Transportation and Logistics Specialist

Grain & Protein Technologies•Assumption, IL

1d•$55,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled Transportation & Logistics Specialist to join our Materials Management team at our Assumption, IL facility. The Transportation & Logistics Specialist plays a key role in supporting the company's global transportation and logistics operations, with primary responsibility for international freight management, customs clearance, trade compliance, and landed cost optimization. This position coordinates ocean and air freight activities, manages critical relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers, and logistics providers, and ensures the efficient movement of goods throughout the global supply chain. The role also supports domestic transportation operations, carrier sourcing and performance management, logistics strategy execution, and cross-functional improvement initiatives. Through data-driven decision making and strong operational ownership, the Transportation & Logistics Specialist helps improve transportation reliability, reduce total logistics costs, and strengthen overall supply chain performance.

Requirements

Three or more years of experience in transportation, logistics, supply chain, freight forwarding, or distribution operations.
Experience with international logistics, ocean and air freight, customs compliance, import/export processes, and Incoterms strongly preferred.
Knowledge of transportation sourcing, carrier management, and freight cost analysis.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and transportation, ERP, or supply chain systems.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
Experience managing domestic transportation activities, including TL, LTL, parcel, and intermodal freight, is a plus.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and manage international inbound and outbound shipments utilizing ocean and air freight transportation.
Optimize routing, mode selection, consolidation opportunities, and shipment execution to improve service and reduce costs.
Monitor freight forwarder and carrier performance, addressing service failures and driving corrective actions when necessary.
Ensure compliance with international trade regulations, import/export requirements, customs procedures, and Incoterms.
Partner with customs brokers, carriers, freight forwarders, and suppliers to ensure shipments clear customs efficiently while minimizing delays, duties, penalties, storage charges, and other import-related costs.
Maintain accurate shipping documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, airway bills, and customs records.
Develop and maintain effective relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, air and ocean carriers, trucking providers, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs).
Establish clear service expectations and hold logistics partners accountable for cost, compliance, and performance objectives.
Resolve transportation disruptions, capacity constraints, and service issues with urgency and professionalism.
Support transportation sourcing activities, including RFQs, rate analysis, proposal evaluations, carrier selection, and implementation of awarded business.
Assist with carrier onboarding, transitions, and transportation network changes.
Analyze freight spend, invoices, accessorial charges, detention, demurrage, and customs-related costs to identify discrepancies, cost leakage, and savings opportunities.
Maintain visibility of total landed costs, as well as support sourcing and purchasing decisions through transportation and total cost analysis.
Partner with purchasing teams during supplier onboarding to evaluate transportation feasibility, lead-time impacts, overall cost competitiveness, inventory investment, service level requirements, and supply chain risk.
Support implementation of logistics strategies, transportation network optimization initiatives, provider onboarding, and process standardization efforts.
Identify opportunities to improve transportation visibility, shipment reliability, and operational efficiency.
Develop and maintain transportation KPIs, including on-time delivery, transit time performance, freight cost, claims, customs clearance performance, and provider scorecards.
Create reports and dashboards that provide actionable insights to leadership and key stakeholders.
Take ownership of shipment execution, issue resolution, and stakeholder communication.
Escalate transportation risks early and provide practical solutions to minimize business impact.