Network Optimization Manager

48forty Solutions•Houston, TX

8d•Onsite

About The Position

48forty Solutions is hiring a Network Optimization Manager to bring together supply, pricing, and freight data into a unified view of its network and turn analysis into actionable business decisions. This hands-on analytical role builds and maintains models, conducts analysis, and presents recommendations. The manager works with Supply Chain, Pricing, Linehaul Transportation, plant leadership, and other teams across the company’s three brands and operating locations in the United States and Canada. The role develops network and supply chain strategies, evaluates growth and demand scenarios, capacity, asset utilization, sourcing alternatives, and investment decisions, and leads initiatives to improve cost, service, resiliency, asset productivity, and capital efficiency. It also owns an account scoring model, develops and validates network models, and performs scenario, sensitivity, and capacity analyses. The manager leads multiple optimization initiatives, builds partnerships across operational and business functions, supports financial analyses and business cases, and communicates recommendations through executive-level presentations. The role also establishes modeling standards and governance and advances the organization’s network optimization capabilities. Work is based at the corporate office, with domestic travel to regional offices or plants of up to 25% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, industrial engineering, operations research, economics, statistics, mathematics, or a related quantitative discipline.
At least 4 years of experience in supply chain network design, operations research, pricing analytics, logistics analytics, or quantitatively focused management consulting.
Demonstrated ownership of an analytical model that changed a business decision and produced a measurable result.
Ability to travel domestically up to 25% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Proficiency with network design tools such as Supply Chain Guru (Llamasoft/Coupa), Optilogic, Lyric, AIMMS, Logiflow, or similar platforms preferred.
Experience in pallets, packaging, industrial distribution, recycling, or another commodity-driven industry preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Build, own, and maintain a network optimization model integrating used pallet supply, pricing, and freight into a regional operating view across locations in the United States and Canada.
Partner with Plant Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial leadership on mid- and long-term supply chain strategies, evaluating growth opportunities, demand scenarios, capacity requirements, asset utilization, sourcing alternatives, and network investment decisions.
Identify, prioritize, and lead network optimization initiatives to improve cost, service, resiliency, asset productivity, and capital efficiency.
Operate and maintain an account scoring model that evaluates strategic value and repricing power and sets maximum purchase prices for used pallets, including accounts that both supply used pallets and buy finished pallets.
Develop and maintain network models to evaluate strategic alternatives and quantify trade-offs across cost, service, utilization, risk, and capital requirements.
Perform scenario, sensitivity, and capacity analyses for network design, investment decisions, and long-range planning.
Validate model assumptions, inputs, and outputs to ensure analytical rigor and credibility.
Lead multiple network optimization initiatives, managing project plans, milestones, stakeholder engagement, and deliverables.
Partner with Plant Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, Finance, and Commercial teams to develop integrated network and capacity plans.
Partner with Finance on business cases and financial analyses for capital investments, asset strategies, and network transformation initiatives.
Translate complex analyses into clear, actionable recommendations and executive-level presentations.
Serve as a functional expert in network optimization methodologies, tools, and industry best practices.
Establish modeling standards, governance processes, and knowledge-sharing practices.
Enhance organizational network optimization capabilities through technology advancement, process improvement, and best-practice adoption.