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A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We’re looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now!
THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING:
The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.
The Managing Director, Transportation serves as the enterprise leader responsible for shaping and executing Smithfield Foods’ end‑to‑end transportation strategy across North America and reports directly to the Vice President of Supply Chain. This role is accountable for ensuring transportation capabilities enable growth, protect product integrity, optimize cost, and support Smithfield’s commitment to operational excellence and customer service.
In this highly visible role, you will set the long‑term vision for transportation and logistics, balancing service, efficiency, risk, and scalability in a complex, refrigerated, short‑shelf‑life supply chain. You will partner closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, Sales, and Finance to ensure transportation strategy is fully integrated with business priorities. As a senior leader, you will build and lead a high‑performing organization, drive transformation through data and technology, and serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on network strategy, capacity risk, and investment decisions.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.
Enterprise Transportation Strategy: Own and execute the enterprise transportation vision aligned to Smithfield’s growth, network strategy, and business priorities; proactively anticipate market shifts in capacity, labor, fuel, and regulation.
Operational Excellence: Provide oversight of transportation operations to ensure safe, compliant, reliable, and cost‑effective execution across private fleet, dedicated fleet, and common carrier models.
Performance Management: Establish enterprise KPIs, governance, and operating rhythms to improve asset utilization, service levels, fuel efficiency, driver optimization, and cost per mile.
Technology & Digital Enablement: Lead transportation technology strategy, including TMS, routing optimization, visibility tools, and emerging innovations; drive adoption and enterprise change management.
Transformation Leadership: Champion large‑scale transformation initiatives spanning process redesign, technology enablement, organizational capability, and ways of working.
Financial Stewardship: Own the enterprise transportation budget, including forecasting, cost control, productivity initiatives, and clear articulation of financial trade‑offs to executive leadership.
Risk Management: Identify and mitigate transportation‑related risks, including capacity constraints, regulatory exposure, safety, and supply chain disruptions.
Carrier & Network Strategy: Partner with Procurement to define carrier strategy and negotiate long‑term contracts; ensure strong carrier performance, SLA compliance, and alignment to Smithfield standards.
Brokerage & Capacity Optimization: Oversee brokerage and external capacity strategies to effectively leverage both internal assets and external partners.
Leadership Development: Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing transportation leadership team capable of operating at enterprise scale.
Culture & Accountability: Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the transportation organization.
Customer Impact: Ensure transportation capabilities consistently support customer expectations for on‑time, in‑full delivery; lead cross‑functional resolution of systemic service issues.
Executive Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and Commercial teams on transportation strategy and performance.
WHAT WE’RE SEEKING:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Supply Chain or related field and 15+ years’ relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
7+ years’ experience in a position of leadership to include team development and management, required.
Proven senior leadership experience leading large, geographically dispersed teams.
Deep expertise across private fleet, dedicated fleet, and common carrier transportation models.
Strong financial acumen with demonstrated success managing large budgets and delivering measurable cost savings.
Experience operating in temperature‑controlled, food or consumer products supply chains preferred.
Demonstrated ability to lead transformational initiatives spanning technology, process, and organizational change.
Executive presence with the ability to influence senior leadership and align cross‑functional stakeholders.
OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT:
An MBA, Master’s in Supply Chain Management, or other relevant advanced degree that enhances strategic and operational insight.
Capability to drive operational excellence through methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma, including process mapping, continuous improvement, and waste reduction.
Prior knowledge of operating a freight brokerage leveraging internal assets and external carrier partners.
EEO Information
Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.