Job Description:
Are you a hands-on leader in agriculture with a passion for driving growth and process improvements? Do you have a knack for logistics, teamwork, and managing a key part of a thriving farming operation as if it were your own? If this sounds like you, we have an exciting opportunity!
Our client, a forward-thinking grower-shipper of fresh vegetables, has seen significant growth in recent years due to their unwavering commitment to quality, customer service, and a family- oriented culture. This growth has created new opportunities for them to enhance their operations even further.
We're looking for a motivated Transportation Manager, Harvesting &Field Operations to take charge of logistics and keep their farming operations running smoothly. This role involve overseeing the movement of raw products, materials, and equipment to ensure everything arrives on time, supporting efficient farming activities. As a transportation expert with strong business acumen and people skills, you’ll be instrumental in driving their logistics operations to new heights.
While the team is already delivering results, there is room for improvement in their logistics systems and processes. Your role will be to enhance these operations, support the team in achieving even greater efficiency, and foster a collaborative environment.
This is a unique chance to make a lasting impact in a dynamic and growing agricultural business. With competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for growth, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your expertise and truly make this role your own.
Responsibilities:
- Transportation Planning: Develop and implement transportation strategies that optimize the movement of raw agricultural products, machinery, and supplies to and from their farms.
- Budget and Cost Management: Develop and manage the transportation budget, analyzing expenses and identifying cost-saving opportunities while maintaining quality and efficiency.
- Reporting: Prepare regular reports on transportation metrics, including key performance indicators (KPIs), and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Fleet Management: Oversee the utilization of the company's fleet of trucks, trailers, and outside haulers, ensuring they are in top working condition and compliant with regulations.
- Regional Transitions: Responsible for coordinating, overseeing, strategizing, and implementing the transition to Yuma, AZ, as well as the subsequent return to the Salinas Valley.
- Team Leadership: Lead a team of 3 supervisors and 25 indirect reports.
- Vendor Management: Collaborate with external transportation partners and vendors, negotiating contracts and maintaining strong working relationships.
- Communication: Effectively collaborate and communicate with all department supervisors on transportation needs.
- Safety: Promote a culture of safety within the transportation department, implementing safety protocols and conducting regular safety training for drivers and staff.
- Maintenance: Collaborate with maintenance department on equipment preventive maintenance programs, including required BIT inspections schedule.
- DOT/FMCSA/CHP Compliance: Manage all inspections and audits and monitor FMCSA reports online
- Records Management: Manage records and documentation related to DOT compliance including Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIR), hours of service, daily inspections and timekeeping records.
- Manage Drivers: Manage and plan schedules and shifts.
- Fuel Management: Develop and maintain fuel usage program for commercial trucks.
- Fleet Tracking System: Oversee the effective utilization of company GPS tracking software and reports.
Qualifications:
- Strong track record of success leading and motivating teams, fostering a positive work environment and managing people effectively.
- Proven ability to optimize the movement of agricultural products and supplies, developing and implementing effective transportation strategies.
- Expert experience in overseeing and maintaining a fleet of commercial trucks and trailers, ensuring compliance with California (CHP) and Federal DOT regulations (including FMCSA).
- Experience managing a P&L and driving profitability.
- Willingness to dive in and take ownership of the department's operations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale transitions, manage budgets, and implement systems and processes that drive efficiency and cost savings.
- Strong analytical skills for expense analysis, cost-saving identification, and reporting on transportation metrics.
- Willingness to travel extensively or relocate to Yuma during peak seasons.
- Experience with GPS fleet tracking systems and proficiency in creating transportation metrics reports.
- Fluency in Spanish (preferred).
Our company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law.
This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits and termination.