Vice President of Transportation

National Transportation Operations

Location: Corporate HQ / Flexible  |  Department: Operations  |  Reports To: Chief Operating Officer  |  Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

The Vice President of Transportation leads the strategic direction, operational performance, and continuous improvement of the company's national transportation network. This role is responsible for fleet operations, carrier and logistics partnerships, regulatory compliance, safety programs, and cost management across all regions the company serves. The VP will build and lead a high-performing team while ensuring on-time, cost-effective, and compliant movement of goods nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

•     Develop and execute the national transportation strategy aligned with overall business goals

•     Partner with executive leadership on network design, capacity planning, and long-term growth initiatives

•     Identify opportunities for automation, technology adoption, and process optimization across the transportation function

Operations Management

•     Oversee daily transportation operations across all regions, including fleet, brokerage, and third-party carrier relationships

•     Set and monitor KPIs for on-time delivery, cost per mile, utilization, and service quality

•     Manage transportation budget, including fuel, maintenance, labor, and third-party spend

Team Leadership

•     Build, mentor, and manage a team of regional transportation directors/managers and support staff

•     Establish performance standards, training programs, and succession plans across the department

•     Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement

Compliance & Safety

•     Ensure full compliance with DOT, FMCSA, and other federal/state regulations

•     Own the safety program, including driver training, incident review, and risk mitigation

•     Maintain audit-readiness for regulatory and insurance requirements

Vendor & Carrier Relations

•     Negotiate and manage contracts with carriers, brokers, and logistics technology vendors

•     Evaluate and onboard new vendor and carrier partners to support network scalability

•     Monitor vendor and carrier performance and manage escalations

Financial Accountability

•     Own the transportation P&L, driving cost efficiency without compromising service levels

•     Forecast capacity and cost needs in line with seasonal and business demand shifts

•     Report performance and financial metrics to executive leadership and the board as needed

Qualifications

Required

•     Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)

•     10+ years of progressive transportation/logistics experience, with 5+ years in a senior leadership role

•     Deep knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations and national fleet operations

•     Proven track record managing multi-region or national transportation networks

•     Strong financial acumen, including P&L ownership and budget management

•     Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills

Preferred

•     MBA or advanced degree

•     Experience with TMS (Transportation Management Systems) and route optimization software

•     Background in a high-growth or multi-site retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, or distribution company

Core Competencies

•     Strategic and analytical thinking

•     Operational excellence and process improvement

•     People leadership across geographically dispersed teams

•     Regulatory and safety compliance expertise

•     Vendor negotiation and relationship management

Compensation & Benefits

•     Competitive base salary + performance bonus

•     Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

•     401(k) with company match

•     Paid time off and holidays

•     Relocation assistance (if applicable)