Strategic Distribution Partnerships Manager

Duties And Responsibilities

• Distribution Operations Oversight
• Coordinate daily outbound shipment scheduling and load planning with 3PL partners to ensure on-time order fulfillment across all distribution channels (retail, foodservice, DTC).
• Maintain inbound and outbound shipment visibility using TMS and carrier portals; proactively identify and resolve delays, exceptions, and disruptions.
• Ensure proper handling and temperature management throughout the cold chain for refrigerated and frozen product categories.
• Work cross-functionally with Customer Service, Demand Planning, and Warehouse teams to align distribution capacity with order volume fluctuations.
• Own outsourced distribution performance scorecards and KPI governance processes including OTIF, safety, quality, claims, temperature compliance, and cost metrics.
• Support onboarding, transition planning, and operational readiness activities for future outsourced distribution market implementations.

3PL & Carrier Relationship Management

• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for all outsourced transportation and distribution partners, including 3PLs, dedicated carriers, and freight brokers.
• Monitor carrier and 3PL performance against contracted SLAs, KPIs, and service agreements; escalate issues and drive corrective action plans.
• Conduct regular business reviews with transportation partners to assess performance, identify gaps, and foster continuous improvement.
• Support contract negotiations, renewals, and onboarding of new carriers or 3PL partners in coordination with Procurement and Legal.

Cost Management & Reporting

• Track, analyze, and report on freight spend, cost-per-case, fuel surcharges, accessorial charges, and carrier invoice accuracy.
• Identify and implement cost reduction opportunities without compromising service levels or food safety standards.
• Prepare regular transportation performance dashboards and present findings to Supply Chain leadership.
• Aid in the annual freight budget development and ongoing variance analysis.
• Prepare and communicate operational performance updates, risks, and recovery plans to Supply Chain leadership.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify and champion process improvements in outsourced distribution workflows, including technology adoption and automation opportunities.
• Leverage TMS and ERP systems to drive shipment visibility, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for outsourced transportation processes, exception handling, and carrier escalation protocols.
• Partner with Customer Service and Operations teams to proactively manage franchisee service concerns, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions with outsourced providers.
• Lead structured problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives with external partners to improve service reliability, operational efficiency, and franchisee experience.