Midland Industries

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Global Logistics Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing logistics operations across the United States and Canada, including inbound and outbound freight, carrier management, cross-border shipping, customs documentation, logistics compliance, cost control, and service performance. Global ocean carrier management is a critical aspect of this role. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure materials and finished goods move safely, efficiently, accurately, and cost-effectively across from global suppliers and through Midland’s distribution, manufacturing, supplier, international consolidation operations, domestic deconsolidation points, and customer network. The Global Logistics Manager partners closely with Gemspring (PE firm), Core Trust, Operations, Sales, Customer Service, IT, Procurement, Finance, Warehousing, and third-party logistics partners to improve freight reliability, strengthen logistics processes, reduce cost, and support scalable growth across North America and globally from our suppliers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Logistics Strategy & Network Optimization

• Develop and execute global logistics strategy that supports in-bound transportation from suppliers into North America. Develop, recommend, and get executive approval for Global Origin Management supplier program, consolidation operations, and deconsolidation operations. Once approved, implement and manage the on-going operations.
• Develop and execute a North American logistics strategy that supports service reliability, cost efficiency, customer experience, and operational scalability across the U.S. and Canada.
• Evaluate freight lanes, shipment volume, delivery requirements, carrier capacity, and distribution patterns to identify opportunities for consolidation, routing improvements, service enhancements, and cost reduction.
• Establish standardized logistics processes, operating procedures, documentation expectations, and performance measures across locations.
• Negotiate contracts and rates with suppliers. Implement metrics to manage costs and service levels.
• Develop, recommend, and get executive approval for a freight audit and pay supplier
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain leadership to align logistics capabilities with business growth, inventory flow, customer commitments, supplier strategy, and acquisition integration needs.
• Lead logistics integration activities for businesses acquired by Midland.
• Work closely with Gemspring and their Core Trust logistics management structure.

Freight, Carrier & Third-Party Logistics Management

• Manage relationships with ocean carriers, parcel, LTL, truckload, expedited, cross-border, freight forwarder, customs broker, and third-party logistics providers. This position must have a strong market knowledge of logistics rates and provide benchmarking to leadership to ensure Midland’s rates are industry competitive.
• Lead carrier selection, rate negotiations, freight bid processes, service reviews, and contract recommendations in partnership with Procurement, Finance, and Operations. Contract management and administration of the agreements are required.
• Monitor carrier performance, on-time delivery, claims, accessorial charges, freight spend, shipment accuracy, and service failures; implement corrective actions when performance does not meet expectations.
• Ensure logistics providers understand Midland’s customer service expectations, documentation standards, compliance requirements, and escalation protocols.

Cross-Border Compliance, Documentation & Risk Management

• Oversee cross-border logistics processes between the United States and Canada, including customs documentation, commercial invoices, bills of lading, certificates of origin, broker coordination, and required shipment records.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of applicable transportation, customs, import/export, hazardous material, and trade compliance requirements; ensure processes are aligned with legal, regulatory, and company standards.
• Working knowledge of the global US tariff policy. Working closely with Sourcing and Finance, track and report on tariffs.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and external customs brokers to resolve customs delays, border holds, classification questions, documentation discrepancies, and compliance concerns.
• Support development, maintenance, and training of logistics SOPs, compliance controls, and documentation standards to reduce risk and improve audit readiness.

Operational Execution & Continuous Improvement

• Provide leadership and escalation support for high-priority shipments, customer delivery issues, freight disruptions, claims, damage concerns, and urgent operational needs.
• Analyze freight spend, shipment trends, service levels, claims, delivery exceptions, and carrier performance to identify root causes and drive measurable improvements.
• Improve visibility, reporting, and data accuracy in ERP, TMS, carrier portals, and other logistics systems used to manage shipments and freight costs.
• Collaborate with warehouse and operations teams to improve shipping accuracy, packaging standards, pickup scheduling, dock flow, and handoffs between departments.

Leadership, Team Development & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Lead, coach, and develop logistics team members, ensuring clear priorities, accountability, training, and consistent execution of logistics processes.
• Serve as the primary logistics subject matter expert for internal teams, providing guidance on shipping options, cost implications, customer delivery expectations, and cross-border requirements.
• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, Finance, IT, Procurement, Operations, and site leaders to balance cost, speed, compliance, and customer satisfaction.
• Support change management related to new carriers, systems, locations, acquisitions, process improvements, and logistics standardization across the organization.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong knowledge of North American transportation, cross-border logistics, carrier management, customs documentation, freight terms, and logistics compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead logistics operations across multiple locations, business units, or regions.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret freight data, cost trends, service metrics, carrier performance, and operational root causes.
• Experience negotiating with carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and third-party logistics providers.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to influence stakeholders, escalate issues appropriately, and explain logistics tradeoffs clearly.
• Ability to build standardized processes, SOPs, dashboards, and controls that improve consistency and reduce operational risk.
• Ability to work closely with the business, IT, and Finance to implement origin management solution, transportation management system, outbound carrier delivery tracking, and freight audit and pay.
• Strong systems aptitude, including experience with ERP, TMS, WMS, freight audit tools, carrier portals, Microsoft Excel, and reporting platforms.
• Effective leader who can manage competing priorities, resolve time-sensitive shipment issues, and drive accountability in a fast-paced environment.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Strong negotiation skills, are required
• Strategic thinker with strong operational execution capability
• Data-driven leader who uses metrics to improve cost, service, and reliability
• Process-oriented problem solver with strong continuous improvement mindset
• Influential cross-functional partner who can align competing priorities
• Strong financial acumen and ability to balance cost, risk, and customer impact
• Calm and decisive under pressure when resolving urgent logistics issues
• High attention to detail, documentation accuracy, and compliance discipline
• Change leader who builds scalable processes across locations and teams

SUCCESS MEASURES:

• Improved freight cost visibility, control, and savings through carrier strategy, bid management, and lane optimization
• Improved on-time delivery, shipment reliability, and customer delivery experience across the U.S. and Canada
• Reduced freight claims, documentation issues, customs delays, accessorial charges, and avoidable service failures
• Standardized logistics processes and documentation practices across locations
• Stronger carrier, customs broker, and 3PL accountability through regular performance reviews and corrective action plans
• Improved logistics reporting, KPI tracking, and leadership visibility into freight performance
• Effective team development, improved issue resolution, and stronger cross-functional confidence in logistics support

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, Operations, International Business, or a related field required.
• 7+ years of progressive logistics, transportation, distribution, or supply chain experience required.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams, projects, carriers, 3PLs, or cross-functional logistics initiatives preferred.
• Experience managing Global Ocean Carrier, U.S. and Canada cross-border shipments, customs broker relationships, freight documentation, and customs-related issue resolution strongly preferred.
• Experience in distribution, manufacturing, industrial products, wholesale, or multi-location operations preferred.
• Professional certification such as APICS CLTD, CSCP, Lean Six Sigma, or customs/trade compliance certification preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to visit warehouse, shipping, receiving, or distribution areas as needed.
• May occasionally need to lift, move, or inspect packages, samples, or shipping materials up to 25 pounds.
• Will require occasional travel to global consolidation operations, company locations, carrier sites, customer locations, or logistics partner facilities in the U.S. and Canada.