Director of North American Logistics

SKF•Whitpain Township, PA

6d•$169,000 - $190,000•Remote

About The Position

The Director of North American Logistics provides governance and strategic leadership for all logistics operations across the United States and Canada. This senior leadership role is accountable for designing, optimizing, and executing an integrated logistics strategy encompassing warehouse operations, transportation, international trade, customs compliance, and third-party logistics partnerships. The position serves as a key member of the Americas and Pacific Logistics & Demand Chain leadership team and is responsible for ensuring safe, scalable, and cost-effective logistics operations while enabling business growth, customer satisfaction, and operational resilience. The Director leads long-term network strategy, capital and operational investment planning, tariff and duty optimization initiatives, organizational capability development, and continuous improvement of logistics processes and technologies. This role requires a visionary leader capable of balancing operational execution with strategic planning while building a high-performing organization prepared for future growth and market changes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Engineering, International Trade, or related field required.
15+ years of progressive logistics and supply chain leadership experience.
8+ years leading multi-site, multi-country logistics operations.
Experience within industrial manufacturing, engineered products, automotive, aerospace, heavy equipment, or comparable industries.
Demonstrated success leading warehouse operations, transportation networks, and international trade organizations.
Proven leadership of large-scale transformation and change management initiatives.
Experience managing complex 3PL, customs broker, and transportation provider relationships.

Nice To Haves

MBA, Certification, or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Establish governance processes and performance management disciplines to achieve strategic objectives.
Develop and execute the North American logistics strategy aligned with enterprise growth objectives and supply chain priorities.
Establish a multi-year roadmap for logistics network optimization, warehouse footprint strategy, transportation design, and customs compliance.
Lead long-range planning for capacity, infrastructure, capital and operational expenditure, and scalability.
Serve as the executive sponsor for logistics transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
Evaluate emerging technologies, automation solutions, AI applications, transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS), and digital logistics capabilities.
Ensure compliance with all safety, regulatory, environmental, and operational standards.
Provide executive oversight for all warehouses, fulfillment operations, and value-added services across North America.
Lead network optimization efforts focused on inventory flow, service levels, space utilization, productivity, and cost efficiency.
Champion continuous improvement methodologies across warehouse operations.
Establish performance metrics focused on productivity, quality, inventory accuracy, and customer service excellence.
Develop transportation risk management and business continuity plans.
Drive transportation cost reduction, freight optimization, route efficiency, and modal conversion opportunities.
Direct inbound, outbound, intercompany, parcel, LTL, FTL, rail, air, and ocean transportation strategies.
Design transportation networks that balance customer service, cost, resilience, and sustainability objectives.
Monitor logistics market trends and develop strategies to mitigate disruptions and capacity risks.
Establish governance frameworks for import/export controls, country-of-origin compliance, classification, valuation, and documentation processes.
Provide senior leadership for customs compliance, international trade operations, and regulatory governance.
Ensure compliance with U.S., Canadian, Mexican, and applicable international trade regulations.
Lead tariff mitigation strategies and duty recovery initiatives.
Develop and oversee Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ), bonded warehouses, drawbacks, free trade agreements, and duty optimization programs.
Assess geopolitical, regulatory, and trade risks and develop mitigation strategies.
Serve as the senior logistics representative during audits, regulatory reviews, and government interactions.
Develop enterprise-wide strategies to minimize tariff, duty, and trade-related financial exposure.
Identify opportunities through: Free Trade Agreements (FTA/USMCA), Foreign Trade Zone programs, Duty Drawback, First Sale programs, Valuation optimization, Supply chain redesign initiatives.
Partner with Finance and Tax teams to quantify and track savings opportunities.
Monitor emerging trade policies and proactively assess business impacts.
Lead cross-functional initiatives to reduce landed costs and improve global sourcing flexibility.
Develop strategic relationships with logistics service providers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, and transportation partners.
Establish supplier performance management frameworks and scorecards.
Lead contract negotiations and commercial governance activities.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives with external partners.
Ensure contingency planning and supplier diversification strategies are in place for critical logistics services.
Promote collaborative partnerships focused on innovation, service excellence, and cost competitiveness.
Own logistics operating budgets and support capital planning processes.
Build and execute multi-year cost reduction and productivity improvement plans.
Develop business cases for logistics investments, automation, and network redesign initiatives.
Drive improvements in: Cost-to-serve, Logistics cost as a percentage of sales, Inventory velocity, Transportation spend, Warehouse productivity, Working capital performance.
Establish KPI-driven operating reviews to ensure execution against objectives.
Build and develop a best-in-class North American logistics organization.
Lead directors, managers, supervisors, and functional experts across logistics disciplines.
Create robust talent management and succession planning processes.
Develop future leaders through mentoring, coaching, stretch assignments, and leadership development programs.
Drive employee engagement, accountability, and a culture of ownership.
Establish organizational capability plans aligned with future business requirements.
Ensure workforce planning supports anticipated business growth and transformation initiatives.

Benefits

Generous PTO policy
13 paid holidays
Comprehensive healthcare options
Opt out payment
Company paid life insurance
STD
LTD
Supplemental benefits include critical illness coverage
Tuition reimbursement
Employee discount programs
Short Term Variable Salary (STVS) or Sales Incentive based on company performance
401K program with 10% employer contribution: 100% match up to 5% of your elected contribution (100% Vested) plus an additional 5% company contribution.