Carrier Management Lead

Overview Knauf Insulation North America is the world's fastest-growing insulation manufacturer. We are wholly committed to the conservation of the environment while also sustainably developing and manufacturing a comprehensive line of acoustical fiberglass insulation for residential, commercial, industrial, marine, OEM and metal building applications, using post-consumer recycled materials. We welcome passionate and creative individuals who thrive in an entrepreneurial, collaborative and ever-changing environment.  Our benefits go beyond just providing coverage.  We’re committed to the whole you – your health, wealth, peace of mind, self and community.  Our benefits include: Free on-site Health Care Facility Medical, Dental, Vision – starting on day one! Virtual Medical Services Fertility and adoption benefits 401(k) Retirement Plan (earn 100% matching on your first 6% contribution and fully vested day one) Paid parental leave Paid family leave Company provided Salary Continuance (Short- term Disability) Company paid life insurance Paid Holidays Vacation Tuition Reimbursement Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Plus, more! Growth opportunities are available!  Apply online or contact us to hear why our employees appreciate being part of the Knauf family! About the Role:  The Carrier Management Lead owns the strategic management of carrier relationships, transportation sourcing, performance governance, and network capacity across inbound and outbound freight lanes. This role drives the annual RFP process, maintains the carrier portfolio, governs CNCR (Carrier Non-Conforming Report) performance management, and ensures Knauf has sufficient, cost-effective, and reliable carrier coverage to meet distribution requirements, while establishing the systems, data, and process foundations for a mature carrier management function. Responsibilities Carrier Strategy & Network Capacity Planning Define and maintain the carrier network strategy including mode mix, lane coverage priorities, and minimum carrier redundancy standards by lane Assess carrier portfolio capacity against projected freight volumes; identify coverage gaps by lane, mode, and season and develop mitigation plans Align carrier supply-side capacity with demand signals from SC Planning and S&OP; flag constraints to the Transportation Management Lead for cross-functional escalation Carrier Identification, Qualification & Onboarding Manage end-to-end carrier qualification including compliance screening (CarrierSource, SAFER scores, insurance) and lane coverage assessment Lead carrier solicitation through a controlled intake process; evaluate submitted rates against CPM benchmarks and threshold criteria Own carrier onboarding including SAP setup, TMS profile configuration, implementation calls, and FourKites activation Rate Management & Annual RFP Own the annual RFP process including scope definition, carrier list criteria, rate evaluation methodology, and approval authority Manage rate review and negotiation cycles; capture lane-by-lane rate changes and update TMS per contractual agreement Establish and enforce a standard rate input format; define decision logic and threshold scoring for rate comparisons Freight Settlement & Audit Coordination Review and approve carrier-submitted freight invoices including drop trailer charges, detention, and accessorial fees; flag discrepancies for resolution Maintain visibility into freight cost variances by carrier and lane; surface patterns as inputs to carrier performance and contract discussions Coordinate with Finance on invoice approval workflows and aging report oversight Carrier Performance Governance (CNCR) Run the monthly CNCR process: define parameters, execute TMS scorecards, facilitate corrective action calls, and document outcomes in SharePoint Monitor carrier OTD, accessorial frequency, load note compliance, and tender acceptance rates Define and manage escalation thresholds for carrier relationship engagement at senior/executive level Carrier Relationship Management Serve as primary point of contact for strategic carrier relationships; manage communication logs and carrier contact tracking Lead implementation calls for new carriers and re-onboarding when carrier contacts change; ensure Knauf requirements are understood and upheld Conduct periodic network portfolio reviews; adjust carrier mix to optimize service, cost, and capacity coverage Systems & Data Governance Maintain carrier profiles in TMS and CarrierSource; govern carrier data integrity across SAP, TMS, and FourKites Drive integration of CNCR documentation with TMS performance data for a consolidated carrier health view Qualifications Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field required Experience: 6-8 years of transportation or carrier sourcing experience Experience leading RFP processes and managing carrier performance programs Experience with TMS, SAP, and CarrierSource preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Strong negotiation skills with proven experience leading carrier RFP and rate negotiation processes Deep understanding of carrier qualification, compliance, and onboarding requirements Ability to build and govern carrier performance programs, including scorecards and corrective action processes Strong analytical skills to assess network capacity, coverage gaps, and rate benchmarks Working knowledge of SAP, TMS, CarrierSource, and FourKites Skilled at building and maintaining strategic carrier relationships Ability to coordinate freight settlement and invoice audit processes with Finance Strong attention to detail and data governance discipline across multiple systems Effective cross-functional communication with Transportation, Procurement, and Distribution Analytics Ability to manage competing priorities