Regional Director, Operations - Central Region

About the role

The Regional Director, Operations is responsible for driving operational excellence across a complex transportation network by creating consistency, scalability, and performance discipline throughout the organization. This role exists to ensure operational execution aligns with customer expectations, service commitments, and profitability targets while supporting the company's long-term growth strategy.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and continuously improve operational processes, procedures, and service standards across the regional network.
• Establish operational consistency and accountability through standardized practices and performance management frameworks.
• Identify operational risks and implement corrective actions that improve efficiency, reliability, and customer experience.
• Ensure operational execution supports company profitability, scalability, and long-term strategic objectives.
• Provide leadership and guidance to operations management teams and engineering resources across the organization.
• Analyze daily, weekly, and monthly operational performance reports to identify trends, opportunities, and emerging risks.
• Create and maintain a comprehensive Balanced Scorecard that delivers visibility into key operational and financial metrics.
• Monitor budget performance and operational efficiency measures to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Develop actionable recommendations to address operational shortfalls and improve business performance.
• Implement proactive measures to prevent significant service disruptions and catastrophic service failures.
• Develop operational solutions and recommendations in response to customer requests, market changes, and business opportunities.
• Partner with sales, customer service, terminal leadership, and other cross-functional teams to strengthen customer outcomes.
• Conduct operational and financial analyses to support geographic expansion, contraction, and network optimization decisions.
• Assess freight flow patterns and develop solutions that reduce bottlenecks and improve network velocity.
• Evaluate resource allocation and operational capacity to ensure efficient movement throughout the transportation network.
• Support strategic planning initiatives by providing data-driven recommendations related to service footprint, operational investments, and market opportunities.
• Align operational capabilities with evolving customer demand and profitability objectives.
• Lead continuous improvement and process innovation using Six Sigma methodologies, statistical process control, flow charting, and other process improvement disciplines.
• Develop and implement performance improvement programs across multiple operational functions.
• Establish best practices that improve productivity, service quality, operational consistency, and cost management.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Share knowledge, mentor team members, and strengthen organizational capabilities through leadership and coaching.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive operations and engineering experience within transportation, logistics, distribution, supply chain, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading operations management personnel, engineering teams, or cross-functional operational organizations.
• Proven track record driving operational performance improvements, process optimization initiatives, and business transformation efforts.
• Deep understanding of transportation operations, network management, service performance, and operational planning.
• Experience developing and implementing operational processes, procedures, and performance standards across multi-site environments.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze budgets, forecasts, profit drivers, and operational performance metrics.
• Experience evaluating network expansion, service footprint optimization, and capacity planning initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Experience developing executive-level reporting, dashboards, balanced scorecards, and performance measurement systems.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to apply statistical analysis, probability, statistical inference, ratios, percentages, and modeling techniques to operational challenges.
• Experience working with enterprise operational systems; AS/400 experience preferred.
• Experience leading, developing, coaching, and evaluating high-performing operational teams.
• Ability to effectively influence executive leadership, terminal operations, sales teams, customers, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success leading complex initiatives across multiple departments and locations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to convey complex operational concepts to diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Required: Minimum of 10 years of progressive operations and engineering experience within transportation, logistics, distribution, supply chain, or related industries.
• Required: Demonstrated experience leading operations management personnel, engineering teams, or cross-functional operational organizations.
• Required: Proven track record driving operational performance improvements, process optimization initiatives, and business transformation efforts.
• Preferred: Six Sigma certification or demonstrated experience applying Six Sigma methodologies.
• Preferred: Experience within less-than-truckload (LTL), freight, transportation, or logistics operations environments.
• Preferred: Experience with continuous improvement, operational engineering, and network optimization disciplines.

Skills

• Systems thinking and operational expertise.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving capabilities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Experience with enterprise operational systems; AS/400 experience preferred.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Leadership experience leading, developing, coaching, and evaluating high-performing operational teams.
• Ability to influence executive leadership, terminal operations, sales teams, customers, and external stakeholders.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze budgets, forecasts, profit drivers, and operational performance metrics.
• Experience with continuous improvement, operational engineering, and network optimization disciplines.
• Experience within less-than-truckload (LTL), freight, transportation, or logistics operations environments.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, 401(k), paid time off, and company-sponsored wellness programs.

Pay

$150,000 - $180,000 base salary.

Schedule

Hybrid work environment - Central Region.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an administrative nature. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, reach/handle items, work with the fingers, see clearly at 20 feet or more, and have depth perception, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus and talk and hear others in conversations via the phone or in person. Works in well-lighted, heated and/or air-conditioned indoor office setting with adequate ventilation most of the time, but is subject to highly fluctuating temperatures on our non-temperature controlled dock. Can be subject to occasional wet or humid conditions (non-weather), fumes or airborne particles, extreme cold (non-weather), and outdoor weather conditions when touring agent partner operations or our company dock warehouse operations. Over 50% of travel by land and/or air required.