Director of Transportation

Gleaners Food Bank Of I•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is the state’s largest hunger relief organization and one of the leading food banks in the Feeding America Network. In addition to vital hunger relief programs in our 21-county service area, we also operate Fresh Connect Central, a regional produce cooperative for Feeding America, serve as a contract reclamation site for Kroger Central Division, and are a staging site for FEMA disaster response. The Director of Transportation provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all transportation, fleet, and logistics functions at Gleaners, including inbound and outbound transportation, third-party backhaul operations, fleet management, transportation compliance, routing optimization, transportation systems, and safety initiatives. This role ensures safe, efficient, and compliant transportation services that support Gleaners’ mission while maximizing fleet utilization, reducing transportation costs, strengthening external freight partnerships, and supporting organizational growth and scalability. All responsibilities and duties will further Gleaners’ mission to be a leader in the fight against hunger.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree and/or equivalent related experience.
Progressive transportation, logistics, fleet, or supply chain leadership experience.
Experience overseeing DOT compliance, fleet operations, routing, dispatch, transportation systems, and transportation safety programs.
Valid driver's license/Clean driving record /3 years of driving experience/Must be insurable by company vehicle insurance provider.
Knowledgeable in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook
Ability to train and lead a group of individuals
Strong organizational, interpersonal, and relationship management skills
Ability to perform basic math functions, to count accurately and maintain accurate records
Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to think creatively
Strong problem-solving skills.
Distinguish between case and pallet counts versus pallet weights as required, understand pallet numbers, inventory lots, and warehouse locations
Detail oriented
Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds
A commitment to full and visible participation as a hunger relief leader in the community
Demonstrated ability to adapt to change and work in a fast-paced environment with multifaceted demands

Nice To Haves

Experience managing transportation budgets, operational analytics, vendor relationships, and transportation contracts preferred.
Experience leading CDL driver operations and transportation workforce planning preferred
ERP (Warehouse/Inventory Management System)
Forklift certification (or ability to be certified)
Experience with manual and electronic warehouse documentation tools including barcode hardware

Responsibilities

Lead all transportation, fleet, routing, dispatch, and backhaul operations across the organization.
Develop and implement transportation strategies that improve efficiency, service, compliance, scalability, and cost management.
Identify opportunities to maximize asset utilization, reduce empty miles, expand backhaul revenue opportunities, and improve overall logistics performance.
Lead long-term transportation network planning, fleet growth strategy, and fleet replacement planning.
Evaluate and implement transportation technologies, reporting tools, and operational systems that improve decision-making and operational performance.
Establish transportation KPIs, dashboards, and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, efficiency, customer service, and financial performance.
Ensure established department and organizational goals are achieved while partnering closely with organizational leadership to support operational, financial, and strategic priorities.
Oversee transportation operations supporting agency deliveries, mobile pantries, food sourcing pickups, home deliveries, and third-party freight activity, especially supporting Fresh Connect Central activities.
Provide leadership and support to the Transportation team.
Monitor routing, scheduling, fuel usage, fleet utilization, on-time performance, labor performance, and operational metrics.
Oversee backhaul operations, broker relationships, freight contracts, carrier partnerships, and transportation vendor performance.
Support organizational emergency response and disaster relief transportation operations as needed.
Oversee preventative maintenance programs, vehicle readiness, fuel management, and fleet lifecycle planning.
Ensure compliance with DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, food safety, and all applicable transportation regulations.
Maintain oversight of transportation audits, driver qualification files, Hours of Service (HOS), fuel tax reporting, and compliance documentation.
Partner with HR, Finance, Operations, Safety, and organizational leadership on accident investigations, insurance claims management, tickets/citations, corrective actions, and transportation-related risk mitigation strategies.
Promote a proactive culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Develop and manage transportation and fleet operating budgets.
Monitor transportation expenses including fuel, maintenance, repairs, rentals, insurance, and contracted freight services.
Oversee transportation-related capital planning including fleet and equipment investments.
Analyze transportation data, trends, and KPIs to support strategic decision-making and operational improvements.
Provide transportation-related reporting and operational updates to leadership and Board committees as requested.
Lead, coach, train, and develop transportation staff through ongoing supervision, communication, performance evaluation, and professional development.
Support workforce planning, CDL driver recruitment, employee development, and operational scalability.
Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Programs, Food Sourcing, Finance, HR, Safety, Maintenance, and organizational leadership to support operational alignment, and customer success.
Maintain strong working relationships with brokers, vendors, food banks, external transportation partners, and other key stakeholders.
Serve as a transportation subject matter expert and organizational leader supporting Gleaners’ mission and operational goals.
Participate in organizational meetings, committees, and strategic initiatives as requested.