Freight Forwarding Manager Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

IJW Whiskey Company, LLC (IJW) is a dynamic, fully integrated spirits company. Founded in 2017, we’ve compiled the largest independent library of aged Kentucky bourbon and rye and established a global presence including offices in Beverly Hills, Louisville and Tokyo, Japan, a 40-acre campus in Danville. Our ambitious growth trajectory includes a new whiskey distillery in Shelbyville, KY, slated for completion in early 2026, and a Japanese distillery in Chitose that will be completed in late 2026.
With over 100 years of combined industry expertise, our diverse team of seasoned professionals and dynamic newcomers has propelled IJW to the forefront of the spirits industry. Our strategic partnership with one of the nation's largest independent Wine & Spirits distributors has enabled us to offer 22 products across four unique private label bourbon brands in 28 states. We have added to our spirits portfolio with our first Tequila and Mezcal brands.

Summary:

We are looking for a Supply Chain Manager to oversee and enhance our supply chain processes.  Reporting to our Director of Procurement, the ideal candidate will be responsible for managing the finished goods supply chain, ensuring seamless operations and cost-effectiveness. The Supply Chain Manager will collaborate with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and logistics partners to optimize inventory management, reduce lead times, and maintain the highest service standards.

Job Responsibilities:

• Supply Chain Operations & Optimization
  • Own end-to-end supply chain operations for finished goods, including imports/exports, warehousing, logistics, inventory management, and distribution across the U.S. 3-tier system.
  • Lead demand planning, inventory optimization, and S&OP to balance service, inventory, and operational efficiency.
  • Manage relationships with co-packers, bottling partners, freight forwarders, customs brokers, warehouses, and other supply chain partners to ensure reliable execution and scalable operations.
  • Support supply chain readiness for new product launches, business expansion, and future manufacturing initiatives.
  • Develop and monitor KPIs for inventory health, OTIF, lead times, fill rates, and logistics costs.
• Risk Management & Continuity
  • Develop risk mitigation strategies for suppliers, logistics, inventory, regulatory compliance, and global trade disruptions.
  • Establish contingency inventory, alternate sourcing, and backup logistics plans for critical materials and SKUs.
  • Ensure compliance with import/export, customs, TTB, FDA, and bonded warehousing regulations.
• Strategic Sourcing & Category Management
  • Support sourcing strategies for barrels, grains, flavors, ingredients, and other key materials, including supplier qualification, negotiations, contract management, and market analysis.
  • Partner on supplier performance, cost reduction, and sourcing initiatives that improve continuity, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Collaborate with procurement, production, quality, finance, sales, and commercial teams to align supply chain strategy with business goals.
  • Build strong partnerships with co-packers and bottling partners to support production planning, capacity, service levels, and growth.
  • Provide leadership with regular reporting on supply chain performance, risks, opportunities, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Operations, or a related field; MBA or other advanced degree is an asset.
• 3–5+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, logistics, procurement, or operations, preferably in beverage alcohol, CPG, food & beverage, or other regulated industries.
• Experience managing international imports, customs, freight forwarding, bonded warehousing, and global logistics, including imports from markets such as Japan and Mexico.
• Working knowledge of TTB, FDA, import/export regulations, USMCA, and compliance requirements related to alcohol distribution and the U.S. 3-tier system.
• Proven experience optimizing logistics networks, reducing landed costs, improving service levels, managing inventory, and supporting demand planning, forecasting, and S&OP.
• Experience managing relationships with co-packers, bottling partners, 3PL providers, freight carriers, and international suppliers.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, inventory planning tools, and transportation management systems.
• Experience supporting new product launches, supply chain scaling, strategic sourcing, category management, and continuous improvement initiatives, including KPIs, dashboards, and process automation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, negotiation, vendor management, and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.