Director of Transportation and Distribution

Jostens • Minneapolis, MN

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Transportation and Distribution develops and executes enterprise transportation and distribution strategy across a complex, highly seasonal network. The role leads domestic and international freight strategy, carrier and third-party logistics provider management, network optimization, freight visibility, and improvements to the distribution operating model. The leader balances cost-to-serve, service reliability, working capital, compliance, and execution risk while establishing accountability for transportation performance and sustainable margin improvement.

This is a hybrid position based at Jostens’ Minneapolis headquarters. The selected candidate is required to work onsite Tuesday through Thursday, travel approximately 25% of the time, and may need to travel internationally. The role has one direct report.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Transportation, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in transportation, logistics, distribution, and supply chain leadership.
• Strong working knowledge of parcel, LTL, truckload, intermodal, ocean, air, cross-border, and final-mile transportation.
• Proven experience developing transportation and distribution strategies, managing carrier and 3PL networks, and leading complex RFPs and commercial negotiations.
• Demonstrated ability to build cost-to-serve models, freight budgets and forecasts, and mode/lane/site-level performance views.
• Experience implementing transportation cost-reduction and service-improvement initiatives with measurable financial impact.
• Knowledge of carrier contracts, fuel and accessorial structures, routing guides, SLAs, claims, and contingency planning.
• Ability to lead cross-functional network design and implementation work across Operations, Finance, SIOP, Sourcing, IT, Sales, and Customer Service.
• Strong analytical and executive communication skills, with the ability to convert complex network trade-offs into clear decisions and action plans.
• Experience operating in seasonal, demand-volatile, made-to-order, or custom-product environments.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or MBA.
• Experience with transportation management systems, ERP platforms, carrier data, freight audit and payment data, and business-intelligence tools.
• Experience with distribution network modeling, 3PL implementation, warehouse operating models, and build-buy-partner evaluations.
• Familiarity with customs, Incoterms, free-trade zones, USMCA, CTPAT, and other global trade requirements.
• Lean, Six Sigma, APICS/ASCM, or transportation/logistics certification.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement multi-year strategies and operating policies for inbound, outbound, intercompany, parcel, LTL, truckload, ocean, air, and cross-border transportation.
• Translate business growth, SIOP, sourcing, and customer-service requirements into an executable network roadmap.
• Lead lane-level routing, mode selection, shipment consolidation, zone-skipping/pool-point, inventory-positioning, and distribution-node analyses.
• Evaluate build, buy, or partner options and turn recommendations into implementation plans with clear cost, service, capital, and risk trade-offs.
• Evaluate and implement network redesign opportunities, including 3PL strategy, distribution footprint optimization, nearshore network development, cross-border flows, and automation initiatives.
• Develop the long-term transportation and distribution roadmap supporting growth, service, working capital, and margin objectives.
• Own freight budgeting, forecasting, monthly variance bridges, and savings delivery.
• Establish total-cost and cost-to-serve views by mode, lane, site, product, customer, and shipment type.
• Control fuel, accessorial, residential, expedite, and other surcharge exposure; validate savings with Finance and ensure they are reflected in operating results.
• Establish a standardized KPI and governance framework for cost, on-time pickup and delivery, transit time, tender acceptance, claims, damage, expedites, carrier compliance, and forecast accuracy.
• Improve transportation data integrity and use analytics to identify root causes and prioritize action.
• Partner with Global Trade Compliance, Sourcing, Planning, Operations, Finance, Sales, Product, Customer Service, and IT to manage cross-border flows, vendor routing requirements, business continuity, peak execution, and transportation-related regulatory obligations.
• Lead scenario planning and issue resolution for capacity, service disruption, tariffs, and network transitions.

Benefits

• Competitive healthcare coverage, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Voluntary benefits, including home and car insurance, pet insurance, and a flexible spending account.
• 401(k) plan with immediate vesting.
• Hybrid work options.
• Accrued paid time off and company-paid holidays.
• For Washington residents: 13 vacation days, 8 paid sick leave days, 8 company-paid holidays, and family paid leave.
• Tuition reimbursement after 6 months of service.
• Annual bonus eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director