Operational Logistics Lead (3PL & Warehousing)

Direct Reports: 3

Job Summary

The Operational Logistics Lead – North America has the responsibility to make sure operational logistics execution across transportation and shipping sites (including external warehouse networks) works efficiently and effectively as measured by critical KPIs.  This includes all transportation modes (over the road, ocean and air freight) for sites shipping to other sites, to internal / external warehouses and to customers.  This role manages escalated logistics and warehouse performance issues, drives recovery actions, enforces provider accountability, and ensures stable execution across a multi site, multi country network. Depending upon the individual, this position may lead a team of DRP and/or MRP planners and serves as the primary business owner for external warehouse performance and execution KPIs.

Overall, this role includes critical activities related to the following:  

• Coordination with carriers, 3PLs, shipping sites (whether manufacturing sites or warehouse locations) and Corporate Logistics
• Communication of issues, resolution, route guides, redirect among approved carriers, measure performance against Service Level Agreements (SLAs), tracking performance metrics, etc.
• Identification of issues, root cause analysis, and problem resolution to drive sustainable solutions
• Achieve project savings through savings opportunity identification, process mapping, task automation, data analysis, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) definition, and change management 
• Monitor shipment and warehouse flow, identifying systemic issues, ensuring adherence to escalation timelines, and coordinating corrective actions to prevent repeat failures

Key Responsibilities

• Lead logistics operational control across transportation and warehouse execution, assuming ownership of escalated issues.
• Coordinate shipping processes (SOPs) with all shipping sites and 3PLs.  
• Serve as the primary business owner for external warehouse performance, including service levels, inventory accuracy, and cycle counts.  
• Monitor KPIs (3PL and carrier SLA response, issue aging, milestone adherence, warehouse service levels, inventory accuracy, OTIF) and drive early intervention. 
• Direct recovery actions with carriers, 3PLs, shipping sites and warehouse providers; enforce response and corrective action discipline.
• Identify systemic issues, repeated failures, and cross site impacts; drive root cause elimination and process corrections.
• Conduct daily, weekly, and monthly operational reviews across transportation and warehouse performance.
• Oversee cycle count adherence, inventory adjustments, and accuracy trends across external warehouses.
• Detect early execution gaps across shipment flow, warehouse milestones, and inventory movement.
• Enforce time based escalation discipline and ensure providers meet response and recovery expectations.
• Support MRP and/or DRP processes to improve material flow, availability, and inventory movement across the network.
• Lead and develop DRP and/or MRP planners across the Americas region.
• Partner with Corporate Logistics on structural issues, provider performance, and network improvements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across logistics and warehouse processes, including automation and flow optimization.

Key Stakeholders 

• Third Party Logistics providers (3PLs) 
• Carriers for all modes of transportation like over the road, ocean freight and air freight 
• Shipping sites including manufacturing sites in the region 
• Warehouse locations 
• Supply Chain Management team 
• Corporate Logistics team 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field. In lieu of a degree, equivalent progressive experience directly within transportation, warehousing, and logistics operations will be considered. 
• 5+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, logistics, or operations (chemical or manufacturing industry preferred)
• Strong experience managing logistics execution across shipping sites (manufacturing or warehouse), 3PLs, and carriers, with a clear understanding of how these functions interact operationally
• Leadership experience managing teams or multi site operations. 
• Strong experience with SAP (MM/WM/EWM) 
• Experience with Quality Management Systems such as ETQ or other  
• Proven ability to manage 3PL/4PL providers and drive performance improvement. 
• Demonstrated success in material flow, and distribution network performance 
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree (MBA or Supply Chain/Operations)
• APICS/ASCM CPIM or CSCP, CIPS, or similar certification.
• Lean/Six Sigma training (Green Belt or higher)
• Hazardous materials / dangerous goods logistics experience
• Experience with chemical regulatory logistics and regional trade compliance
• Project management certification (PMP, Prince2) beneficial