Description

Supply Chain Logistics Manager

The Supply Chain Logistics Manager in Lenoir, NC will be responsible for leading supplier management, supply planning integration, and logistics operations across Wild Fork Foods’ network. This role ensures alignment of 12-month rolling supplier forecasts with logistics execution, driving efficiency from supplier production through cross-dock operations and final store delivery. The manager will own supplier logistics performance, including OTIF compliance, penalty management, and warehouse allowance forecasting, while also implementing cost-saving logistics programs. Key objectives include reducing inbound supplier freight costs by 15% and achieving 25% annual reductions in store logistics costs. Strong experience in supplier collaboration, supply planning, and Transportation Management Systems (TMS) is required; 4PL experience is highly beneficial.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Supplier Management
  • Forecast Automation & Communication
    • Develop and maintain automated processes for sharing 12-month rolling forecasts with 200+ suppliers.
    • Enhance accuracy and timeliness of supplier forecast visibility to improve supply planning outcomes.
  • Supplier Performance Reporting
    • Build and distribute monthly supplier scorecards, including KPIs such as On-Time-In-Full (OTIF), noncompliance penalties, and forecast accuracy.
    • Provide actionable insights to suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive continuous improvement.
  • Supplier Communication
    • Manage and distribute weekly supplier newsletters with key updates, performance trends, and planning requirements.
    • Standardize communications to ensure consistent messaging across the supplier base.
  • Compliance & Penalty Management
    • Streamline monitoring and reporting of supplier OTIF performance and noncompliance penalties.
    • Partner with internal finance and procurement teams to track recovery and accountability.
  • Warehouse Allowance Forecasting
    • Forecast supplier warehouse allowances and track against budget.
    • Support Finance and Supply Chain in planning, variance analysis, and monthly reporting.
  • Process Automation & Continuous Improvement
    • Identify and implement automation opportunities across supplier management, reporting, and planning processes.
    • Support development of dashboards and tools (Excel, Power BI, Python, or other platforms) to improve efficiency and transparency.
    • Procure to Pay Automation using supplier portal
• Inbound Freight Program
  • Design and implement an inbound supplier freight program that reduces costs by 15%.
  • Optimize carrier and 3PL/4PL partnerships, leveraging consolidation and backhaul opportunities.
• Distribution & Store Logistics
  • Oversee distribution to Wild Fork retail stores, ensuring service excellence while reducing costs by 25% annually.
  • Develop innovative last-mile and store delivery solutions tailored to frozen food requirements.
  • Cross-Dock Management
    • Manage Wild Fork’s 8+ cold chain cross-dock operations, driving throughput efficiency, quality, and service reliability.
    • Establish KPIs to track utilization, cost, and supplier compliance.
  • TMS & 4PL Operations
    • Lead daily execution and continuous improvement within the TMS for both inbound and outbound flows.
    • Partner with 4PLs to enhance visibility, accountability, and performance across the network.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or related field strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in supply planning, supplier management, and logistics operations is required. 
  • Experience in the food/retail space is strongly preferred
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, etc.) strongly preferred.
• Experience developing business applications in Python (automation, reporting, analytics) preferred.
• Exposure to or interest in AI/ML tools for supply chain forecasting and optimization is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to interpret complex data sets.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with ability to translate data into actionable insights for suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities.
• Proven track record in reducing inbound and distribution logistics costs.
• Hands-on experience with TMS (required) and experience with 4PL (preferred).
• Strong supplier collaboration experience required
• Advanced Excel and experience is required.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-growth, data-driven environment.