Director Of Transportation And Business Development

Classification: Salary, Exempt, Full Time

Department-Location: Transportation - NJ Corporate Office Preferred or DE

Direct Supervisor: Vice President/COO

Job Summary: The Director of Transportation plays a pivotal role in overseeing the strategic planning, optimization, coordination, and management of all transportation operations across the company. The primary responsibility of this position is to build and sustain a leadership and culture that delivers business results efficiently and cost-effectively while delivering excellent stakeholder service. This position is responsible for creating a high-performance work environment to accomplish the goals/objectives/operational metrics. Demonstrating and fostering a team focused on leadership, coaching, development, communication, labor management, process improvement, and strategic planning are all critical in this role.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversee the scheduling, assignments, and daily workflow of subordinate staff in the department.
• Recruit, interview, hire, and train new staff.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and support to transportation staff.
• Handles the set of SMART goals.
• Handles discipline of employees in accordance with company policies.
• Collaborate with other departments and outside stakeholders to foster cross-functional teamwork that develops and deploys a vision to create a transportation service organization.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and implement best practices to enhance transportation efficiency.
• Develop and implement logistics strategies to optimize transportation efficiency that includes both core business support and allowing for the spawning of a transportation “for hire” entity.
• Ensures compliance with transportation regulations, especially those related to the transportation of hazardous materials.
• Oversee the development and implementation of safety protocols and training programs in collaboration with the Transportation Safety Manager.
• Manage and optimize the company’s fleet of vehicles, ensuring they are well-maintained and comply with safety standards through collaboration with the Fleet Manager and team.
• Develop and manage transportation budgets to control costs while meeting delivery timelines and support third-party logistics (3PL) opportunities.
• Lead and manage a team of Transportation professionals, including transportation driver managers and dispatchers, that collaborate with Customer Service, Sales, and Plants.
• Develop and implement strategic plans to optimize the transportation department's efficiency and effectiveness in collaboration with Analytics and drive towards a comprehensive data discipline.
• Identify potential risks in transportation operations and implement strategies to mitigate them.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure seamless coordination between transportation, maintenance, customer service, and analytics/contracts functions.
• Work closely with the Data Analytics/Contracts Manager to analyze transportation data, identify trends, and optimize routes and contracts.
• Monitor industry trends, regulations, and best practices to enhance the overall effectiveness of the transportation department. Stay updated on advancements in transportation technology.
• Collaborate with the Fleet Maintenance Supervisor to ensure the timely maintenance and availability of vehicles for optimal deployment and retiring of assets.
• Provide regular reports and updates to senior management on key transportation metrics and initiatives.
• Oversee implementing and updating department procedures, processes, and policy changes.
• Participate in union contract negotiations and address grievances in collaboration with driver management teams.