Carrier Sourcing Specialist

Ashley Furniture Industries

4d•Onsite

About The Position

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world’s largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we’re more than a business — we’re a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry. If you’re ready to grow, you’ve come to the right place. With a true “Growth Mindset,” Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business. ASHLEY FURNITURE IS SEEKING A CARRIER SOURCING SPECIALIST TO JOIN OUR BROKERAGE DEPARTMENT AND PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN EXPANDING OUR CARRIER CAPACITY, OPTIMIZING COSTS, AND MAXIMIZING LONG-TERM PROFITABILITY. IF YOU THRIVE IN A FAST-PACED TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENT AND EXCEL AT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT DRIVE RESULTS, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. AS A CARRIER SOURCING SPECIALIST, YOU'LL BE THE VITAL LINK BETWEEN ASHLEY FURNITURE AND OUR CARRIER PARTNERS. YOU'LL MANAGE THE EXECUTION OF SHIPMENTS THROUGH STRATEGIC CARRIER RELATIONSHIPS, NEGOTIATE COMPETITIVE PRICING AGREEMENTS, AND CAPITALIZE ON MARKET OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE COST-EFFECTIVE, RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT MEET OUR CUSTOMERS' EXPECTATIONS. THIS ROLE REQUIRES A SHARP BUSINESS MIND, STRONG NEGOTIATION SKILLS, AND THE ABILITY TO FORECAST AND ADAPT TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS. YOU'LL WORK INDEPENDENTLY WITH CONSIDERABLE AUTONOMY WHILE APPLYING PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT TO SOLVE COMPLEX LOGISTICS CHALLENGES AND RECOMMEND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS.

Requirements

BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS, MARKETING, LOGISTICS, SUPPLY CHAIN, OR RELATED FIELD; OR EQUIVALENT WORK EXPERIENCE
5+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TRUCKING/TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, SPECIFICALLY IN SALES AND OPERATIONS ROLES
PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF CARRIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT AND FREIGHT NEGOTIATION
EXPERIENCE MANAGING CARRIER NETWORKS AND EXECUTING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF MULTIPLE FACETS OF TRANSPORTATION (TRUCKLOAD, LTL, INTERMODAL, ETC.)
KNOWLEDGE OF FREIGHT MARKET DYNAMICS, CAPACITY TRENDS, AND SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS
FAMILIARITY WITH TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND LOGISTICS TECHNOLOGY
UNDERSTANDING OF DOT REGULATIONS AND CARRIER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
ABILITY TO LEARN AND PERFORM CONSULTATIVE SALES ACTIVITIES
STRONG NEGOTIATION SKILLS WITH ABILITY TO SECURE WIN-WIN AGREEMENTS
ANALYTICAL AND PROBLEM-SOLVING CAPABILITIES TO ADDRESS COMPLEX LOGISTICS CHALLENGES
WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT METHODOLOGIES
EXCELLENT WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE AND PRESENTATIONS
OUTSTANDING INTERPERSONAL SKILLS TO BUILD RAPPORT AT ALL ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS
ABILITY TO DISPLAY EMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING, AND PATIENCE WITH CARRIERS AND INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
TACT AND DIPLOMATIC SKILLS TO NAVIGATE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND RESOLVE CONFLICTS
SENSITIVITY TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES AND COMMUNICATION STYLES
SUPERIOR TIME MANAGEMENT ABILITY TO JUGGLE MULTIPLE PRIORITIES
STRONG ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN CONTRACTS, PRICING, AND EXECUTION
ABILITY TO HANDLE MULTIPLE PROJECTS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHIN ESTABLISHED DEADLINES
EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS TO MANAGE LARGE CARRIER NETWORKS
ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY WITH MINIMAL SUPERVISION WHILE ALSO COLLABORATING IN TEAM ENVIRONMENTS
CAPACITY TO PERFORM UNDER PRESSURE IN A FAST-PACED, DEMANDING ENVIRONMENT
MAINTAINS STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY REGARDING PRICING, STRATEGIES, AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
RESPONDS PROFESSIONALLY IN SITUATIONS WITH DIFFICULT CARRIER, VENDOR, OR CUSTOMER ISSUES
HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS WITH UNWAVERING INTEGRITY AND TRUSTWORTHINESS
PROFICIENT COMPUTER SKILLS, INCLUDING ADVANCED EXPERIENCE WITH MICROSOFT OFFICE SUITE (EXCEL, WORD, POWERPOINT, OUTLOOK)
COMFORTABLE WITH INTERNET RESEARCH AND ONLINE FREIGHT PLATFORMS/MARKETPLACES
ABILITY TO LEARN AND UTILIZE TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (TMS) AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY
LIMITED DOMESTIC TRAVEL TO VISIT CARRIER PARTNERS, ATTEND INDUSTRY EVENTS, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS (<10%)
FLEXIBLE AND WILLING TO WORK EXTENDED HOURS WHEN NECESSARY TO MEET BUSINESS DEMANDS
STANDARD BUSINESS HOURS WITH OCCASIONAL EARLY MORNING OR EVENING CALLS TO ACCOMMODATE CARRIER SCHEDULES
AVAILABILITY DURING PEAK SHIPPING SEASONS FOR EXTENDED SUPPORT

