Traffic Manager

About the role

The Traffic Manager oversees the coordination of inbound and outbound logistics within the plant. This role manages a team of professional and/or support employees, ensuring efficient movement of materials, and finished goods, while meeting operational goals, service levels, and cost targets. The position focuses on short-term results, process improvements, and cross-functional collaboration across supply chain, production, and distribution teams.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Management
  • Manages professional and/or support-level employees and sets clear goals aligned with operational objectives.
  • Leads team to achieve daily and short-term performance targets for transportation, shipping, and receiving activities.
  • Assigns work, establishes priorities, and provides guidance to ensure efficient team performance.
  • Actively develops direct reports through coaching, feedback, and growth planning.
  • Provides input into hiring, promotion and performance management.
• Operational Execution
  • Plans and establishes team objectives with direct impact on operational performance, including on-time shipments, freight efficiency, and dock utilization.
  • Oversees coordination of transportation schedules, carrier relationships, and routing activities.
  • Manages day-to-day logistics operations including staffing, and workflow execution.
  • Monitors adherence to company policies, safety standards, and shipping/receiving procedures.
• Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement
  • Leads team in resolving multiple, moderately complex logistics and operational issues.
  • Implements general improvements to logistics processes, policies, and procedures to drive efficiency and service quality.
  • Addresses issues that require a broader understanding of cross-functional impacts (e.g., production delays, inventory shortages, carrier disruptions).
• Decision Making
  • Makes decisions that impact the immediate team and influence short-term operational outcomes.
  • Balances priorities such as cost, service, and resource constraints to meet daily performance targets.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Communicates complex logistics concepts clearly and effectively within the team.
  • Collaborates with production and customer service teams to align schedules and resolve issues.
  • Works cross-functionally to identify process improvements and enhance overall supply chain performance.
  • Collects and incorporates feedback from internal stakeholders to optimize transportation operations.
• Culture & Leadership Presence
  • Embodies company values and fosters a positive, accountable team environment.
  • Motivates and supports team members to enhance engagement and performance.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of transportation management, routing, and shipping/receiving processes.
• Proven ability to manage teams, solve operational problems, and drive continuous improvement.
• Strong communication, organizational, and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 4+ years of relevant logistics, transportation, or manufacturing experience.
• At least 1+ year of leadership or supervisory experience.