Transportation and Logistics Specialist

Grain & Protein Technologies•Assumption, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Transportation and Logistics Specialist joins the Materials Management team at the Assumption, Illinois facility and supports the company’s global transportation and logistics operations. The role has primary responsibility for international freight management, customs clearance, trade compliance, and landed cost optimization. It coordinates ocean and air freight and manages relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers, and logistics providers to ensure efficient movement of goods through the global supply chain. The position also supports domestic transportation operations, carrier sourcing and performance management, logistics strategy execution, and cross-functional improvement initiatives. Through data-driven decision-making and operational ownership, the Specialist helps improve transportation reliability, reduce total logistics costs, and strengthen supply chain performance. The position works onsite in Assumption, Illinois, Monday through Thursday. Friday is a flex day, either in the office or remote depending on business needs.

Requirements

Three or more years of experience in transportation, logistics, supply chain, freight forwarding, or distribution operations.
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 is preferred.
Experience with international logistics, ocean and air freight, customs compliance, import/export processes, and Incoterms is strongly 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 using ocean and air freight.
Optimize routing, transportation modes, consolidation opportunities, and shipment execution to improve service and reduce costs.
Monitor freight forwarder and carrier performance, address service failures, and drive corrective actions.
Ensure compliance with international trade regulations, import/export requirements, customs procedures, and Incoterms.
Coordinate with customs brokers, carriers, freight forwarders, and suppliers to facilitate customs clearance and minimize delays and import-related costs.
Maintain accurate commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, airway bills, and customs records.
Develop and maintain relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers, trucking providers, and third-party logistics providers.
Establish service expectations and hold logistics partners accountable for cost, compliance, and performance objectives.
Resolve transportation disruptions, capacity constraints, and service issues.
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 and 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, cost competitiveness, inventory investment, service requirements, and supply chain risk.
Support logistics strategy implementation, transportation network optimization, provider onboarding, and process standardization.
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 stakeholders.
Own shipment execution, issue resolution, and stakeholder communication; escalate transportation risks early and provide practical solutions.