Director of North American Logistics

Location: US Remote

About the Company

SKF, reducing friction since 1907, re-imagines rotation for a better tomorrow. As an industry-leading manufacturer, SKF is a cornerstone in industrial life, reducing friction wherever machines or products are in motion. The company drives industries that support daily life, powers essential machinery, and contributes to exploring the cosmos. Sustainability is central to SKF’s operations, with a goal to decarbonize all production facilities by 2030. Guided by values of Collaboration, Curiosity, Courage, and Care, SKF fosters a culture of belonging where employees are encouraged to grow their careers in an equitable environment.

About the Role

The Director of North American Logistics provides governance and strategic leadership for all logistics operations across the United States and Canada. This senior leadership role is accountable for designing, optimizing, and executing an integrated logistics strategy encompassing warehouse operations, transportation, international trade, customs compliance, and third-party logistics partnerships. The position serves as a key member of the Americas and Pacific Logistics & Demand Chain leadership team, ensuring safe, scalable, and cost-effective logistics operations while enabling business growth, customer satisfaction, and operational resilience. The Director leads long-term network strategy, capital and operational investment planning, tariff and duty optimization initiatives, organizational capability development, and continuous improvement of logistics processes and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Logistics Leadership
  • Establish governance processes and performance management disciplines to achieve strategic objectives.
  • Develop and execute the North American logistics strategy aligned with enterprise growth objectives and supply chain priorities.
  • Establish a multi-year roadmap for logistics network optimization, warehouse footprint strategy, transportation design, and customs compliance.
  • Lead long-range planning for capacity, infrastructure, capital and operational expenditure, and scalability.
  • Serve as the executive sponsor for logistics transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies, automation solutions, AI applications, transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS), and digital logistics capabilities.
• Warehouse Operations Leadership
  • Ensure compliance with all safety, regulatory, environmental, and operational standards.
  • Provide executive oversight for all warehouses, fulfillment operations, and value-added services across North America.
  • Lead network optimization efforts focused on inventory flow, service levels, space utilization, productivity, and cost efficiency.
  • Champion continuous improvement methodologies across warehouse operations.
  • Establish performance metrics focused on productivity, quality, inventory accuracy, and customer service excellence.
• Transportation and Logistics Network Management
  • Develop transportation risk management and business continuity plans.
  • Drive transportation cost reduction, freight optimization, route efficiency, and modal conversion opportunities.
  • Direct inbound, outbound, intercompany, parcel, LTL, FTL, rail, air, and ocean transportation strategies.
  • Design transportation networks that balance customer service, cost, resilience, and sustainability objectives.
  • Monitor logistics market trends and develop strategies to mitigate disruptions and capacity risks.
• International Trade and Customs Compliance
  • Establish governance frameworks for import/export controls, country-of-origin compliance, classification, valuation, and documentation processes.
  • Provide senior leadership for customs compliance, international trade operations, and regulatory governance.
  • Ensure compliance with U.S., Canadian, Mexican, and applicable international trade regulations.
  • Lead tariff mitigation strategies and duty recovery initiatives.
  • Develop and oversee Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ), bonded warehouses, drawbacks, free trade agreements, and duty optimization programs.
  • Assess geopolitical, regulatory, and trade risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Serve as the senior logistics representative during audits, regulatory reviews, and government interactions.
• Tariff and Duty Exposure Mitigation
  • Develop enterprise-wide strategies to minimize tariff, duty, and trade-related financial exposure.
  • Identify opportunities through:
    • Free Trade Agreements (FTA/USMCA)
    • Foreign Trade Zone programs
    • Duty Drawback
    • First Sale programs
    • Valuation optimization
    • Supply chain redesign initiatives
  • Partner with Finance and Tax teams to quantify and track savings opportunities.
  • Monitor emerging trade policies and proactively assess business impacts.
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives to reduce landed costs and improve global sourcing flexibility.
• Vendor and Supplier Management
  • Develop strategic relationships with logistics service providers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, and transportation partners.
  • Establish supplier performance management frameworks and scorecards.
  • Lead contract negotiations and commercial governance activities.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives with external partners.
  • Ensure contingency planning and supplier diversification strategies are in place for critical logistics services.
  • Promote collaborative partnerships focused on innovation, service excellence, and cost competitiveness.
• Financial Management and Operational Efficiency
  • Own logistics operating budgets and support capital planning processes.
  • Build and execute multi-year cost reduction and productivity improvement plans.
  • Develop business cases for logistics investments, automation, and network redesign initiatives.
  • Drive improvements in:
    • Cost-to-serve
    • Logistics cost as a percentage of sales
    • Inventory velocity
    • Transportation spend
    • Warehouse productivity
    • Working capital performance
  • Establish KPI-driven operating reviews to ensure execution against objectives.
• Leadership, Organizational Development, and Succession Planning
  • Build and develop a best-in-class North American logistics organization.
  • Lead directors, managers, supervisors, and functional experts across logistics disciplines.
  • Create robust talent management and succession planning processes.
  • Develop future leaders through mentoring, coaching, stretch assignments, and leadership development programs.
  • Drive employee engagement, accountability, and a culture of ownership.
  • Establish organizational capability plans aligned with future business requirements.
  • Ensure workforce planning supports anticipated business growth and transformation initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Logistics cost as % of sales
• Logistics cost per pound / kilogram
• Warehouse productivity
• Inventory accuracy
• Perfect order fulfillment
• On-time delivery performance
• Customs compliance performance
• Trade audit findings
• Tariff and duty savings realized
• Freight claims reduction
• Working capital improvement
• Warehouse safety performance
• Employee engagement
• Leadership succession readiness
• Continuous improvement savings

Requirements

• Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Engineering, International Trade, or related field required.
  • MBA, Certification, or advanced degree preferred.
• Experience
  • 15+ years of progressive logistics and supply chain leadership experience.
  • 8+ years leading multi-site, multi-country logistics operations.
  • Experience within industrial manufacturing, engineered products, automotive, aerospace, heavy equipment, or comparable industries.
  • Demonstrated success leading warehouse operations, transportation networks, and international trade organizations.
  • Proven leadership of large-scale transformation and change management initiatives.
  • Experience managing complex 3PL, customs broker, and transportation provider relationships.
• Core Leadership Competencies
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Executive Presence
  • Business Acumen
  • Financial Acumen
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Change Management
  • Supply Chain Expertise
  • Global Trade Knowledge
  • Risk Management
  • Data-Driven Decision Making
  • Negotiation and Influencing
  • Talent Development
  • Customer Focus
  • Continuous Improvement Mindset

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate is a forward-thinking logistics executive who combines deep operational expertise with strategic vision. They are capable of transforming logistics into a competitive advantage through operational excellence, technology adoption, trade optimization, organizational capability building, and disciplined execution of long-term business objectives.

Pay

Salary Range: $169,000 to $190,000

Benefits

• Rest and Relaxation
  • Generous PTO policy
  • 13 paid holidays
• Work/Life Integration

  SKF supports work/life integration, home, family, community, personal well-being, and health.

• Diversity in the Workplace

  SKF strives to embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in everything it does, fostering a culture of belonging where employees can flourish.

• Best in Class Benefits
  • Comprehensive healthcare options with opt-out payment
  • Company-paid life insurance, short-term disability (STD), and long-term disability (LTD)
  • Supplemental benefits including critical illness coverage