Vice President of Operations - Contract Logistics

. Crane Worldwide Logistics . • Houston, TX

8h

About The Position

The Vice President of Operations – Contract Logistics provides operational leadership for Crane’s contract logistics business across a multi-site network of warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, and value-added services. The role is accountable for operational excellence, financial performance, customer satisfaction, workforce strategy, safety, security, quality, and process adherence. The VP partners with executive leadership, commercial teams, customers, and functional leaders to improve performance, productivity, cost efficiency, and workplace safety. The position leads a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, disciplined operations, innovation, and customer-focused service.

The role owns operational financial performance, labor, operating expenses, productivity, profitability, and P&L results. It sets operational standards and KPIs, drives consistent processes and best practices across facilities, analyzes data to address risks and opportunities, and evaluates investments in automation, equipment, technology, and facilities. The VP serves as an executive escalation point for significant customer and operational matters and ensures operations meet contractual commitments.

The position develops senior operations leaders and workforce strategies, promotes safety and regulatory compliance, and advances quality, risk mitigation, business continuity, and emergency response. It also partners with technology teams to optimize operational systems and data solutions, and contributes to network planning, facility changes, new sites, acquisitions, customer implementations, and growth.

Success is measured by operational productivity, financial performance, fulfillment and inventory accuracy, quality and service, safety, employee engagement and retention, improvement and cost-reduction results, project implementations, and customer account growth. Regular travel between facilities and customer locations is required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in contract logistics, warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, supply chain, or related operations.
• At least 5 years of senior leadership experience managing multi-site operations.
• Demonstrated experience with P&L ownership and financial management.
• Proven success managing large-scale operations and developing high-performing leadership teams.
• Experience working directly with major customers and executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of warehouse operations, fulfillment, distribution, labor management, and operational technology.
• Demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement, productivity, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Strong analytical, financial, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel regularly between facilities and customer locations.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or advanced degree.
• Experience with customer implementations, transitions, expansions, or new site launches.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for contract logistics operations across multiple facilities.
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company objectives and customer requirements.
• Establish and monitor operational standards, KPIs, service-level expectations, and performance objectives across the network.
• Standardize processes, systems, and best practices across locations while accommodating customer-specific requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, productivity, safety, security, and service quality.
• Own operational financial performance, labor, operating expenses, productivity, profitability, and P&L results.
• Analyze financial and operational data to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Partner with Finance and Commercial teams on labor models, operating assumptions, and financial projections.
• Drive cost control and productivity initiatives while maintaining customer service and operational quality.
• Evaluate capital investments and business cases for automation, equipment, technology, facility improvements, and other operational initiatives.
• Serve as an executive escalation point for significant operational, contractual, service, and performance issues.
• Ensure operational commitments align with contractual requirements, financial expectations, and execution capabilities.
• Establish a culture of continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, operational excellence, or other structured methodologies.
• Implement initiatives to improve labor productivity, throughput, inventory accuracy, order fulfillment, quality, and customer service.
• Use operational data and analytics to identify root causes and drive sustainable improvements.
• Establish accountability for corrective action plans and timely resolution of operational gaps.
• Benchmark facility performance and replicate successful practices across the network.
• Lead, coach, and develop senior operations leaders, including Regional, Site, General, and Operations Managers.
• Set expectations, performance objectives, and accountability throughout the operations organization.
• Develop succession plans and leadership pipelines for critical operational roles.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, employee engagement, and operational excellence.
• Partner with Human Resources on staffing, retention, leadership development, employee relations, and organizational effectiveness strategies.
• Ensure leaders can manage performance, develop talent, and maintain employee engagement.
• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with company policies, OSHA requirements, customer standards, and applicable regulations.
• Establish accountability for safety performance and continuous improvement across operations.
• Ensure quality standards and operational controls are consistently maintained.
• Partner with Legal, HR, Risk Management, and other functional leaders to mitigate operational and compliance risks.
• Maintain appropriate business continuity, emergency response, and risk mitigation plans.
• Identify and implement technology, automation, systems, and data solutions that improve performance and scalability.
• Partner with IT and technology teams to optimize WMS, labor management systems, transportation systems, reporting tools, and other platforms.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and automation opportunities based on operational requirements, customer needs, and return on investment.
• Encourage innovation and data-driven decision-making.
• Evaluate facility capacity, network requirements, labor availability, customer demand, and market opportunities to support growth.
• Participate in strategic planning for facility expansions, relocations, new sites, acquisitions, and customer implementations.
• Travel regularly between facilities and customer locations.

Benefits

• Quarterly Incentive Plan.
• 136 hours of paid time off per year (17 days), usable for sick time or personal use.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement for education related to the job.
• Employee referral bonuses.
• Employee recognition and rewards program.
• Paid volunteer time.
• Employee discounts.
• Wellness incentives of up to $100 per year for completing challenges, plus a discount on contribution rates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive