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and track the efficiency and effectiveness of backhaul and freight operations. Generate regular reports and analyze data to identify trends, areas for improvement, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Continuous Improvement : Identify and implement process enhancements and innovative solutions to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Collaboration: Collaborate cross-functionally with internal stakeholders, including procurement, sales, operations, and customer service teams, to align transportation strategies with overall business objectives. Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree in logistics, supply chain management, or a related field (advanced degree preferred). Proven experience (2+ years) in transportation, logistics, or supply chain management, with a focus on backhaul and freight operations. -Skills & Abilities:
  • Strong knowledge of transportation industry regulations, compliance standards, and best practices. Including but not limited DOT Compliance and IFTA.
  • Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team.
  • Analytical mindset with the ability to use data-driven insights to make informed decisions and drive process improvements.
  • Strong negotiation and vendor management skills to establish and maintain effective relationships with carriers and logistics partners.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.
  • Proficiency in using transportation management systems (TMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and other relevant logistics technologies.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Flexibility to travel occasionally for vendor visits, industry conferences, or other business-related purposes. Language Skills
    • Fluent Verbal Communication : The ability to articulate ideas, provide clear instructions, and communicate effectively with team members, vendors, and stakeholders is crucial. This includes being able to convey complex logistics concepts in a concise and understandable manner.
    • Written Communication: Strong written communication skills are important for composing professional emails, reports, and other written correspondence. Directors need to be able to convey information accurately and effectively, whether it's drafting transportation agreements, performance reports, or memos. Mathematical Skills
      • Rate Calculations : Directors need to assess and negotiate transportation rates with carriers and logistics providers. Understanding rate structures, calculating costs per mile, and analyzing rate proposals can be important in making informed decisions and ensuring competitive pricing.
      • Data Analysis: Directors of Backhaul & Freight often work with large amounts of data, including transportation costs, performance metrics, and inventory levels. Strong data analysis skills, including proficiency in Excel or other analytical tools, can help in identifying trends, patterns, and areas for improvement.
      • Financial Analysis : Understanding financial metrics and performing cost-benefit analyses are important for assessing the financial impact of transportation decisions. This includes calculating total costs, analyzing cost structures, evaluating return on investment (ROI), and conducting financial feasibility studies. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Must have a valid driver's license with an appropriate motor vehicle record. Computer Skills
        • Transportation Management Systems (TMS ): Proficiency in using TMS software is crucial for managing transportation operations efficiently. Directors should be familiar with different TMS platforms, their features, and how to leverage them to streamline processes, track shipments, manage carriers, and generate reports.
        • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems : Familiarity with ERP systems/software to integrate various functions, including logistics and supply chain management.
        • Geographic Information System (GIS) Software: GIS software, such as ArcGIS or Google Earth, can be useful for visualizing and analyzing transportation routes, optimizing logistics networks, and identifying areas for improvement based on geographical data.

Keywords: Associated Grocers, Inc., Baton Rouge , Director of Backhaul & Freight, Professions , Baton Rouge, Louisiana