Senior Manager, Transportation (Ambient Logistics)

Kinder's•Walnut Creek, CA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Kinder’s is seeking an experienced Senior Manager to own transportation strategy, the 4PL partnership, and the carrier base for its shelf-stable Dry and Liquid businesses. The role is accountable for how freight moves from more than a dozen co-manufacturers and internal plants, through warehouses, to retail and club customers nationwide. It is a strategic role: the 4PL partner manages day-to-day loads, while the Senior Manager determines how the partner operates, governs its performance, and continually redesigns the transportation network as the business grows. The position owns the ambient 4PL relationship, routing guide, carrier strategy, and inbound consolidation partners. It works closely with Sales, Supply Planning, Finance, Operations, Logistics Operations, and Logistics Analytics, and reports to the Senior Director, Transportation & Logistics Strategy. The role also supports new channels and partners, safeguards customer service and retailer compliance, and develops contingency plans for transportation risks and disruptions. The position is based at Kinder’s Walnut Creek, California office. The company has a hybrid structure requiring four office days per week, with Fridays flexible for office or home working. Travel to partner, carrier, co-manufacturer, and warehouse locations is approximately 20%. The expected starting base salary range is $160,000–$180,000 per year.

Requirements

At least 8 years of transportation or logistics experience, including at least 3 years in a strategic or leadership role in food, beverage, or consumer goods.
Proven experience owning a 3PL, 4PL, or managed transportation relationship, including contracts, service levels, and performance governance.
Deep knowledge of dry van truckload and LTL markets, carrier procurement, and freight bid management.
Track record of designing or improving transportation networks that scaled with fast growth.
Experience meeting routing and compliance requirements of large retail and club customers such as Walmart, Costco, and Kroger.
Strong commercial and financial acumen, including negotiating, building cost models, and making trade-offs with incomplete information.
Data-driven approach and hands-on experience with TMS and BI tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
Working knowledge of AI tools and how to apply them to transportation decisions, analysis, and partner management.
Excellent communication and influence skills with executives, partners, and cross-functional teams.
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience is considered.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with SAP.
Experience using Tableau or Power BI.
Working knowledge of generative AI assistants, machine-learning forecasting, and AI-enabled TMS and visibility platforms.

Responsibilities

Develop and own a multi-year transportation strategy for the Dry and Liquid businesses, aligned with company growth plans.
Design the end-to-end ambient network, including inbound freight from co-manufacturers and plants, consolidation, warehouse replenishment, and outbound customer deliveries.
Develop mode strategy across truckload, LTL, consolidation, and intermodal where appropriate, and determine which lanes Kinder’s contracts directly or through partners.
Translate commercial plans, promotions, and seasonal peaks into transportation capacity plans.
Own the ambient 4PL relationship, including scope of work, service-level agreements, governance cadence, and quarterly business reviews.
Set expectations for 4PL execution of tendering, appointment scheduling, tracking, exception handling, carrier payment, freight audit, and claims; hold the partner accountable.
Negotiate and manage partner agreements, including service levels, service credits, rate and cost transparency, data access, and audit rights.
Direct the 4PL to follow Kinder’s routing guide and use Kinder’s contracted carriers; drive continuous improvement.
Manage consolidation and 3PL partners supporting inbound ambient freight and ensure they operate effectively with the 4PL.
Own the ambient carrier portfolio, including carrier selection, contracting, onboarding, and performance management.
Lead ambient freight bids with the procurement partner, including defining lanes and requirements, evaluating bids, awarding business, and building the routing guide.
Build strategic relationships with core carriers and manage accessorial, detention, and fuel programs.
Work with Logistics Analytics to define and review scorecards, cost-to-serve, and network performance, and act on findings.
Own the ambient freight budget and forecast with Finance and deliver cost improvements while protecting service.
Protect customer service and retailer compliance, including on-time, in-full, appointment, and routing requirements.
Champion transportation technology, including TMS, visibility, and analytics tools, and ensure partner systems provide Kinder’s with needed data.
Apply AI and automation to transportation analysis, bid evaluation, exception management, partner reporting, and forecasting; encourage partners to do the same.
Coordinate with Supply Planning, Sales, Customer Operations, and Finance so transportation decisions support the broader business.
Provide direction and escalation support to the Logistics Operations team on ambient pre-shipment work and partner handoffs.
Support evaluation and launch of new channels and partners.
Anticipate capacity, rate, and service risks and build contingency plans with partners and carriers.
Lead responses to disruptions such as weather, capacity constraints, and partner or carrier failures, prioritizing customers and the long-term interests of the business.
Lead in accordance with Kinder’s values: Humility, Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, Curiosity, and Results.