Director, Transportation Operations

Smithfield Foods • Suffolk, VA

2d

About The Position

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. As the Director, Transportation Operations , you will provide strategic leadership and direction for Smithfield’s Transportation Department, ensuring efficient, cost-effective, and reliable product movement across the supply chain. You will drive operational excellence by optimizing transportation performance, fostering carrier relationships, and leading initiatives that ensure on-time delivery and cost control. You will also attract, develop, and retain top talent while cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and service excellence that supports Smithfield’s growth and customer satisfaction goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 10+ years of relevant experience in Transportation, Logistics, or Customer Service; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development required.
• Strong critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex, unstructured challenges.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly express ideas and influence across all levels of the organization.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Transportation Management Systems (TMS) with the ability to leverage tools for data-driven decision making.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve business objectives.
• High level of planning, adaptability, and teamwork to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Respectful, approachable, and team-oriented with a commitment to fostering strong working relationships and a positive, performance-driven culture.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with temperature controlled and/or the perishable foods industry.
• Experience with SAP or other TMS systems.
• Ability to create value stream maps with a focus on improvement opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Implement strategic and tactical measures to improve cost efficiency, service performance, and overall transportation effectiveness across the organization.
• Manage transportation movements to meet required service levels, cost objectives, and customer expectations while ensuring optimal network utilization.
• Identify and lead cost savings projects focused on reducing transportation expenses and total supply chain costs through process improvement and vendor optimization.
• Develop and educate the Transportation Department on emerging technologies and tools to create a competitive advantage in transportation performance and customer service.
• Develop, implement, and track key delivery metrics to measure performance, communicate value, and drive accountability within the Transportation Department.
• Provide thought leadership focused on continuous improvement, leveraging root cause analysis and countermeasure implementation to enhance performance.
• Work collaboratively with Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and other departments to drive continuous improvement initiatives and achieve shared business objectives.
• Prepare and manage transportation budgets, ensuring cost-effective operations, proper resource allocation, and alignment with financial goals.
• Utilize transportation management systems (TMS) and data analytics to monitor performance, identify trends, and implement improvement strategies.
• Present results, key initiatives, and strategic recommendations to Smithfield leadership and key stakeholders to support business decision-making.
• Drives a positive employee experience through leadership by way of employee development and coaching.

What This Job Offers

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