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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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