Senior Manager, Distribution and Transportation

Client: A growing, nationally distributed specialty consumer food products company

Team: Warehouse supervisor, transportation staff, and a combined warehouse/driver team of roughly 20

Scope: Company-owned private fleet of ~25+ total power units and trailers, supporting multi-state distribution

About the Opportunity

Our client is a well-established, growth-oriented consumer food products company that supplies a nationwide network of branded retail locations from a centralized distribution operation. The company is seeking a hands-on distribution leader to own the full scope of its warehouse, transportation, fleet, and inventory functions.

This is a high-visibility role for a leader who enjoys running a complete end-to-end operation: people, trucks, product, compliance, and P&L. You’ll partner with production, finance, customer service, and executive leadership to keep product moving safely, accurately, and cost-effectively across the country — including temperature-controlled (cold-chain) product.

What You'll Own

• Full leadership of daily warehouse and distribution activity — receiving, storage, order picking and packing, staging, shipping, and outbound delivery to retail locations nationwide.
• Transportation operations end to end: route design, driver scheduling, fleet utilization, multi-state delivery programs, relay/transfer-point operations, and backhaul opportunities.
• A team of roughly 20, including a warehouse supervisor and CDL drivers — hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and succession development.
• Inventory integrity through cycle counting, audits, process controls, and cold-chain handling standards.
• Departmental budget ownership — labor, fuel, maintenance, and transportation spend — with accountability for cost-per-mile, productivity, and service-level targets.
• Carrier and service-provider negotiations, fuel-cost strategies, and capital planning input for fleet and facility assets.
• Safety and regulatory compliance across DOT, FMCSA, IFTA, OSHA, and food-safety frameworks (FDA/USDA/FSMA), including driver Hours-of-Service and ELD program oversight.
• Technology-enabled operations — ELD/fleet telematics (e.g., Samsara or similar), ERP-based inventory and fulfillment reporting, and data-driven continuous improvement.
• Longer-range network planning: distribution capacity, relay-point strategy, and scalability to support continued retail growth.

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of progressive leadership in distribution, transportation, logistics, warehousing, or supply chain operations.
• Direct experience running warehouse teams, private or dedicated fleets, and inventory systems.
• Multi-state driver operations or remote/dispersed transportation team management strongly preferred.
• Working command of DOT, FMCSA, IFTA, and state-level transportation regulations.
• Hands-on experience with an ELD / fleet management platform (Samsara or comparable) required.
• ERP experience required; NetSuite familiarity is a plus.
• Food, beverage, or other temperature-sensitive product distribution experience preferred.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills with a continuous-improvement mindset (Lean or Six Sigma exposure a plus).
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience welcomed. CLTD, CSCP, or similar certifications are a plus.
• A people-first leadership style: direct, accountable, collaborative, and genuinely invested in developing a team.

Work Environment

• Regular on-site presence at the company’s Northern Michigan distribution center.
• Periodic travel to Midwest relay/transfer locations.
• Occasional evening, weekend, or after-hours availability to support drivers, weather events, and time-sensitive delivery issues.
• Mixed office, warehouse, and dock environments with varying temperatures; ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.