Position Title: Logistics Manager
Department: Transportation
Direct Leader's Title: Senior Manager Transportation
Location: Denver
Job Summary: The Logistics Manager has full accountability for the bakery's transportation, shipping, receiving, and distribution activities. This role leads the safe, secure, accurate, and timely movement of hamburger buns and related materials; directs drivers, loaders, and shipping personnel; and ensures outbound and inbound activities meet service, regulatory, food safety, quality, labor, and cost expectations.
Key Responsibilities:
Transportation and Delivery Operations
- Manage daily transportation and distribution execution to support on-time, accurate customer deliveries.
- Coordinate driver schedules, route execution, equipment availability, and workforce assignments to meet operational requirements.
- Monitor transportation service, shipment status, and route performance; identify risks and take timely corrective action.
- Work with transportation leads and service providers to resolve tractor and trailer issues that could affect service, safety, or product quality.
- Maintain working knowledge of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), Department of Transportation requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local rules.
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Control
- Direct the shipping, receiving, dock, freezer, and loading activities for the Denver Bakery.
- Supervise the loading of tractor-trailers and ensure each load contains the correct product and quantities for customer delivery.
- Plan or verify outbound load diagrams and ensure trailers are loaded securely and correctly.
- Ensure visual quality inspections are completed before departure to prevent or identify damaged product.
- Receive and inventory inbound shipments and maintain accurate related records.
- Monitor freezer inventory, shipping demand, trays, and operating needs; communicate requirements to Transportation, Production, and Bakery leadership.
- Review route accounting and coordinate follow-up on discrepancies with the appropriate distribution and production partners.
People Leadership and Labor Relations
- Provide direct leadership to drivers, loaders, and shipping personnel, including scheduling, assignment of work, training, coaching, monitoring, and performance evaluation.
- Train and retrain associates on forklift safety, tractor-trailer awareness, loading procedures, food safety, GMPs, and departmental work practices.
- Establish a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, customer service, and continuous improvement.
- Maintain a constructive working relationship with collective bargaining unit representatives and follow applicable labor agreement requirements, when applicable.
- Communicate and coordinate effectively with internal and external customers, bakery leadership, production, distribution, and support functions.
Safety, Food Safety, and Quality
- Lead safety improvement efforts and actively support all bakery and transportation safety initiatives.
- Ensure associates comply with safety rules, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and established procedures.
- Follow and enforce the Food Safety Plan, Food Quality Plan, SQF system requirements, and programs supporting third-party audits.
- Report and take appropriate action to prevent food safety or food quality concerns from occurring.
- Support the integrity and sustained certification of the SQF system within the areas of responsibility.
Cost, Systems, and Continuous Improvement
- Manage transportation and shipping costs in alignment with approved budgets and operating plans.
- Monitor shipping waste, identify root causes, and recommend improvement opportunities.
- Participate in and lead LEAN and continuous improvement activities as needed.
- Maintain accurate information in applicable tracking and reporting programs.
- Use SAP to support shipping, receiving, inventory, transaction processing, record accuracy, and operational reporting.
- Process or coordinate payroll inputs for shipping associates using the designated timekeeping system.
- Use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other business systems to manage communication, records, analysis, and reporting.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned or required.
Qualifications:
- At least 5 years of progressive logistics experience in transportation, distribution, shipping, receiving, warehousing, or a related operation.
- At least 3 years of supervisory or management experience leading people in a fast-paced operation.
- High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor's degree in business, logistics, supply chain, or a related field preferred. A combination of education, training, and relevant experience demonstrating the ability to perform the role may be considered.
- Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) preferred, but not required.
- Previous food manufacturing, bakery, or food distribution experience preferred.
- Experience in a union environment preferred, when applicable.
- Working knowledge of transportation operations, product inventory, shipping and receiving, trailer loading, and general bakery or manufacturing operations.
- Knowledge of FMCSR and DOT requirements with the ability to support transportation compliance.
- Working knowledge of SAP, including shipping, receiving, inventory management, transaction processing, and operational reporting.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and transportation, timekeeping, or operational tracking systems.
- Ability to work varied shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as business needs require.
Physical & Working Environment Requirements
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, reach, and grasp throughout the workday.
- Ability to push or pull objects over 100 pounds using carts or dollies.
- Ability to work in varying weather conditions, including occasional extreme conditions.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet operational and department needs.
- Minimal travel may be required.