Sr. Director, Transportation/Distribution

We are currently seeking a Sr. Director, Transportation/Distribution to lead our logistics organization based at Kemps Home Office in St. Louis Park, MN. In this role you will lead and shape high-impact transportation and distribution operations through strategic collaboration with senior leadership and local management. Champion a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging data-driven insights and operational best practices to implement short-term (1-3 year) business strategies that enhance profitability, regulatory compliance, safety, service quality, and overall operational performance.

Operate within a General Manager framework to empower teams, streamline logistics processes, optimize cost and enhance customer satisfaction. This role oversees key areas including private fleet management, third-party transportation, distributor relationships, warehouse operations, dispatch coordination, and advanced logistics planning and optimization.

Provide dynamic and transformative leadership to people managers, cultivating a high-performance culture focused on operational excellence and sustainable results.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support operations ensuring they operate effectively and safely, accelerate productivity improvement, meet all quality requirements, comply with state and federal regulations, and meet sales/demand requirements while operating within established budgets and key operating metrics.
• Oversee and provide guidance in the development of transportation and distribution budgets for all facilities/locations. This includes value added activities, labor management, fleet utilization, and fleet asset maintenance to achieve expected profit, quality, service level, value, and safety.
• Evaluate and provide guidance in the preparation of the cost justification for capital expenditures on equipment and facilities to ensure adequate return on investment and resource availability; establish capital plans and budgets, which maintain operations, ensure safety, increase productivity, satisfy customer demand, and meet the anticipated future needs.
• Contribute to the strategic planning efforts and RFP processes while communicating regularly with senior management to ensure that the company continues to maximize its short and long-term contributions to overall corporate growth and profitability.
• Lead operational sustainability to support utilizing resources efficiently and take an active role in ensuring DFA is contributing to our industry and community social responsibility efforts.
• Provide leadership and act as a role model to drive employee engagement and cultural changes needed to reach best-in-class operational performance.
• Provide leadership in technical development and leadership coaching to director and management staff, support career and personal development for individuals within the logistics area and ensure future human resource needs are met.
• Advise location management teams in developing and implementing plans, policies and practices that support their respective production, sales, finance, quality, human resources and distribution objectives.
• Maintain current knowledge of transportation field technological and management systems innovations, evaluate their applicability to mode of transportation, and seek to implement those with greatest potential benefit.

• Undergraduate degree in business, supply chain and logistics, or other related curriculum (or combination of education and practical work experience). An MBA is preferred.
• 12 or more years of progressive distribution, logistics, and/or transportation experience, including management and financial experience, preferably in a multi-location environment.
• Proven track record of significant achievements in supply chain management, driving measurable improvements in efficiency and performance.
• Demonstrated experience leading or playing a key role in the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).
• Broad knowledge of dairy industry production practices, processes, regulations and equipment is desired.
• Subject matter expert in contemporary distribution and transportation practices.
• Strong understanding of industry, safety, quality, etc. policies (PMO, OSHA, SQF, GMP).
• Demonstrated experience managing P & L and overseeing budgeting processes to drive financial performance and operational efficiency.
• Proven ability to lead teams in applying industry best practices, including distribution, transportation, safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to travel 25% - 50% (up to 1 week/month)

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans