Carrier Operations & Process Improvement Manager

Job Purpose: The Carrier Operations & Process Improvement Manager is responsible for optimizing transportation carrier performance, driving operational excellence, and leading continuous improvement initiatives across the logistics network. This role serves as the bridge between carrier management, transportation operations, analytics, and process improvement to ensure service reliability, cost efficiency, and scalable transportation solutions.

The ideal candidate combines strong transportation expertise with analytical problem-solving skills and a proven ability to implement process improvements that enhance service, reduce costs, and strengthen carrier partnerships.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Carrier Operations Management

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with carrier partners across truckload, LTL, intermodal, parcel, and dedicated transportation services.
• Monitor carrier performance through KPIs including on-time pickup, on-time delivery, service failures, claims, tender acceptance, and capacity utilization.
• Lead carrier business reviews and corrective action plans to improve performance.
• Manage carrier scorecard programs and ensure accountability to service level expectations.
• Collaborate with Procurement and Transportation teams on carrier selection, network optimization, and routing strategies.
• Support carrier onboarding and operational readiness processes.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Identify, prioritize, and lead continuous improvement projects focused on transportation efficiency and customer service.
• Utilize Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or similar methodologies to eliminate waste and improve workflows.
• Analyze transportation processes and implement standardized operating procedures.
• Drive automation initiatives within transportation management systems (TMS) and related logistics technologies.
• Lead root cause analysis for recurring transportation issues and implements sustainable corrective actions.
• Develop process documentation, work instructions, and training materials.

Analytics & Performance Management

• Create and maintain transportation performance dashboards and reporting tools.
• Analyze freight spend, accessorial costs, carrier compliance, and service trends.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through network optimization, mode conversion, and carrier utilization improvements.
• Establish KPI targets and monitor progress against operational goals.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Distribution, Customer Service, Supply Chain Planning, Procurement, and Sales teams to resolve transportation challenges.
• Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives that impact transportation execution and customer experience.
• Support transportation technology implementations and process changes.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for carrier operations and transportation best practices.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Qualifications: Demonstrated experience managing carrier relationships and transportation performance metrics.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and data visualization/reporting tools.
• Experience using Transportation Management Systems (TMS).
• Proven success leading process improvement initiatives with measurable business impact.
• Strong presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Education and/or Experience Required:

• 5-8+ years of transportation, carrier management, logistics operations, or supply chain experience.
• 4 Year College Degree preferred but not mandatory

Language Skills Sets:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, and customers.

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to determine "root cause" of problem and determine corrective action.

Computer Skills:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must have knowledge of Business Operating Systems, Internet software, Word Processing, and Spreadsheet software.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Must be able to activate phone systems utilizing keyboards and buttons.
• Must be articulate and comfortable speaking in front of others.
• Regularly works in an indoor/office environment and required to sit and/or use repetitive hand motion.
• Frequently required to talk, hear, stand and walk.
• Must be able to work in excess of continuous 8 hours when required.
• Must be able to work under stressful situations, have good cognitive skills, maintain work accuracy, and the ability to concentrate on more than one task at a time.
• Must have the ability to read and discern visual images on a variety of media with 20/20 corrected vision.
• Must be able to speak and communicate clearly over telephones.
• Must be in sound physical health as determined by a certified licensed physician with no evidence of the use of controlled substances.

Employer Rights:

This job description is intended to provide general information about the Carrier Operations & Process Improvement Manager position. The above does not constitute an exhaustive list of the job duties to be performed by an associate holding the position of Carrier Operations & Process Improvement Manager, nor are the lists of the physical requirements and environmental conditions exhaustive. You may be asked by your supervisor or managers to perform other duties. Your performance will be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the job duties listed in this job description, as well as any job duties not specifically listed above that you may be asked from time to time to perform.

As with all positions, the duties and responsibilities are subject to change at any time as needs arise and at the discretion of the RJW Transport, Inc. The Company has the right to revise this job description at any time.

Employment-At-Will:

It is the Company's policy that all associates, other than those covered by a written individual employment or labor agreement with the Company that has been authorized in writing by the Company's Chief Executive Officer or Board of Directors, are not employed for any fixed term and are employed at the will of the Company for an indefinite period. Just as our associate's, reserve the right to resign their employment at any time for any reason the Company reserves its right to terminate an associate any time for any reason either with or without cause.

Neither this Job Description nor any of its individual terms constitutes commitments between the Company and its associates as to the terms, conditions or duration of employment, nor does it modify the prevailing Employment-At-Will relationship.