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Job Description:
Job Title: Transportation Specialist
Position Summary
The Transportation Specialist is responsible for managing day-to-day transportation operations, including oversight of third-party vendors and freight forwarders. This role ensures efficient, cost-effective, and compliant movement of goods while driving continuous improvement across transportation processes. The specialist will monitor performance, identify opportunities for optimization, and collaborate cross-functionally to enhance service levels and operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
- Responsible for onboarding all vendors to our new Control Tower 4PL partner
- Coordinate and oversee daily transportation activities
- Manage relationships with 3M vendors, carriers, freight forwarders, and logistics service providers.
- Ensure timely delivery performance and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs).
- Monitor shipment status, proactively resolving delays, disruptions, or service issues.
- Act as the primary point of contact for carriers/transportation vendors and freight forwarders locally.
- Serve as the key transportation contact for material vendors/suppliers to coordinate shipment readiness, collection planning, and issue resolution
- Evaluate vendor performance using KPIs such as on-time material readiness, cost, and service quality.
- Conduct regular business reviews and implement corrective actions as needed.
- Ensure compliance with transportation regulations, trade requirements, and company policies.
- Review shipping documentation for accuracy (e.g., bills of lading, customs paperwork, invoices).
- Maintain audit-ready records for all transportation activities.
- Identify inefficiencies in transportation processes and recommend improvements.
- Analyze shipping data to drive cost savings, route optimization, and performance enhancements.
- Lead or support projects related to network optimization, system improvements, and process standardization.
- Monitor continuous improvement using metrics, root cause analysis, and best practices.
- Monitor freight spend and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis for transportation expenses.
- Ensure cost-effective transportation solutions without compromising service quality.
- Work closely with supply chain, vendors, procurement, and customer service teams.
- Align transportation strategies with business needs and customer expectations.
- Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- +5 to 7 years of experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain operations.
- Experience managing carriers, freight forwarders, or 3PL providers.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Proficiency in transportation management systems (TMS), ERP systems, and Microsoft Excel.
- 10% of domestic travel to visit local suppliers.
- Ability to converse in Chinese, Japanese, and English (optional: Korean)
Preferred
- Experience with international shipping, Air, Ocean and LCL modes, customs processes, and trade compliance.
- Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.).
- Familiarity with KPI development and performance reporting.
Key Competencies
- Transportation management
- Data analysis and decision-making
- Process improvement mindset
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Attention to detail and operational discipline
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
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