Director, Final Mile Delivery Optimization (Industrial Distribution)

Opportunity Information:

Position Summary

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Director, Final Mile Delivery Optimization, to lead the development and execution of our final mile delivery strategy across a nationwide network of more than 320 branch locations. This newly created leadership role will establish standardized transportation practices, optimize routing and delivery operations, implement technology solutions, and improve overall delivery performance while partnering closely with branch operations, sales, IT, and customer experience teams.

This leader will develop the transportation strategy while enabling successful execution at the branch level through standardized processes, technology, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's final mile transportation strategy to improve efficiency, service levels, and delivery costs.
• Design and standardize routing practices, including territory planning, route optimization, dispatch processes, delivery windows, and capacity planning.
• Lead the evaluation, implementation, and ongoing optimization of transportation and route optimization technologies.
• Establish company-wide transportation operating procedures and best practices across all branch locations.
• Build performance dashboards and KPIs to monitor on-time delivery, cost per delivery, route efficiency, productivity, and customer service.
• Partner with Branch Operations to improve daily transportation execution while maintaining consistent operating standards across the network.
• Collaborate with Sales to evaluate delivery commitments, service levels, customer requirements, and operational capacity for new business opportunities.
• Partner with Customer Experience to improve delivery communication, ETA accuracy, proof of delivery, and issue resolution.
• Develop transportation reporting, forecasting, and analytics to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Create standardized driver and courier performance expectations, safety standards, and operational policies in partnership with Operations and HR.
• Support implementation of transportation initiatives through training, change management, and ongoing field engagement.
• Travel regularly to branch locations to assess operations, coach local leadership, and support implementation efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Operations Management, or related field. MBA preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive transportation, logistics, distribution, or final mile operations experience within a multi-site environment.
• Experience developing transportation strategy and implementing operational improvements across a large branch or distribution network.
• Strong expertise with route optimization software such as Roadnet, Omnitracs, Descartes, Bringg, Onfleet, or similar platforms.
• Experience leading transportation technology implementations and process standardization initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of routing optimization, dispatch operations, fleet utilization, capacity planning, and delivery performance management.
• Proven ability to analyze operational data and develop actionable performance improvements.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills with experience influencing field operations.
• Willingness to travel as needed to support branch operations across the network, about 40-50%.

Preferred Experience

• Automotive aftermarket, wholesale distribution, retail distribution, or other high-volume final mile delivery environments.
• Experience supporting decentralized operations with centralized transportation strategy.
• Background leading organizational transformation and operational excellence initiatives.

Success in This Role

Success will be measured by improvements in:

• Cost per delivery
• On-time delivery performance
• Route efficiency and miles driven
• Transportation productivity
• Branch adoption of standardized transportation processes
• Customer delivery experience
• Technology implementation and utilization
• Network-wide operational performance

Location Type: On-Site Pay Range: USD $131,000.00 - USD $175,000.00 /Yr.