Transportation Operations Center Manager

Job Description:

Transportation Operations Center Manager

Franklin, TN

Onsite

How do you keep a global network running smoothly? With exceptional leadership.

As our new Transport Operations Manager, you will own the execution of our day-to-day transportation and shipment activities. Serving as the vital link between our manufacturing sites, RDCs, and external partners, you will manage critical carrier relationships, champion continuous improvement, and ensure world-class customer service.

Your mission: Lead our logistics specialists in high-stakes load planning, scheduling, and error resolution, transforming daily operational challenges into streamlined, productive successes.

What are we looking for?

Minimum

• Bachelor's Degree within Business, Logistics, Supply Chain or highly quantitative field AND/OR
• 2+ years' experience in Logistics or Supply Chain Management
• 5-7 years of progressive experience in transportation operations, logistics, or supply chain management.
• 2-3 years of direct people management experience (leading logistics specialists, coordinators, or dispatchers).
• Hands-on experience working with a major Transportation Management System TMS (e.g., Blue Yonder, SAP, Oracle, OTM).• Proficiency in Excel for data analysis (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, data modeling).
• Experience managing operational budgets, tracking logistics costs, and mitigating accessorial fees.
• Experience managing carrier relationships, tracking SLAs, and enforcing carrier compliance.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate, coach, motivate and lead a team
• Strong written and verbal communication skills Ability to drive positive change in both processes, systems, and culture

Preferred

• 8+ years of experience in a large-scale, fast-paced FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods), Food/Beverage, or retail distribution environment.
• Direct experience with UberFreight TMS and CASS (freight payment/audit system).• Advanced analytics capability (experience with Power BI, Tableau, SQL, or network optimization software like Optilogic/Llamasoft).
• Extensive experience managing large-scale 3PL partnerships and co-developing long-term network load-planning solutions.
• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification.
• Proven track record of leading structured CI projects that resulted in measurable cost savings (productivity) and service improvements.
• Experience with process optimization, task automation (using tools like VBA, Power Automate, or Python), and creating interactive visualization tools/dashboards (such as Power BI, Tableau, or custom TMS reporting) to track and optimize key transport metrics.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Direct day-to-day activities for Inbound/Outbound Logistics Specialists to ensure operational procedures are followed and business needs are met.
• Oversee daily transport operations, ensuring all shipments are covered, scheduled (delivery/pickup), and tendered in a timely manner.
• Develops and maintains root cause corrective action procedures including trend analysis resulting in driving process improvements
• Ensures daily staffing plans including contingency plans for time sensitive operations (unscheduled absentees, customer issues, system malfunctions, equipment issues, etc.)
• Support site operations by ensuring carrier partners are adhering to shipment schedules
• Meet or exceed performance targets (On Time Pickup and Delivery, Tender Acceptance, SRG and Check Call Compliance, Linehaul Spend)
• Support Transportation cost management - linehaul, accessorials, and Fines & Fees mitigation
• Create lean ways of working, drivers and measures supporting key priorities for the business
• Own business relationship with TMS, CASS, and facilitate innovation of analytics and insights
• Manage Transportation P&L including OHs and expenses for transportation services
• Analyze data and build network optimization models, including identify and lead initiatives to reduce logistics costs, identify and lead initiatives to improve transportation service and performance, and remove non-value add activities
• Investigate causes for service failures to determine where changes to process or performance are necessary and take appropriate actions
• Act as the primary interface for 3PL load-planning partners to develop and execute future-forward network strategies.
• Ensure carrier compliance with all Mars technical and business process requirements and develop corrective plans as needed

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we're striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

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Mars does not sponsor visas for this role.

This position is not eligible for relocation benefits.