Manager, Transportation Procurement

What Transportation contributes to Cardinal Health
Operations is responsible for materials handling and product distribution in a distribution or manufacturing environment. Includes warehousing and fulfillment of materials and products, transportation, inventory management as well as demand, supply and manufacturing planning. Transportation is responsible for the movement of materials and products between suppliers, manufacturing, warehousing and the customer. Management of transportation assets and systems to gain greater service, cost efficiency and optimization of processes.

The Cardinal Health Transportation team delivers products and services that create differentiated customer experience while relentlessly improving speed, reliability, and cost through supply chain optimization. The Transportation Procurement team plays a central role in this mission by developing and deploying network-wide procurement strategies for first, middle and final-mile transportation services, ensuring best-in-class financial performance while maintaining the highest standards of service reliability and compliance.

Grow with a Leader in Healthcare Transportation

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a critical transportation procurement function within Cardinal Health. Following the promotion of the former manager, this role offers a highly visible leadership position with the ability to shape strategy and drive meaningful impact. You will lead a high-performing team responsible for sourcing and managing pharma transportation services supporting the movement of over 45 million annual shipments.

Position Summary

The Manager, Pharmaceutical Transportation Procurement leads strategic sourcing, contracting, and supplier management including truckload, courier, yard management and temperature-controlled activities. This role partners closely with Operations, Finance, and IT teams to align procurement decisions with operational execution. The position owns transportation procurement budgeting, leads large-scale savings initiatives, and routinely presents strategic recommendations and results to senior and executive leadership. This leader is responsible for driving long-term value through contract development, carrier partnerships, and data-driven decision-making.

Location

This is a hybrid role based in Columbus, Ohio; with expectations to be in-office 3 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team: Mentor, guide, and empower a team of procurement professionals, set clear performance expectations and support professional development aligned with organizational goals.
• Drive Multi-Year Strategy: Design and execute a long-term transportation procurement strategy that aligns with enterprise-wide logistics goals, focusing on cost optimization, risk mitigation, and service enhancement.
• Spearhead Strategic Sourcing and Negotiations: Lead the end-to-end procurement process, from RFPs to contract negotiations including bid evaluations, negotiations, and final contract execution. Build business cases and ROI analyses for sourcing initiatives, network changes, and strategic investments. Collaborate with Legal, Risk, and Compliance partners to ensure contracts meet regulatory, insurance, and governance requirements.
• Develop and Manage Carrier Partnerships: Cultivate strong relationships with key carriers, establish robust business rules, performance metrics, and governance to ensure accountability and world-class service.
• Champion Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilize analytics and market intelligence to develop new practices, benchmark performance, and provide executive-level insights that inform logistics strategy.
• Collaborate and Influence: Serve as a key liaison between the procurement team and cross-functional partners (Operations, Finance, IT) and present strategic recommendations to senior leadership to drive critical business decisions.
• Budgeting and Financial Ownership: Own the transportation procurement budget, including annual planning, multi-year forecasting, and ongoing expense management across all modes. Develop detailed variance analysis and track realized vs. projected savings, ensuring transparency and accuracy in financial reporting.
• Executive Stakeholder Engagement and Savings Leadership Translate complex transportation and market data into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership. Influence key decisions by balancing financial impact, operational risk, service requirements, and long-term strategy.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field, or equivalent work experience, preferred
• Advance Degree a plus
• 8-12 years of experience preferred
• Supply Chain Certification (i.e. APICS) preferred
• Proficiency with analytics and planning tools (e.g., SQL, Alteryx, Tableau)
• Experience with ERP/TMS platforms preferred (e.g., SAP, Manhattan, Pando/Freehand)
• Ability to travel up to 20%
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office products
• Multi-modal domestic transportation background preferred
• Working knowledge of logistics management technologies preferred

What is expected of you and others at this level

• Manages department operations and supervises professional employees, front line supervisors and/or business support staff
• Participates in the development of policies and procedures to achieve specific goals
• Ensures employees operate within guidelines
• Decisions have a short-term impact on work processes, outcomes and customers
• Interacts with subordinates, peers, customers, and suppliers at various management levels; may interact with senior management
• Interactions normally involve resolution of issues related to operations and/or projects
• Gains consensus from various parties involved

Anticipated salary range: $87,700 - $137,800

Bonus eligible: Yes

Benefits: Cardinal Health offers a wide variety of benefits and programs to support health and well-being.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage

• Paid time off plan

• Health savings account (HSA)

• 401k savings plan

• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay

• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• Work-Life resources

• Paid parental leave

• Healthy lifestyle programs

Application window anticipated to close: 6/20/2026 *if interested in opportunity, please submit application as soon as possible.

The salary range listed is an estimate. Pay at Cardinal Health is determined by multiple factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s geographical location, relevant education, experience and skills and an evaluation of internal pay equity.

Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day. Cardinal Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

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