The International Logistics Specialist (ILS) will report to the Director, Global Logistics and Transportation. The ILS will routinely interface with Ocean Carriers, Vendor Managers, Import Managers, Sourcing, Distribution Center/Traffic managers, Accounting/Costing managers, and 3rd-Party Logistics providers, with the ultimate goal of driving efficiency throughout the Supply Chain. The ILS will assist Director in the development and execution of the annual Ocean Freight RFP, and will lead Quarterly Business Reviews to monitor Ocean Carrier performance and drive consistency. The ILS is the primary contact for our overseas logistics teams and our booking agents in China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. The ILS also interacts cross-functionally with our imports and purchasing teams to meet inventory planning needs. The ILS is responsible for assisting in the oversight and management of carrier rates, allocations and network optimization. The ILS will work with HFT’s Costing team as well 3rd-Party Freight Auditor to ensure accurate capture of ocean freight costs. The ILS will troubleshoot issues and challenges in the Supply Chain and identify opportunities to reduce costs. The ILS also assists in managing our export RTV program and airfreight shipments. The ILS works closely with our Quality Assurance (QA) team to coordinate sample and test shipments between our labs in California and China. The ILS will assist in expanding Oracle based models to handle shipments to from new origins or to new DC’s.
Duties And Responsibilities
- Ocean Carrier Strategy & Relationship Management
- Leads Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR) with Ocean Carriers
- Leads on-boarding of new ocean carriers where required
- Coordinates the Ocean Freight RFP process (materials, distribution, response tracking, analysis)
- Makes recommendations on carrier selection (Annual Volume Award & day-to-day)
- Uses KPI & Carrier Scorecards to track and report on Ocean Carrier Performance (space allocations, origin delays, SLAs)
- Monitors booking agent performance (carrier allocation KPI) and troubleshoots issues
- Coordinates completion and distribution of Weekly Volume Forecast to Ocean Carriers
- Freight Operations Management (Ocean & Air)
- SME for troubleshooting import bottlenecks
- Manages RTV export process (documentation, booking, compliance, coordination)
- Manages/SME for air freight for Purchasing, QA, and Global Sourcing shipments
- Develops and implements contingency plans for vessel space/container yard/DIT during Lunar New Year
- Manages storing & updating of HFT’s Ocean Freight Rates and uploads
- Manages Ocean Freight Contract Amendments (signatures, recordkeeping, Cobblestone filing)
- Financial Oversight & Cost Control
- Conducts cost-benefit and ROI analysis of logistics initiatives
- Drives the ‘3456’ process to address and correct cost discrepancies
- Identifies patterns in costing discrepancies and ensures data integrity
- Manages auditing of exception invoices flagged by 3rd-party Freight Auditor
- Coordinates with Freight Auditor to clear exception invoices for payment
- Assists Director in analyzing budget data to identify cost optimization opportunities
- Drives reporting and analysis of Spot Rate Indices and tracks ocean costs vs. spot market
- Network Optimization & Capacity Planning
- Leads network modeling, route optimization, and capacity planning
- Regular analysis of KPIs & dashboards (Gnosis/Plouto) to identify delays and propose alternatives
- Develops and implements supply chain optimization recommendations
- Systems, Reporting & Process Improvement
- Assists with development of Oracle-based models for new origins/DCs
- Partners with analysts to develop reporting to support decision-making
- Continuously targets tracking/reporting functions for automation opportunities
- Standardizes SOPs and best practices for the International Transportation & Logistics Team
Scope
- Staff supervision and development: No
- Decision making: Acts independently as Costing's primary interface with International Logistics, providing clear information and instruction to 3rd-party Freight Auditor and HFT Accounting Team, as necessary. Also acts independently in managing RTV/QA shipments.
- Collects and evaluates data; provides clear recommendations and findings to senior leaders, enabling them to make informed decisions about business operations.; Provides consultive advice in area of expertise
- In consultation with Director, can issue instruction to Booking Agents pertaining to ocean carrier selection, inbound shipment routing, and other factors related to Network Optimization. Also works in conjunction with Director prior to approving service contract amendments.
- Travel: Up to 5%
- Flex Designation: Anywhere
The anticipated salary range for this position is $78,100 – $117,100 depending on location, knowledge, skills, education and experience. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits to Associates (and their families) such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability. Eligible Associates are able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan. Associates will accrue paid time off up to 236 hours per year (inclusive of PTO, floating holidays, and paid holidays). Paid sick time up to 80 hours per year unless otherwise required by law.
RequirementsEducation Requirments
- Minimum: High School or GED High School Degree Required
- Preferred: 4 Year / Bachelors Degree College Degree Preferred
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 3 years of experience (5 years preferred) in international logistics and transportation in a global company. It is essential to have worked with/for an ocean freight company and 3PL for imports.
Skills
- Knowledge of ocean carrier contracts, pricing, and operations is required.
- Advanced Excel and Access knowledge is preferred.
- Ability to work in BI platforms and logistics-focused visibility platforms is preferred
- Ability to work in a fast paced, organic and high-pressure environment where multiple key project deadlines must be met and completed on time, in addition to everyday functions and responsibilities.
- Ability to work independently and follow up with various departments, carriers, and vendors is a must.
- Flexibility and proactive nature to help in various projects, functions and unfamiliar areas is a must.
- Fluent Microsoft office skills
- Strong business acumen to understand and anticipate risk exposure for the business is a plus
- A sense of urgency and ownership
Physical Requirements
- Corporate - Remote - General office environment requiring ability to: *Stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time . *Speak and listen to others in person and over the phone and video conferencing. *Use keyboard and read from computer screen and reports. *The ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
Safety
- Must be able to perform this job safely in accordance with standard operating procedures and good manufacturing practices, without endangering the health or safety of self or others.