Nice To Haves

EXPERIENCE WITH DATA ANALYSIS TOOLS PREFERRED

Responsibilities

BUILD & MANAGE CARRIER RELATIONSHIPS
CONDUCT DAILY SOLICITATION OF NEW AND EXISTING CARRIER BASE TO EXPAND CAPACITY AND OPTIMIZE PERFORMANCE
ESTABLISH AND EXECUTE COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR ON-BOARDING NEW CARRIER PARTNERS
BUILD AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AT MULTIPLE LEVELS WITHIN CARRIER ORGANIZATIONS, FROM OPERATIONS TO EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACCOUNT PENETRATION AND DEVELOP/IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS
SERVE AS PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FOR CARRIER PARTNERS, MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH TACT, TIMING, AND TRUST
NEGOTIATE & OPTIMIZE PRICING
NEGOTIATE PRICING AGREEMENTS WITH CARRIERS TO SECURE COMPETITIVE RATES WHILE MAINTAINING SERVICE QUALITY
PROVIDE STRATEGIC PRICING GUIDANCE FOR NEW CUSTOMER LANES BASED ON MARKET ANALYSIS
MONITOR AND ANALYZE COST TRENDS TO IDENTIFY SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES AND MAXIMIZE COMPANY PROFITABILITY
BALANCE COST MANAGEMENT WITH SERVICE LEVEL REQUIREMENTS TO MEET CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS
MANAGE MARKET INTELLIGENCE & STRATEGY
MAINTAIN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF TRANSPORTATION MARKET TRENDS, SEASONALITY, AND ECONOMIC FACTORS
FORECAST AND CAPITALIZE ON CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS TO OPTIMIZE CARRIER SOURCING STRATEGY
APPLY TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS APPROACHES IN INNOVATIVE WAYS TO STAY AHEAD OF MARKET SHIFTS
ANALYZE DATA TO MAKE INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS ON CARRIER SELECTION AND PRICING STRATEGIES
EXECUTE SHIPMENT MANAGEMENT
MANAGE THE EXECUTION OF SHIPMENTS THROUGH CARRIER RELATIONSHIPS TO ENSURE ON-TIME, DAMAGE-FREE DELIVERY
COORDINATE WITH INTERNAL TEAMS TO MATCH SHIPMENT REQUIREMENTS WITH APPROPRIATE CARRIER CAPABILITIES
PROBLEM-SOLVE COMPLEX LOGISTICS CHALLENGES AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS THAT MAINTAIN SERVICE STANDARDS
MONITOR CARRIER PERFORMANCE AND HOLD PARTNERS ACCOUNTABLE TO CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS
DRIVE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
IDENTIFY INEFFICIENCIES IN CARRIER SOURCING PROCESSES AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS
LEVERAGE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT METHODOLOGIES TO ENHANCE DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCE
SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND TRAINING INSIGHTS WITH TEAM MEMBERS
PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS, TRAINING SESSIONS, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
DEMONSTRATE THE COMPANY'S CORE AND GROWTH VALUES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL JOB FUNCTIONS