Director, Logistics & Transportation

ABOUT PETMATE

Petmate is a global leader in pet supply products, with trusted brands including Petmate®, Chuckit!®, Quirky Kitty ®, Vittles Vault®, Wild Eats® and Arm & Hammer®. Over 60 years ago, Petmate began with a focus on safe pet transportation, leading to the creation of the first dog kennel. Today, Petmate develops products that improve quality of life and strengthen the bond between people and their pets. From environmentally responsible manufacturing to rigorous product testing, safety remains central to what we make and how we make it. Our portfolio of trusted brands features innovative solutions across several pet supplies categories including toys, feeding and watering, food storage, kennels, shelters, bedding, treats and more.

OUR WHY: To enrich families’ lives by cultivating the bond between people and their pets.

OUR VISION: Families everywhere trust us to enhance their pets’ well-being at every step of the adventure.

PETMATE CORE VALUES

OWN IT! We take responsibility for our actions, decisions, and outcomes.

STEADFAST DETERMINATION: We pursue what’s next with commitment and enthusiasm.

DO THE RIGHT THING: We align our actions with our values in every situation.

SAFETY WITHOUT COMPROMISE: We prioritize the safety of employees, consumers, and pets without compromise.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a Director, Logistics & Transportation to join our dynamic team at Petmate. The Director, Logistics & Transportation is responsible for executing Petmate’s end-to-end logistics and transportation strategy across all modesocean, air, truckload, less-than-truckload, parcel, intermodal, and rail. This role ensures the reliable, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective movement of products from global suppliers and vendors through Petmate’s manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, internal and external warehouses, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer customers.

This position provides strategic and operational leadership across import operations, international and domestic transportation, freight procurement and contracting, carrier and 3PL management, e-commerce logistics, landed-cost optimization, and transportation performance. The Director also leads Petmate’s Traffic Department and the broader Logistics & Transportation organization, driving performance, process discipline, and continuous improvement.

The Director partners closely with Global Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Planning, Manufacturing, Distribution, Finance, Legal, Sales, Marketing, and New Product Development (NPD) to ensure products move through the supply chain at the right time, at the right cost, and at service levels that support the business and its customers. The role has a significant impact on freight expense, inventory availability, customer service, chargebacks, working capital, landed cost, and overall supply chain effectiveness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key Responsibilities:

1. Logistics Strategy & Network Management
   • Partner with the SVP Supply Chain to develop and execute Petmate’s logistics and transportation strategy in alignment with corporate supply chain objectives.
   • Oversee inbound and outbound logistics across internal facilities and external partners, including vendors, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, internal and external warehouses, 3PLs, and retailer distribution centers.
   • Establish and manage a robust network of exporters, freight forwarders, carriers, 3PLs, and other transportation providers.
   • Ensure timely availability of transportation capacity to maintain uninterrupted product flow throughout the supply chain.
   • Optimize the full order cycle and product flow, from purchase order through final customer delivery.
   • Develop contingency plans for port disruptions, capacity constraints, carrier issues, weather events, geopolitical events, regulatory changes, and other supply chain disruptions.

1. Import Operations & International Transportation
   • Direct the movement of imported products from international suppliers through origin ports, ocean and air transportation, U.S. ports, coordination with Customs Compliance on clearance, and final delivery to distribution centers.
   • Lead ocean and air freight programs across the global sourcing network, including carrier and routing strategies based on cost, service, capacity, transit time, and business requirements.
   • Manage annual and periodic ocean freight procurement, contract negotiations, and carrier allocations.
   • Negotiate rates, capacity commitments, free-time provisions, and service expectations with ocean carriers, NVOCCs, freight forwarders, and logistics providers.
   • Evaluate transportation options and recommend routing and mode decisions based on cost, urgency, inventory requirements, and customer needs.
   • Monitor international freight markets and proactively communicate significant changes in rates, capacity, congestion, and service levels.
2. Domestic Transportation