Supply Chain & Distribution Director

Position Overview

The Supply Chain & Distribution Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of our supply chain from procurement and production to logistics and distribution, ensuring efficient, consistent and cost effective operations across North America.

This role manages a team that is directly responsible for all aspects of storage and distribution of product whether internal at our Toronto location, or external at 3PL (Third-party Logistics) Americold facilities in Pedricktown, NJ and Compton, CA and any supplemental sites where we store product.

This role provides leadership and direction in the development, deployment and implementation of programs, systems, and initiatives related to the compliance, handling, inventory control and coordination of transportation related systems and processes with a focus on continuous improvement.

The Supply Chain & Distribution Director collaborates with multiple internal stakeholders from New Zealand based Supply Chain Programme Director, North American Sales Teams, Operations Teams and Logistics & Warehouse Teams. Additionally, is the key liaison with Americold, various regional 3PLs, Logistics & Transportation Carriers and Port Authorities.

Major Responsibilities

1. Develop and Execute Supply Chain & Distribution Strategy: Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive Supply Chain & Distribution strategy to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and ensure timely delivery of goods that drives business growth. Use systems, tools, process improvements for procurement, planning, logistics, fulfillment, warehousing and inventory management. Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate metrics related to various service level agreements: customer fulfilment, inventory turns, days of supply, and on-time and in-full delivery. Implement score cards and hold partners accountable.
2. Leadership: Lead and manage a highly effective team that is focused on meeting or exceeding individual and organization performance targets. Ensures that the team is fully staffed, trained on and understands business goals, risks, remedies, and direction. Establishes and implements KPIs for all direct reports. Monitors and manages direct report performance to ensure achievement of departmental and individual KPIs. Coaches, mentors, develops and recommends professional development for team members to enhance skills and understanding. Administers the Company’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures with respect to hiring, management, discipline, and performance review decisions. Leads by example and corrects behavior in others to reflect Company values.
3. Supply Chain & Distribution Planning and Budgeting: In conjunction with team members, develop annual Supply Chain & Distribution plans and budgets, and ensure alignment with company goals and objectives. Monitor, validate, analyze and communicate monthly cost variance and create plan to rectify. Negotiate and monitor various transportation and warehouse contracts to manage costs to budget and improve return on investment. Responsible for P&L and managing a cost center.
4. Standardization, Optimization and Innovation: Develop and implement standardized distribution and warehousing processes across multiple sites, driving improvements through process reengineering, digitalization and emerging technologies. Optimize warehouse space utilization, inventory accuracy, flow of goods and productivity. Continuously refine metrics for best-in-class route-to-market operations. Drive best practices and a continuous improvement mindset.
5. Procurement and Sourcing: Negotiate contracts with all dry goods and packaging suppliers to leverage synergies and scale across the network. Manage relationships and ensure the timely and cost-effective procurement of materials to support product fulfillment and mitigate risk.
6. Inventory Management: Oversee the planning, execution and control of the movement and storage of goods, including warehousing and transportation. Optimize inventory levels to meet demand while minimizing storage costs and potential obsolescence. Manage or direct others to complete warehouse and carrier claims and implement processes to mitigate risk of repeated claims.
7. Collaboration and Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including sales, operations, and product teams. Identify, drive and manage improvements in the Sales & Operations Planning process to result in higher forecast accuracy and improved customer service levels and working capital metrics. Organize and enable the Demand Planning process with all stakeholders and planning and forecasting tools.

Key Success Measures

• Contracts are in place, monitored and managed effectively
• Direct reports are supported with appropriate KPIs and performing to expectations
• Right product is in the right location at the right time
• Surveyed and measured 3rd party supplier, Sales, and customer feedback scores meet or exceed target around quality, service, and product availability

Qualifications & Considerations for the Position

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain & Distribution, Business, or related field
• Association for Supply Chain Management Certification such as: CTSC (Certified in Transformation for Supply Chain), CPIM (Certified in Planning & Inventory Management), CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional), or CLTD (Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution)
• 10 or more years of Supply Chain & Distribution experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within food manufacturing, cold storage or Consumer Packaged Goods industry
• Strong understanding of Supply Chain & Distribution principles, Lean or Continuous Improvement principles, and how to leverage best practices across multiple sites
• Excellent leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze data and develop insights to inform Supply Chain & Distribution strategies
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Strong change management capabilities to enable process improvements and scaling the business
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a high volume, multi priority work environment
• Proven organizational, interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to multitask and work independently and through a team to deliver results with a sense of urgency and attention to detail 
• High level proficiency with MS Office, and ERP, organizational business processes and supply chain practices, including expert level understanding of the flow of materials and information, supply planning, inventory management and master data

Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

The Lamb Company is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law.

The Lamb Company is committed to providing an accessible and barrier-free environment. Accommodations are available on request for candidates throughout the selection process. Please contact Human Resources if accommodation is required.