Director, Logistics & Transportation

ABOUT PETMATE Petmate is a global leader in pet supply products, with trusted brands including Petmate®, Chuckit !®, Quirky Kitty ®, Vittles Vault®, Wild Eats® and Arm & Hammer®. Over 60 years ago, Petmate began with a focus on safe pet transportation, leading to the creation of the first dog kennel. Today, Petmate develops products that improve quality of life and strengthen the bond between people and their pets.

From environmentally responsible manufacturing to rigorous product testing, safety remains central to what we make and how we make it. Our portfolio of trusted brands features innovative solutions across several pet supplies categories including toys, feeding and watering, food storage, kennels, shelters, bedding, treats and more.

OUR WHY : To enrich families’ lives by cultivating the bond between people and their pets. OUR VISION : Families everywhere trust us to enhance their pets’ well-being at every step of the adventure. PETMATE CORE VALUES OWN IT! We take responsibility for our actions, decisions, and outcomes. STEADFAST DETERMINATION : We pursue what’s next with commitment and enthusiasm.

DO THE RIGHT THING : We align our actions with our values in every situation. SAFETY WITHOUT COMPROMISE : We prioritize the safety of employees, consumers, and pets without compromise.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a Director, Logistics & Transportation to join our dynamic team at Petmate. The Director, Logistics & Transportation is responsible for executing Petmate’s end-to-end logistics and transportation strategy across all modes—ocean, air, truckload, less-than-truckload, parcel, intermodal, and rail. This role ensures the reliable, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective movement of products from global suppliers and vendors through Petmate’s manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, internal and external warehouses, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer customers.

This position provides strategic and operational leadership across import operations, international and domestic transportation, freight procurement and contracting, carrier and 3PL management, e-commerce logistics, landed-cost optimization, and transportation performance. The Director also leads Petmate’s Traffic Department and the broader Logistics & Transportation organization, driving performance, process discipline, and continuous improvement.

The Director partners closely with Global Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Planning, Manufacturing, Distribution, Finance, Legal, Sales, Marketing, and New Product Development (NPD) to ensure products move through the supply chain at the right time, at the right cost, and at service levels that support the business and its customers.

The role has a significant impact on freight expense, inventory availability, customer service, chargebacks, working capital, landed cost, and overall supply chain effectiveness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities

Logistics Strategy & Network Management Partner with the SVP Supply Chain to develop and execute Petmate’s logistics and transportation strategy in alignment with corporate supply chain objectives. Oversee inbound and outbound logistics across internal facilities and external partners, including vendors, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, internal and external warehouses, 3PLs, and retailer distribution centers.

Establish and manage a robust network of exporters, freight forwarders, carriers, 3PLs, and other transportation providers. Ensure timely availability of transportation capacity to maintain uninterrupted product flow throughout the supply chain. Optimize the full order cycle and product flow, from purchase order through final customer delivery.

Develop contingency plans for port disruptions, capacity constraints, carrier issues, weather events, geopolitical events, regulatory changes, and other supply chain disruptions. Import Operations & International Transportation Direct the movement of imported products from international suppliers through origin ports, ocean and air transportation, U.

S. ports, coordination with Customs Compliance on clearance, and final delivery to distribution centers. Lead ocean and air freight programs across the global sourcing network, including carrier and routing strategies based on cost, service, capacity, transit time, and business requirements. Manage annual and periodic ocean freight procurement, contract negotiations, and carrier allocations.

Negotiate rates, capacity commitments, free-time provisions, and service expectations with ocean carriers, NVOCCs, freight forwarders, and logistics providers. Evaluate transportation options and recommend routing and mode decisions based on cost, urgency, inventory requirements, and customer needs. Monitor international freight markets and proactively communicate significant changes in rates, capacity, congestion, and service levels.

Domestic Transportation Provide operational leadership of domestic transportation supporting inbound, outbound, and inter-facility movements. Oversee truckload, less-than-truckload, parcel, intermodal, rail, drayage, and other domestic modes, ensuring transportation methods are safe, efficient, reliable, and cost-effective.

Lead carrier sourcing, negotiations, routing strategies, and transportation-provider relationships. Partner with Distribution to ensure transportation capacity supports customer delivery requirements and daily shipment targets. Monitor carrier performance, on-time pickup and delivery, freight claims, accessorial charges, and overall transportation service.

Identify opportunities to consolidate shipments, improve mode selection, optimize routing, and reduce transportation expense. Ensure compliance with domestic shipping regulations, including weight limits and hazardous materials handling requirements. E-Commerce & Customer Logistics Support transportation and compliance requirements for major retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer customers, including retailer routing guides and special customer requirements.

Partner with Sales, NPD, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Distribution to reduce SIOC (Ships in Own Container) charges and develop competitive logistics strategies that support e-commerce growth. Reduce customer chargebacks resulting from routing, compliance, or logistics issues through root-cause analysis and corrective action.

Manage e-commerce freight expense and parcel strategy to balance cost, speed, and customer experience. Import Planning & Product Flow Partner with Supply Planning, Sourcing, and Procurement to develop import plans based on purchase orders, production schedules, inventory requirements, and forecasted demand. Monitor international purchase-order flow and identify potential transportation, documentation, or customs delays before they affect inventory availability.

Stay informed on product availability, back-orders, and shortages, and provide visibility to expected arrival dates, transportation constraints, customs status, and supply chain risks. Develop strategies to prioritize and expedite critical shipments when necessary. Coordinate with distribution centers and warehouses to ensure inbound capacity aligns with expected volumes.

Support seasonal and promotional planning requiring significant increases in transportation capacity. Freight Cost & Financial Management Manage international and domestic transportation budgets and provide accurate freight forecasts for annual and long-range planning. Analyze ocean, air, drayage, parcel, LTL, truckload, rail, accessorial, demurrage, detention, warehouse storage, and other logistics-related expenses.

Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities without compromising service, compliance, or product availability. Partner with Finance to forecast freight and related supply chain expenses, and explain significant variances to budget. Prepare and present financial and operational reports to senior leadership on freight markets, tariffs, transportation strategies, sourcing decisions, and major cost changes.

Carrier, 3PL & Provider Management Lead strategic relationships with ocean carriers, domestic carriers, NVOCCs, freight forwarders, drayage providers, parcel carriers, 3PLs, and other logistics partners. Lead the creation and execution of RFPs for transportation and logistics services; negotiate terms, finalize agreements, and oversee implementation across inbound and outbound operations.

Negotiate cost-effective agreements covering transportation, loading, unloading, and storage services. Establish service-level agreements, performance expectations, and cost targets, and conduct regular business reviews with key providers. Hold providers accountable for service, cost, capacity, data accuracy, documentation, and issue resolution.

Processes, Systems & Performance Visibility Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent, efficient, and compliant execution of logistics activities. Leverage transportation management and logistics systems to track and report shipment data, including departure and arrival times, freight types, volumes, and associated costs.

Develop reporting and dashboards that provide visibility to international and domestic transportation performance. Use data and analytics to identify trends, service issues, capacity risks, and cost-saving opportunities. Troubleshoot and resolve shipping issues such as delays, missing cargo, and compliance discrepancies.

Cross-Functional Leadership Partner closely with Global Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Planning, Manufacturing, Distribution, Finance, Legal, Sales, Marketing, and NPD to align logistics strategies with business priorities. Provide leadership with clear visibility to freight conditions, transportation costs, capacity risks, product delays, and potential impacts to inventory and customer service.

Support sourcing and network decisions with transportation costs, lead times, tariff considerations, and total landed-cost analysis. Represent the logistics function in internal and external meetings with customers, providers, and regulatory authorities. Team Leadership Lead and develop Petmate’s Traffic Department. Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and development plans.

Develop and deliver training programs and lead logistics-related meetings. Build organizational expertise in international and domestic transportation, import operations, and landed-cost management. Promote a culture of accountability, urgency, continuous improvement, cost management, and service excellence. Support succession planning and strengthen Petmate’s overall logistics capabilities.

Performance Metrics & KPIs: Monitor and report on key logistics performance indicators, including: Daily shipments vs. targets Inbound and outbound freight cost vs. budget Transportation savings and cost avoidance Cost per container and shipment Import transit-time and lead-time reliability Domestic on-time pickup and delivery Customer delivery performance Chargebacks due to routing or logistics issues E-commerce freight expense SIOC-related extra costs Container and trailer utilization Demurrage, detention, and accessorial costs Freight claims Carrier, forwarder, 3PL, and broker performance SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Requirements: Proven experience managing high-volume import, transportation, and distribution operations.

Extensive experience with ocean freight, air freight, domestic transportation, carrier and 3PL management, and freight procurement. Strong contract negotiation experience with ocean carriers, domestic carriers, NVOCCs, freight forwarders, 3PLs, and logistics providers. Demonstrated experience managing significant transportation budgets and delivering cost-reduction strategies.

In-depth knowledge of domestic and international shipping regulations, including weight limits and hazardous materials handling. Proficiency in transportation management systems and logistics software for tracking and reporting shipment data. Strong understanding of global sourcing, purchase-order flow, inventory planning, distribution operations, and retail and e-commerce customer requirements.

Experience in consumer products, retail, or another high-volume import and distribution environment strongly preferred. Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, in support of a 24-hour operational environment.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, International Business, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA or equivalent advanced degree is a plus. 8+ years of progressive experience in logistics, transportation, imports, or global supply chain, including at least 3 years in a leadership role overseeing multimodal logistics operations.

Leadership Competencies: Supply chain and transportation leadership Strong negotiation and contract-management skills Financial and analytical insight Strong communication and presentation skills Carrier, broker, 3PL, and vendor management Operational problem solving Cross-functional influence and collaboration Risk management and contingency planning Organization and prioritization under tight deadlines Customer-service orientation Initiative, resourcefulness, and drive for continuous improvement Ability to balance cost, inventory, service, speed, and compliance PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. WORK ENVIRONMENT This position is based at our corporate office, which offers a professional, climate-controlled setting and fosters a collaborative and supportive atmosphere where teamwork and professional growth are highly valued.

The office is also pet-friendly, and employees should be comfortable working around dogs and other pets in shared spaces. While the primary work location is the corporate office, the role may occasionally require visits to manufacturing and distribution sites. These environments can be loud, are not climate-controlled, and require strict adherence to safety protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as closed-toe shoes, safety glasses, and hearing protection as needed.

Petmate is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.