Director - Transportation

Fresh-Squeezed Legacy, Bold New Chapter

Tropicana Brands Group is a $3B startup aiming to revolutionize the beverage category. Formed in 2022 as a joint venture between PAI Partners and PepsiCo, our portfolio includes iconic brands like Tropicana, Naked, KeVita, Izze, Copella, and Punica. With over 76 years of global leadership in the orange juice category, we're committed to preserving this legacy while driving innovation in other areas. From reimagining orange juice to creating functional smoothies and driving afternoon refreshments, we are striving to become the undisputed global leader in fresh and chilled beverages.

The Supply Chain function is essential to Tropicana Brand Group's success by enhancing operational efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality products. By improving warehouse operations, optimizing transportation routes, and refining inventory management practices, the team plays a critical role in streamlining processes. Collaborating with other departments to align strategies, the Supply Chain team ensures that Tropicana meets customer demands while maintaining a high standard of performance and cost-effectiveness. Through their efforts, they contribute to both short-term achievements and long-term growth.

Your Next Pour: The Opportunity

The National Director of Transportation is a key leadership role responsible for the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of all freight transportation across the enterprise. This leader owns a multimodal network - truckload, LTL, intermodal/rail, ocean drayage, and parcel - including a company-operated refrigerated rail fleet and is accountable for delivering products reliably from origin through final customer destination while optimizing cost, service, and cold-chain integrity. The role leads a national transportation organization, manages carrier partnerships, and contributes significantly to the overall success and competitiveness of the supply chain. Responsibilities include:

Network & Modal Strategy:

• Develop and execute a national transportation strategy spanning truckload, LTL, intermodal/rail, ocean drayage, and parcel, aligned to overall supply chain and company objectives.
• Design the optimal modal mix and lane network for a temperature-sensitive portfolio (approximately 80% chilled / 20% ambient), balancing cost, service, and cold-chain integrity.

Multimodal Operations Oversight:

• Direct all inbound, outbound, and inter-facility freight movements across the DC and plant network, ensuring reliable, on-time execution from origin to customer delivery.
• Oversee ocean import and drayage of raw material and coordinate handoffs into domestic distribution.

Private Rail Fleet & Intermodal:

• Own the company-operated Juice Train rail fleet and the Class I rail relationship, managing utilization, cycle time, and mechanical/fleet health.
• Optimize the core FL-to-Jersey City and FL-to-Cincinnati rail lanes and pursue backhaul and load-consolidation opportunities to improve asset productivity and reduce cost per case.

Carrier & 3PL Network Management:

• Lead carrier and broker sourcing, annual freight bids/RFPs, and master service agreement (MSA) negotiation across all modes.
• Manage 3PL and dedicated-carrier relationships, holding partners accountable to committed service levels, capacity, and cost through structured performance reviews.

Freight Cost, Rate & Fuel Management:

• Build and manage the national transportation budget, freight-rate outlook, and inflation forecast for executive and finance leadership review.
• Govern fuel surcharge programs and market-based fuel pricing and anchor rate decisions to primary market intelligence

OTIF Ownership & Customer Delivery Compliance:

• Own On-Time In-Full (OTIF) as an enterprise performance metric for TBG - setting targets, governing measurement, and holding cross-functional partners (planning, warehousing, transportation, and commercial) accountable for the end-to-end result against retailer scorecards
• Lead OTIF root-cause analysis and corrective-action programs and drive the defense against and reduction of delivery-related chargebacks and deductions.
• Own the OTIF metric, governance, and improvement roadmap while ensuring accountability for the underlying drivers (fill rate, plant supply, and warehouse execution) remains with the functions that control them.

Technology, Visibility & Analytics:

• Evaluate, implement, and manage the transportation management system (TMS), real-time visibility, and analytics tools to streamline planning and execution.
• Advance optimization and digital-twin capabilities and stay current on industry trends in freight technology and automation.

Team Leadership:

• Lead, develop, and motivate a national transportation organization through manager-level direct reports across planning, execution, rail, and carrier management.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.

Safety, Compliance & Risk:

• Ensure compliance with DOT/FMCSA and applicable transportation, hazmat, and food-safety-in-transit regulations, and enforce cold-chain and reefer temperature integrity.
• Manage transportation risk, including cargo insurance, claims, and carrier qualification and vetting.

Performance Management & Reporting:

• Establish and track transportation KPIs (cost per case/mile, on-time performance, tender acceptance, dwell, fleet utilization, and service) to assess network health.
• Provide regular reporting and analysis to senior leadership on transportation performance, cost, and improvement initiatives.

The Perfect Blend: Experience

• 10+ years of progressive transportation/logistics experience, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role managing multimodal operations and teams.
• Proven senior leadership experience across multiple transportation modes, including truckload, LTL, intermodal/rail, and drayage.
• Demonstrated experience managing carrier/3PL networks, freight procurement and bids, and multi-year transportation budgets.
• Strong command of transportation economics, including rate benchmarking, fuel surcharge programs, and freight cost/inflation modeling.
• Working knowledge of private/dedicated fleet operations and Class I rail relationships is strongly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of transportation management systems (TMS), visibility tools, and industry best practices.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal abilities, with experience presenting to executive leadership.

Foundational Ingredients: Requirements

• Bachelors degree in supply chain management, logistics, business, or a related field; MBA or professional certification (e.g., APICS/CSCMP) preferred.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future

• Must be located in Chicago, IL surrounding area or willing to relocate for the duration of employment.

• Willingness to adapt and thrive in a blended work environment with 3-days in office, seamlessly transitioning between remote work and in-office operations

• National travel up to 25%

Perks That Pack a Punch

TBG is pleased to offer you a comprehensive benefits package which includes a 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, company provided life, STD and LTD insurance. In addition, you may also elect to participate in voluntary life, accident, hospital, and critical illness coverages.

The salary range for this position is $140,000-$195,000 annually.