Senior Transportation Associate

Position Summary:

Direct Supply is building the future of healthcare technology with industry-leading products, solutions and platforms to help improve the lives of millions of seniors and those who care for them.

In the Senior Transportation Associate position, you'll lead enterprise-level transportation initiatives across LTL freight, vendor strategy, pricing, and systems. You'll serve as a subject matter expert and primary owner of critical freight operations, manage high-value partnerships, and collaborate across functions to enhance speed of delivery and customer satisfaction. With strong analytical, sourcing, and system skills, you'll drive improvements in cost, performance, and partner experience.

Skills Needed:

• Provides Customer Value - Delivers cutting-edge, tech-driven solutions paired with outrageous customer service with an eye to profitability. Seizes opportunities that reward both the customer and DS, fostering robust customer relationships.

• Solves Problems - Uses technology and sharp logic to craft inventive solutions to complex issues, digging deep to tackle root causes. Conducts impartial analysis, leaving no stone unturned for comprehensive insights.

• Negotiates for Results - Navigates tough negotiations with finesse, securing wins without straining relationships. Quickly earns stakeholders' trust, balancing assertiveness with diplomacy.

• Optimizes Work Processes - Streamlines workflows by harnessing data, AI, and technology. Identifies opportunities for efficiency and incorporates new processes and technology. Defines new success measures.

• Strong analytical and negotiation skills to drive transportation performance and cost efficiency.

• Deep knowledge of freight systems and willingness to become a systems and domain expert.

• Proven ability to lead large-scale vendor relationships, ensuring alignment with operational goals.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with experience supporting customer-facing teams.

What You'll Do and Impact:

• Own the LTL freight strategy, overseeing daily operations and long-term program optimization.

• Manage the strategic relationship with 3PL LTL freight provider, including cost negotiations, performance management, and executive alignment.

• Lead resolution of freight damage claims and disputes, partnering with internal teams and external carriers to ensure timely outcomes.

• Support quoting and service-level requests, acting as a key resource to Customer Experience and Sales teams.

• Own LTL freight system tools and processes, including pricing logic, quoting functionality, and partner integrations.

• Identify and implement freight initiatives tied to delivery speed, customer satisfaction, and process efficiency.

• Partner in the development and execution of annual transportation budgets, forecasts, and pricing strategies.

• Produce high-impact freight reporting and analysis to inform decisions and influence improvements.

• Lead continuous improvement efforts across transportation processes and vendor engagements.

Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics, or a related field.

• 5-7 years of business experience, with 3+ years in freight, logistics, transportation, or sourcing roles.

• Demonstrated success in vendor negotiation, freight operations, and cost performance management.

• Advanced proficiency in Excel required; familiarity with Power BI, SQL, or transportation systems preferred.

Additional Items of Interest:

• Experience managing freight claims or carrier quoting systems preferred.

• Knowledge of logistics best practices, vendor scorecarding, or freight pricing optimization tools a plus.

• Demonstrated use of generative/LLM AI usage.