Vice President of Transportation

Overview

This leadership role is responsible for comprehensive operational and financial oversight of the Kroger transportation network. It involves planning, directing, and enhancing inbound and outbound transportation operations, including store deliveries, inbound vendor shipments, 3PL carrier strategies, private fleet management, and maintenance of commercial and delivery vehicles. The position also encompasses developing corporate transportation policies, influencing vendor freight programs, leading the enterprise procurement of transportation equipment and supplies, and managing global import transportation and distribution center activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all inbound and outbound transportation operations, managing service, profit and loss, budgeting, and strategic initiatives.
• Monitor weekly financial performance and profitability, ensure load commitments from vendors are met, and identify opportunities for market growth.
• Manage vendor service compliance, assessing penalties related to critical supply chain and merchant metrics such as fill rate, service levels, and pallet quality.
• Use weekly and monthly KPIs to uphold service, cost, and capacity agreements with carrier vendors.
• Collaborate with buyers and merchandising teams to drive channel decision processes and implement network operational changes, including consolidation and direct store delivery initiatives.
• Partner cross-functionally with merchants, sourcing, and vendors to reduce costs of goods sold by analyzing and minimizing supply chain expenses within SKU base costs.
• Manage day-to-day operations and conduct weekly KPI reviews to align with store and merchant requirements.
• Lead the launch and operational management of a brokerage subsidiary to support Kroger transportation needs, including staffing, systems implementation, and market strategy development.
• Guide continuous network planning and design to identify capacity risks and develop solutions to meet store demand.
• Provide leadership and coaching to direct reports, conduct performance evaluations, and foster accountability.
• Demonstrate and uphold company values including respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years in progressive supply chain or logistics roles with direct responsibility for transportation operations, specifically inbound and outbound, within retail or major consumer products industries.
• At least 7 years of experience in warehousing, supply chain operations, freight hauling, retail direct store delivery, and backhauling.
• Proven leadership of multi-site and national transportation programs and teams.
• Experience managing large, diverse teams and influencing senior stakeholders across multiple functions including Operations, Merchandising, Finance, Legal, Safety, and Procurement.
• Senior leadership experience in transportation at major shippers or retailers, or procurement of supply chain services with national scope.
• Strong executive communication skills with the ability to translate complex operational issues into financial and service implications for senior management.
• Demonstrated change management capabilities to foster adoption, manage resistance, and maintain performance post-implementation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) or advanced degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, or Engineering.

Additional Information

The role requires the capacity to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations. Leadership includes ownership of Supply Chain Analytics, vendor compliance penalties, and 3PL consolidation operations. This position is fully onsite in Nashville, Tennessee and emphasizes the company’s commitment to core values including respect, integrity, diversity, and safety.