Logistics Team Lead
About The Position
The Logistics Team Lead is responsible for the daily shipping, receiving, yard, and rail operations at AAK's Port Newark site. This position ensures safe, efficient, and reliable material movement while aligning resources with production and planning priorities. The role serves as the primary link between site operations, logistics providers, and internal supply chain teams, while also developing and mentoring the logistics workforce to build a skilled, engaged, and accountable team that consistently delivers on safety, service, and cost objectives. The ideal candidate is a hands-on, people-centered leader who drives performance through coaching, process discipline, and data-based decision making, fostering a culture of teamwork, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related technical field.
- Demonstrated understanding of logistics, warehousing, distribution, or site operations within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Proficiency with ERP and WMS systems, strong Excel capability, and comfort using data to drive decisions and improve processes.
- Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop team members through coaching, communication, and day-to-day support.
- Strong organization and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across operations, planning, and supply chain functions.
- Commitment to safety, compliance, and continuous improvement, with an active, hands-on approach to daily operations.
Nice To Haves
- Working knowledge of rail operations, yard management, and carrier coordination preferred.
Responsibilities
- Leads all site logistics activities, including shipping, receiving, rail, and yard management, to support daily production and customer fulfillment schedules.
- Develops, coaches, and empowers the logistics team to strengthen capability, engagement, and accountability, ensuring consistent performance across all shifts.
- Monitors service performance (on-time, in-full, and delivery accuracy), identifies root causes, and drives corrective actions with internal and external partners.
- Coordinates inbound offloads and outbound shipments in the ERP/WMS system, ensuring alignment with production and planning teams.
- Validates carrier arrivals, pickup times, and loading accuracy through site systems and daily communication with dispatch partners.
- Supervises and develops warehouse, yard, and rail personnel-responsible for training, cross-training, scheduling, and performance management while reinforcing SOP discipline and safety standards.
- Provides daily rail and yard status updates, manages railcar throughput, and partners with rail providers to ensure asset availability and turnaround efficiency.
- Oversees yard storage for containers, trailers, and ISO tanks, maintaining FIFO rotation and accurate physical inventory.
- Coordinates temperature-sensitive and specialized product movements to ensure safe handling and timely offloads.
- Maintains inventory accuracy through established KANBAN and MRP processes, completing regular counts and ensuring timely purchase order placement.
- Leads and participates in daily huddles and cross-functional planning meetings to align logistics priorities with production and customer needs.
- Drives a culture of safety, 5S, and continuous improvement, using Lean and root cause analysis tools to improve efficiency, quality, and service performance.
Benefits
- Career paths, training and development, e-learning and tuition reimbursement programs offer potential for you to progress your future career
- Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental and vision) starting date of hire
- Health Savings Account with AAK annual contribution of $1,000-$1,500
- We match 100% of the first 3% you contribute to your 401(k), and 50% of the next 3%
- Free Life and Disability insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Supplemental Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection and Legal Insurance Plans
- Discounts on travel, amusement parks, concerts, movies, and more
- Celebrations, events, and activities on site and supporting our communities
- Recognition incentives for service and peer to peer recognition
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Industry
Food Manufacturing
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
