North America Transportation Manager
- Full-time
- Office Locations: Leawood, KS
- Department: Operations
Company Description
Company Description
WireCo WorldGroup is the world's leader in manufacturing, engineering, and distributing wire rope, synthetic rope, specialized assemblies, wire products and electromechanical cable. We specialize in rope for the gas and oil industry for mining and off shore drilling, cranes, bridges and military installations.
WireCo® offers a competitive salary, incentive programs, growth opportunities, and excellent benefits offerings for employees and their families. Benefits include paid time off, paid holidays, medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with generous company match, 100% company-paid life insurance, and 100% company-paid disability insurance.
For more information, check out our website at www.wireco.com and the following videos:
Job Description
Role Description
The North America Transportation Manager is responsible for overseeing all domestic and cross-border transportation activities supporting WireCo entities the United States and Mexico. This role will manage a team who executes daily operations of inbound and outbound freight, export bookings and document creation, and international compliance. They will monitor and improve carrier service levels while balancing required cost against budget commitments, communicate and collaborate internally with WireCo teams to ensure orders ship timely. The ideal candidate will operate with transparency and lead continuous improvement initiatives to meet and exceed performance targets.
The North America Transportation Manager must exhibit and proactively motivate the behaviors of the WireCo Business System (WBS):
- Teamwork - welcomes an environment of inclusiveness and healthy debate that reflects our team’s strength
- Accountable – celebrates our successes, learn from failures, avoid excuses, and own the outcomes of our efforts
- Self-Aware – demonstrates an understanding of our strengths and needs, considering how our actions impact others
- Noble Intent – acts in the interests of others, approaching our work with integrity to ensure the best outcome
- Determined – takes initiative, share ideas and find solutions to win and achieve our goals
- Transparent – promotes open and honest communication and constructive feedback for clarity and truth
- Curious – seeks knowledge and outside input to test our way of thinking, challenging the status quo
Duties & Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for the day-to-day execution of domestic and cross-border transportation across North America, ensuring service performance, budget adherence, and compliance with regulatory and company standards across all modes and lanes
- Manage export and customs processes including export documentation accuracy, USMCA and FTA requirements, and 3PL partner compliance
- Lead transportation network planning, including quarterly US domestic and annual cross-border carrier RFPs, lane bid optimization, carrier onboarding, and routing guide governance to ensure cost competitiveness and service reliability
- Own quarterly carrier scorecards and establish business review rhythms with carriers and brokers; drive accountability, corrective action, and risk mitigation to protect service levels during capacity constraints and market volatility
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with core carriers and logistics partners, ensuring ethical performance, safety compliance, KPI achievement, and accurate invoice and freight audit execution
- Partner cross-functionally with customer care, fulfillment, supply planning, commercial teams, distribution centers, and plant operations to align forecasts, capacity planning, production schedules, OTD targets, and customer delivery requirements
- Own transportation-related continuous improvement and cost-to-serve initiatives, leveraging TMS optimization tools, KPI dashboards, freight analytics, and root-cause analysis to enhance service and reduce freight as a percentage of sales
- Oversee freight audit and payment accuracy, dispute resolution, claims management, and transportation KPI reporting; ensure data integrity and timely visibility to leadership
- Drive the adoption and optimal use of transportation technology, including TMS enhancements, automation opportunities, and data-driven decision making; partner with IT to troubleshoot and implement system improvements.
- Lead, train, coach, and develop team members and plant/DC partners to raise capability in logistics execution, compliance, customer service, systems usage, and transportation best practices
- Support global initiatives as part of WireCo’s broader transportation strategy, contributing North American transportation insights into network design, supplier benchmarking, sustainability workstreams, and standardization of best practices
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or a related field; Master’s degree or professional certification preferred
- 6+ years of increasing responsibility in transportation, logistics, or supply chain execution, with at least 2 years leading North American domestic and cross-border freight (U.S., Mexico, Canada)
- Proven experience managing a multi-modal network (LTL, TL, intermodal, parcel, ocean/air) and overseeing carrier performance, rate structures, and service KPIs
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret transportation data, develop KPI dashboards, lead root-cause problem solving, and present business insights to leadership
- Proficiency in Transportation Management Systems (TMS), ERP, and Microsoft Excel/Power BI; ability to drive system adoption and continuous improvement through technology
- Demonstrated knowledge of import/export regulations, international documentation, Incoterms, HTS classification, customs brokerage, and FTA requirements
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to influence internal stakeholders, partner with plant/DC leadership, and hold carriers accountable to performance standards
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, cost vs. revenue analysis, freight audit accuracy, and understanding of P&L impacts of transportation decisions
- Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast-paced, global, matrixed organization; ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining service and compliance
- Commitment to safety, sustainability, and ethical supplier engagement.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior leadership of RFP/bid events, routing guide design, and carrier procurement strategies
- Hands-on involvement in network optimization, cost-reduction initiatives, and KPI automation
- Previous success navigating peak demand periods, capacity shortages, port delays, labor disruptions, or other logistics volatility
- Bilingual in Spanish is a plus for cross-border operations
Additional Information
Additional Information
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.
- An applicant must complete a satisfactory background check post-offer of employment. A criminal conviction will not be an automatic bar to employment.
- Must be willing and able to pass a post-offer drug screen and physical (if required)
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability