Head of Transport

About the RoleWe are seeking a commercially focused and experienced Head of Transportation & Logistics to build, structure, and lead our Transportation & Logistics function. This is a newly created leadership position with significant responsibility and visibility across the organization. You will take ownership of domestic transportation, import/export operations, freight procurement, carrier management, logistics cost control, and transportation strategy. You will work closely with our Commercial, Estimating, Procurement, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Finance teams to provide accurate freight costing, support customer quotations, negotiate transportation agreements, and improve overall logistics performance. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys building structure, solving complex logistics challenges, and having a direct commercial impact on the business. The successful candidate will have significant autonomy to develop processes, establish KPIs, strengthen supplier and carrier relationships, and build the logistics organization as the company continues to grow.Key ResponsibilitiesLead and develop the company's Transportation & Logistics function.Establish scalable logistics processes, KPIs, reporting, and performance management systems.Provide Commercial and Estimating teams with accurate and timely freight costing during the quotation process.Manage domestic transportation, including truckload, LTL, project freight, and brokerage activity.Oversee transportation planning for oversized and specialized freight movements.Develop and manage relationships with carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and logistics providers.Negotiate transportation contracts, freight agreements, and service-level agreements.Lead import and export operations, including customs compliance and broker relationships.Identify and implement logistics cost-reduction initiatives while maintaining service and delivery performance.Monitor carrier performance, service levels, freight costs, and overall transportation efficiency.Work closely with Procurement, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Commercial teams.Recruit, develop, and mentor logistics personnel as the function continues to grow.Initially manage two direct reports, including the Category Manager for Road Logistics.Support the future recruitment and development of an Import & Export Manager.Establish clear ownership, accountability, and operating standards across the logistics function.QualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Operations, or a related field.8+ years of progressive experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain.Strong experience in freight procurement, carrier management, and transportation operations.Experience negotiating transportation contracts and logistics service agreements.Strong knowledge of truckload, LTL, brokerage, dedicated fleet, and project freight.Experience supporting commercial or estimating teams with freight costing and quotation activities.Strong analytical, financial, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.Proven leadership experience managing teams and cross-functional stakeholders.Excellent communication and organizational skills.Ability to work independently and make decisions in a fast-paced environment.PreferredExperience within manufacturing, industrial, construction, steel, or engineered products environments.Experience managing oversized or specialized freight.International logistics and import/export experience.Knowledge of customs compliance and broker management.Experience implementing logistics systems, reporting tools, KPIs, and process improvements.Experience building or restructuring a transportation or logistics function.What We're Looking ForThe ideal candidate is commercially minded, proactive, highly organized, and comfortable operating with significant autonomy. You should be someone who can move quickly between strategic planning and hands-on execution. You'll need to be comfortable supporting commercial teams with real-time freight information, negotiating with transportation providers, analyzing logistics costs, and resolving operational issues as they arise. We are looking for a leader who doesn't simply want to manage an existing function, but who is excited by the opportunity to build something, create structure, establish accountability, and drive meaningful improvements. The successful candidate will be comfortable working across multiple departments and levels of the organization while taking ownership of transportation and logistics performance.