Lead enterprise transportation, distribution, carrier management, and network‑optimization strategy to drive long‑term value, cost reduction, service excellence, and transformational change across inbound, in‑network transfers, and final‑mile delivery. This enterprise‑level role focuses on strategic direction, cross‑functional alignment, and enterprise planning. Accountable for Transportation Optimization and Network Optimization functions, carrier base strategy, freight audit & payment governance, TMS strategy, and multi-year capacity planning. Essential Job Functions: Strategic Responsibilities Define and own the multi-year transportation and network strategy that aligns with corporate growth, sustainability, and customer experience goals. Set the strategic agenda for carrier portfolio design, cost-to-serve optimization, and total landed cost reduction across the enterprise. Develop long-range network investment/divestment strategies using rigorous financial frameworks (NPV, IRR, scenario planning) and recommend capital allocation priorities. Establish enterprise standards, governance, and policies for carrier management, freight audit & payment, rate structures, and contract strategy. Lead strategic sourcing for freight capacity, negotiating enterprise agreements, and shaping market-facing partnerships to secure capacity and service resilience. Champion TMS and digital roadmap decisions that enable enterprise scalability, automation, visibility, and advanced optimization capability. Drive strategic analytics capability—prioritize advanced modeling, ML/AI use cases, telematics integration, and GIS insights to influence executive decision‑making. Own enterprise risk & contingency planning for transportation (capacity shocks, regulatory changes, fuel volatility, severe weather, labor disruptions). Define KPIs and executive dashboards that translate network outcomes into business value (service, cash flow, working capital, margin impact). Key Responsibilities (Operational Oversight, Strategic Governance) Provide strategic oversight (not day‑to‑day operational control) of Transportation Optimization and Network Optimization teams; prioritize enterprise initiatives, resource allocation, and capability investments. Design, deploy, and maintain network optimization models to identify investment/divestment opportunities and support long‑range distribution capacity planning. Own carrier base strategy: selection criteria, enterprise contracting strategy, performance frameworks, and capacity risk mitigation. Govern freight audit & payment policies, ensuring accuracy, controls, dispute resolution frameworks, and integration with financial systems. Lead enterprise freight sourcing (RFP/RFI) and negotiate master agreements that balance cost, service, and strategic flexibility. Drive enterprise analytics and reporting standards (SQL, Python/R, Tableau/Power BI), ensuring consistent metrics and actionable insights. Guide TMS strategy, integration approach with ERP and audit/pay systems, and prioritization of automation and optimization investments. Translate complex modeling outcomes into clear business cases and strategic recommendations for the C‑suite. Leadership & Influence Build, mentor, and influence a high-performing, cross-disciplinary team of strategists, modelers, and analysts without managing regional or site operations. Lead change management for enterprise transformations, ensuring stakeholder alignment and measurable adoption. Represent the company externally on strategic supplier relationships, industry forums, and regulatory/market discussions. Technical & Analytical Direction Oversee development and application of advanced analytics, GIS/spatial analysis, telematics, and statistical methods to inform strategy. Ensure robust data governance, integration, and model validation practices to support high‑quality strategic decisions. Drive adoption of cost/benefit frameworks and scenario analysis methodologies across planning processes.