Director, Logistics

Dole Packaged Foods•Thousand Oaks, CA

4d•$185,000 - $225,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Logistics is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership across Dole's North American logistics network, including import logistics, domestic transportation, carrier management, 4PL partnerships, customer service execution, and logistics network optimization. This role owns logistics-related financial performance, operational execution, service delivery, and continuous improvement initiatives that support Dole's growth objectives and customer commitments. The Director serves as a key supply chain leader, partnering cross-functionally with Finance, Customer Operations, Procurement, Manufacturing, Warehousing, Sales, IT, and executive leadership to drive transportation performance, productivity improvements, cost optimization, and operational excellence. This position requires strong strategic awareness, executive presence, and the ability to lead complex transportation initiatives, network changes, operational implementations, and transformational business improvement efforts. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in import logistics, transportation operations, carrier management, freight procurement, logistics analytics, and supply chain best practices, coupled with strong financial acumen, P&L ownership, and a data-driven approach to decision making. This leader will negotiate and manage strategic logistics partnerships, hold carriers and service providers accountable for service, cost, and contractual performance, and drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and execution excellence throughout the logistics network.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive leadership experience in logistics, transportation, import operations, supply chain, or related disciplines, including responsibility for complex transportation networks and third-party service providers.
Proven experience managing import logistics operations, domestic transportation networks, carrier relationships, and logistics service providers.
Demonstrated success leading transportation transformations, operational implementations, network optimization efforts, and continuous improvement programs that deliver measurable service, productivity, and cost improvements.
Strong understanding of import logistics, drayage operations, domestic transportation, carrier management, freight procurement, transportation compliance, and logistics best practices.
Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasts, transportation spend, accruals, claims, cost reduction programs, and transportation-related P&L performance.
Demonstrated ability to develop and manage KPI frameworks, performance scorecards, analytics, and reporting processes that drive accountability and business results.
Proven experience negotiating transportation contracts, managing strategic supplier relationships, and holding carriers, logistics providers, and 4PL partners accountable for service and financial performance.
Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior leadership, communicate complex operational issues, and successfully lead cross-functional initiatives across all levels of the organization.
Demonstrated ability to balance strategic planning with disciplined execution while delivering operational, financial, and customer service objectives.
Experience leading, developing, and retaining high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment, with a commitment to talent development and organizational capability building.
Working knowledge of transportation management systems (TMS), SAP, freight audit and payment processes, transportation analytics, managed transportation services, and logistics reporting tools.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, including the ability to develop executive-level analyses, KPI dashboards, performance reporting, business cases, and presentations that support strategic decision-making.
Strong presentation and communication skills with demonstrated experience presenting operational, financial, and strategic topics to executive leadership, C-suite audiences, and large cross-functional groups.
Passionate about a purpose driven career
Cultivates respectful and inclusive environments that support employee growth across teams
Drives strategic initiatives and maintains excellence in complex and dynamic settings
Establishes transparent decision-making and accountability frameworks
Encourages organizational teamwork effectively to achieve shared objectives

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred.
APICS, ASCM, CSCMP, Lean, or Six Sigma certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Dole's import logistics operations, ensuring the efficient flow of goods from port arrival through final delivery into the distribution network.
Serve as the primary liaison between drayage providers, ocean carriers, customs brokers, warehouses, and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless product movement and inventory availability.
Ensure timely container retrieval, return activities, demurrage and detention mitigation, and overall port-to-warehouse execution.
Monitor and improve logistics performance through operational reporting, KPI management, exception management, and service recovery processes.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance visibility, reduce costs, improve transit performance, and strengthen operational execution.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Dole's domestic transportation operations, ensuring customer service requirements are achieved while optimizing transportation cost and network performance.
Lead transportation strategy, carrier sourcing, capacity planning, routing optimization, and performance management initiatives across the domestic freight network.
Establish operating standards and governance processes that ensure consistent execution, service reliability, and transportation network efficiency.
Develop, monitor, and drive accountability for key transportation KPIs, including Primary Tender Acceptance (PTA), On-Time Pickup (OTP), On-Time Delivery (OTD), routing guide compliance, transportation cost, and overall carrier performance metrics.
Lead regular carrier business reviews, routing guide governance processes, and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) to evaluate performance, identify service improvement opportunities, address performance gaps, and ensure alignment with Dole's customer service expectations and business objectives.
Manage carrier relationships and network capacity to ensure carriers consistently meet Dole's service, cost, compliance, and operational performance requirements.
Partner closely with Customer Operations, Sales, Warehousing, Planning, and Supply Chain teams to deliver customer service objectives while maintaining cost discipline.
Establish strong governance processes with carriers, drayage providers, freight brokers, and logistics service providers, holding partners accountable for service, safety, financial, and contractual performance.
Lead carrier performance reviews, corrective action plans, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure service expectations and contractual obligations are achieved.
Manage strategic relationships with 4PL partners providing transportation management systems (TMS), managed transportation services, analytics, and operational support.
Drive resolution of transportation, capacity, service, and customer-related issues while implementing sustainable corrective actions and long-term performance improvements.
Lead carrier procurement, transportation contract negotiations, pricing discussions, statements of work, and commercial reviews with carriers, logistics providers, and managed service partners.
Identify opportunities to improve service levels, reduce costs, mitigate risk, and strengthen overall transportation network performance.
Support transportation RFPs, strategic sourcing initiatives, network studies, and carrier selection processes.
Own logistics and transportation financial performance, including budget management, forecasting, accrual accuracy, cost optimization initiatives, and operational expense control.
Provide disciplined P&L management and ensure operational decisions align with financial objectives.
Utilize KPI reporting, transportation analytics, and financial analysis to improve service, productivity, and business results.
Ensure accurate transportation invoicing, carrier settlements, claims management, financial controls, and compliance with company policies.
Champion a culture of continuous improvement through the application of transportation best practices, operational discipline, data-driven decision making, and process optimization.
Lead initiatives that improve service performance, network efficiency, cost management, transportation visibility, and customer satisfaction.
Drive standardization of transportation processes, reporting, and performance management across the logistics organization.
Ensure logistics operations consistently support customer service expectations through disciplined execution, proactive communication, and reliable service delivery.
Build, coach, and develop a high-performing logistics organization capable of supporting current operations and future business growth.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, ownership, and continuous learning.
Develop future leaders while building organizational capabilities that support long-term supply chain objectives.
Lead special projects, business initiatives, and cross-functional efforts in support of organizational priorities and strategic objectives.
Provide logistics leadership and expertise for evolving business needs, transportation transformations, network optimization initiatives, and continuous improvement opportunities.
Perform other duties, responsibilities, and business-critical assignments as needed to support evolving organizational priorities.
Other duties as assigned.