Manager, Startup Transportation (Exol)

Symbotic•Kingman, AZ

8d•$95,000 - $131,000•Onsite

About The Position

With its A.I.-powered robotic technology platform, Symbotic is changing the way consumer goods move through the supply chain. Intelligent software orchestrates advanced robots in a high-density, end-to-end system – reinventing warehouse automation for increased efficiency, speed and flexibility. As the Transportation & Dock Startup Manager, you will lead all dock, yard, and transportation operational activities during the launch and early ramp-up phases of new automated warehouse sites. You will ensure operational readiness, stabilize dock and yard performance during the first 8 weeks of go-live, and transition the building to steady-state leadership once processes, performance, and staffing are fully certified. Exol is pioneering fulfillment as-a-service, offering outsourced warehousing operations and specializing in automated warehousing solutions. Our focus is on the efficient movement of goods in cases and pallets across all sectors, such as CPG, food and beverage, wholesale, and retail. Exol is an independently managed joint venture between Symbotic and Softbank.

Requirements

High school diploma required; Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or equivalent experience preferred.
Minimum 5 years of experience in dock, yard, or transportation operations within a warehouse or distribution center environment.
Experience managing inbound and outbound dock activities, trailer flow, yard operations, or carrier coordination.
Experience leading large hourly teams across multiple shifts in fast-paced environments.
Strong understanding of dock safety, yard traffic flow, and transportation compliance requirements.
Ability to manage labor, productivity, service levels, and safety performance.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to react quickly to delays, disruptions, or system issues.
Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and operational reporting tools.
Comfortable working in physically demanding environments, including prolonged standing, climbing stairs, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
Strong communication, teamwork, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Flexibility to travel extensively and work non-standard schedules during site launches.
Employee must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel frequently by air and ground; extended onsite presence during launch cycles is expected.
Employee must maintain a personal credit card for travel-related expenses, which will be reimbursed on a bi-weekly basis.
Work at launch sites may involve steep stairs, elevated walkways, and frequent movement through multilevel automation structures.
Regular exposure to heights and elevated railings; must be comfortable working safely in these conditions.
Subject to varying environmental conditions, with protection from weather but not necessarily temperature changes; must be capable of working in temperatures ranging from 105° to 32°F.
May be present at active construction sites requiring PPE, including hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses, steel-toe shoes, ear protection, and fall protection (e.g., safety harness).
Frequent ability to safely lift up to 50 lbs and move items weighing up to 80 lbs as needed to support launch operations.
Ability to stand and walk for 10–12 hours during site activities; frequent reaching, climbing, bending, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and navigating restrictive areas (as narrow as 24 inches).
Must be capable of consistent physical activity including feeling, seeing, hearing, pushing, pulling, gripping, climbing, crawling, and repetitive movements using both hands and feet.
Must comply with all Exol safety standards and protocols, including but not limited to Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and fall protection requirements.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to transportation systems, yard management systems (YMS), WMS, or dock-level automation preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead all preparations for dock, yard, and transportation execution, including trailer flow design, staging plans, pre-receiving workflows, shipping lanes, returns processes, and carrier readiness.
Coordinate with Engineering and Start-Up teams on SAT (Site Acceptance Testing) for dock equipment, yard systems, yard tractors, sensors, and automation supporting dock-level operations.
Ensure all dock-related 5S work, signage, safety barriers, trailer restraints, and traffic plans are completed before go-live.
Onboard and validate all transportation and dock vendors, including carriers, yard management services, and MHE providers.
Serve as the on-site leader for dock, yard, and transportation execution, directing daily operations during ramp-up.
Manage and deploy ~100 hourly associates (dock workers, yard spotters, clerks, and transportation support roles).
Oversee inbound and outbound trailer movement, live vs. drop prioritization, pre-receiving planning, dispatch readiness, returns handling, and value-added services.
Validate WMS/WES transaction accuracy for trailer check-in/out, load closures, yard map movements, and dock-door assignments.
Monitor dock cycle times, unload/load pacing, transportation service levels, and carrier compliance.
Troubleshoot operational and system issues in real time to stabilize performance.
Drive key execution metrics including trailer turn-time, on-time shipping, dock-to-stock times, yard accuracy, shrink, and cost per unit.
Partner with automation and technology teams to integrate robotics/AI tools into dock workflows and to ensure systems remain operational during launch.
Identify waste and inefficiencies, implementing Lean practices, standard work, and corrective action plans to improve throughput.
Conduct structured root-cause analyses on delays, bottlenecks, carrier issues, or yard misalignments.
Develop, coach, and mentor supervisors and leads who oversee dock and yard associates.
Ensure all personnel achieve certification in standard work, MHE, safety, and dock processes.
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and high performance at the launch site.
Coordinate closely with maintenance, robotics engineering, IT, safety, HR, customer service, and supply chain teams to ensure all transportation and dock operations support broader building needs.
Partner with carriers and transportation providers to resolve issues and align on service expectations.
Maintain dock and transportation budget discipline across labor, equipment, consumables, and yard operations.
Ensure full compliance with OSHA, DOT, environmental regulations, and company safety policies.
Prepare and present transportation and dock performance reports, KPI dashboards, and launch-readiness updates to senior leadership.