Manager, Procurement - Transportation

Manager, Procurement Transportation

A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We're looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us.

As the Manager, Procurement Transportation, you will lead the sourcing and procurement of transportation services to ensure cost-effective, reliable, and compliant logistics solutions. You will manage carrier relationships, negotiate contracts, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to align transportation strategies with business goals. You will analyze freight spend, monitor service performance, and drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and support operational excellence across the supply chain.

What You'll Do:

• Drive Procurement Strategy: You'll develop and implement sourcing strategies for transportation services, fleet assets, and third-party logistics providers.
• Manage Vendor Partnerships: You'll negotiate contracts and maintain strong relationships with carriers, equipment suppliers, and service providers.
• Align with Operational Goals: You'll collaborate with logistics, safety, and operations teams to forecast transportation needs and support business objectives.
• Ensure Supplier Accountability: You'll monitor vendor performance and enforce compliance with service-level agreements, safety standards, and delivery schedules.
• Analyze Spend & Optimize Costs: You'll review procurement data to identify cost-saving opportunities, streamline processes, and consolidate suppliers.
• Support Capital Projects: You'll contribute to transportation network optimization, fleet upgrades, and infrastructure improvements through strategic sourcing.
• Ensure Policy Compliance: You'll maintain adherence to internal procurement policies and external regulatory requirements.
• Leadership: Drives a positive employee experience through leadership by way of employee development and coaching.

What We're Seeking:

• Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 5+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• Leadership: 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required.
• Transportation & Vendor Expertise: Strong knowledge of transportation operations, fleet management, and the logistics vendor landscape.
• Systems Proficiency: Experience with ERP and procurement platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Coupa.
• Analytical & Negotiation Skills: Proven ability to analyze freight spend, negotiate carrier contracts, and collaborate cross-functionally.
• Project Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading transportation-related projects and supporting cross-functional initiatives.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage with internal teams and external partners.
• Team & Culture Fit: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while fostering respectful, approachable, and team-oriented relationships.
• Travel Flexibility: Willingness to travel at least 10% to support vendor management, site visits, and project execution.

Relocation Package Available Yes

EEO Information: Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.