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Thorne is a health and wellness company with 750+ team members committed to delivering science-backed solutions that empower individuals to take a proactive approach to their well-being.
The Director of Transportation is the strategic owner and lead analyst for Thorne's transportation network across LTL (less-than-truckload), FTL (full-truckload), and Parcel operations. This role is accountable for transportation analytics, forecasting, carrier strategy and governance, executive reporting, service performance, cost management, compliance, and network optimization to ensure products move safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
Key responsibilities include:
**Strategic Transportation Leadership**: Own transportation strategy and performance across LTL, FTL, and Parcel for inbound, outbound, and intercompany freight (domestic and international). Establish operating priorities, service expectations, spend targets, and forecasting assumptions aligned with business objectives. Direct transportation execution through leaders and ensure disciplined escalation and issue resolution. Align transportation strategy with warehouse capacity, customer requirements, and network priorities.
**Organizational Leadership**: Lead transportation managers and functional leaders across planning, execution, analytics, carrier management, and compliance. Build organizational capability through clear accountability, talent development, succession planning, and leadership coaching. Set a high-performance culture focused on safety, compliance, execution, and continuous improvement.
**Carrier Strategy, Systems, and Compliance**: Own carrier strategy, service governance, transportation analytics, and TMS (Transportation Management System) effectiveness. Lead carrier selection, performance management, scorecards, and escalation processes. Maintain weekly communication cadence with carriers to review performance, capacity, issues, and opportunities. Ensure compliance with DOT, FMCSA, and other applicable transportation safety and regulatory requirements.
**Network Optimization and Capacity Planning**: Lead transportation capacity planning and forecasting across carriers, lanes, equipment, and seasonal demand patterns. Drive LTL, FTL, and Parcel mode, route, consolidation, and tender optimization. Lead transportation RFPs and bid events from analysis through implementation and performance validation. Maintain contingency plans for disruptions and service exceptions.
**Performance Management and Reporting**: Own transportation KPIs including on-time pickup/delivery, OTIF, freight cost, cost per mile/shipment, tender acceptance, and claims. Lead performance reviews with internal stakeholders and external partners. Prepare and deliver weekly executive-level transportation reports summarizing KPIs, service performance, spend, market insights, risks, and recommended actions.
**Budget Ownership and Strategic Execution**: Develop transportation strategy aligned with business growth and supply chain objectives. Own freight budget performance and partner on rate strategy, contract terms, and cost-improvement initiatives. Evaluate transportation network changes, new lanes, customer programs, facility expansions, and enabling technologies.
Note: Candidates not local to Summerville must be based on the East Coast with an expectation of 25–50% onsite travel each month.
**Requirements**:
- Bachelor's degree required in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Transportation, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
- 10+ years of progressive transportation, logistics, fleet, or distribution experience required, including substantial leadership experience with transportation operations, carrier networks, freight strategy, transportation analytics, forecasting, executive reporting, RFP leadership, and multi-site or network-level accountability
- Strong experience with Microsoft Excel and Word and transportation-related systems including TMS, WMS, ERP, routing, EDI, and reporting tools
- Demonstrates strong knowledge of transportation operations, carrier management, routing, freight processes, and service execution
- Maintains working knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, and other applicable transportation safety and compliance requirements
- Demonstrates sound judgment, strong leadership, and effective decision-making
- Builds strong cross-functional partnerships with operations, customer service, procurement, finance, and other departments
- Communicates clearly and presents transportation performance insights effectively to leadership
- Applies strong analytical, reporting, and continuous improvement skills to business decisions
