Transportation Procurement and Network Strategy Manager

At Winland Foods, our success starts with people who live our values of Excellence, Quality, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration every day. Make an impact from day one. We believe in ownership, continuous improvement, and doing the right thing for our customers and each other. As a Transportation Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring our products move efficiently, helping us deliver on our commitments while improving cost, service, and reliability. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, building strong partnerships, and driving measurable results in a fast-paced environment. Employee Type: Full time Location: IL Oak Brook Job Type: Supply Chain Logistics Job Posting Title: Transportation Procurement and Network Strategy Manager Job Description: Schedule: Remote Monday and Friday; In office Tuesday to Thursday Work Location: Oak Brook, IL location preferred; remote locations will be considered Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, STD/LTD/AD&D/Life, HSA, FSA, EAP, Hospital indemnity, Accident Insurance, Identity and Fraud Protection Plan, Legal, and Critical Illness. Salary, based on experience and other qualifications: $93k to $138k Annually with additional bonus potential Roles and Responsibilities: Own transportation strategy and execution- Lead procurement of transportation services across inbound, intercompany, and outbound lanes—balancing service, capacity, and total cost. Drive smart, data-based decisions- Analyze network performance and identify opportunities to improve service levels, reduce cost, and increase efficiency. Build strong partnerships- Develop and manage relationships with carriers and third-party logistics (3PL) partners to deliver reliable, high-quality service. Lead sourcing and bidding activities- Manage RFPs and mini-bids to secure competitive rates and ensure capacity, including during peak demand periods. Hold partners accountable- Monitor carrier and 3PL performance, ensuring compliance with service expectations and driving continuous improvement. Support financial performance- Contribute to the transportation budget, track performance, and help explain and close gaps. Collaborate across the business- Work closely with operations, supply chain, and finance teams to align transportation strategies with business needs. What Success Looks Like: You consistently balance cost and service without sacrificing either You proactively solve capacity challenges before they impact the business You build trusted relationships that improve performance over time You bring forward ideas that simplify and improve how we work The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list of all tasks. Additional tasks and duties may be assigned from time to time as necessitated by business needs. Business needs may require work beyond typical work schedule. Qualifications & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, or related field 4 years of transportation or logistics experience Experience managing carriers and running competitive bids Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills Confidence working across teams and influencing outcomes Comfort working with data and using it to drive action Preferred – Experience with transportation management systems (such as E2open) Preferred – Background working across multiple transportation modes, including temperature-controlled freight Travel Requirements: Up to 15% travel to manufacturing sites, carriers and partners, based on business needs Physical Demands and Work Environment: Primarily office-based work with regular use of a computer and standard office equipment Ability to sit, stand, walk, reach, and use hands and fingers for extended periods of time Occasional movement within manufacturing or distribution environments during site visits Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English May require light physical activity such as bending, stretching, or lifting materials up to approximately 20 pounds Why Join Winland Foods: Ownership: You’ll have real responsibility and the ability to shape outcomes Continuous Improvement: Your ideas to improve cost, service, and processes are expected and valued Partnership: You’ll work with a team that supports each other and wins together Integrity: We do what’s right—for our customers, our teams, and our business EEO Statement: Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.