Senior Manager Freight Optimization at Acushnet Company in Lakeville, MA

WE ARE A PRODUCT COMPANY.

WE ARE A PROCESS COMPANY.

ABOVE ALL, WE ARE A PEOPLE COMPANY.

The history of the Acushnet Company is tightly woven into the fabric of golf. From the start, we’ve been committed to enriching the experience of dedicated golfers through superior product performance, technological innovation, unmatched quality, and exceptional service. We are more than a collection of leading golf brands and products. We are a team united in our passion for the game. We are bridge builders who embrace our responsibility to leave our brands, businesses, communities, and the game of golf in a better position than when we started.

Together we live by the credo, “Autograph your work with excellence.” We earn our position as unrivaled leaders in every category in which we compete, striving for excellence in all that we do – from the performance and consistency of our products to our engagement with golfers and trade partners, to our commitment to creating a workplace built on diversity, inclusion, belonging and respect.

Summary: The Senior Manager, Freight Optimization is responsible for developing and executing strategic initiatives to optimize freight operations, reduce costs, and improve service levels across Acushnet Companies North American Region . This role requires a data-driven leader with a deep understanding of transportation, freight management, and process improvement to identify and drive efficiencies across multiple transportation modes and geographies. The position is accountable for all outbound transportation activities and results associated with the company's North American businesses, including all related international transactions. Responsible for multiple carrier partnerships and an annual spend of more than $40M.

Responsibilities:

Develop and implement strategies for optimizing freight spend and improving operational efficiencies.
Leverage data and analytics to assess and refine processes, achieving savings targets and KPI improvements.
Lead the design and optimization of transportation networks, collaborating with internal teams and external partners.
Negotiate freight contracts with carriers, manage performance, and ensure compliance with service agreements to achieve cost savings while maintaining service quality.
Continually review shipping requirements to determine the best carrier options for the outbound transportation platform across all business segments.
Keep abreast of all geopolitical and labor developments and their impact on freight expense/service.
Preparation of the annual budget and managing freight out costs at or below budgeted levels for both percent of sales and cost per unit/order; investigate and explain all variances (favorable and unfavorable) to budget/history.
Fully manage transportation & logistics forecasts and budgets (OPEX and CAPEX).
Lead, mentor, and develop a team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Development of strategic plans and execution of improvements for all transportation and logistics systems, including the implementation of TMS (Manhattan), ERP (SAP) related configuration/integrations necessary to provide address validation, accessorial fee avoidance, freight audit, and invoice payment, centralized solutions to support customer billing, department cost allocation, carrier labeling track and trace, and shipment manifesting.
Work closely with supply chain, procurement, operations, and finance teams to align freight optimization initiatives with broader business goals.
Act as the subject matter expert for all freight-related activities and support cross-functional projects.

Requirements:

Bachelor degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, or related field.
8+ years of experience in freight management, transportation, or logistics with a minimum of two years in a management role.
Experience managing global or multi-regional freight operations is preferred.
Thorough knowledge of transportation & logistics functions and management.
Position may require periodic domestic and international travel.
Strong knowledge of distribution and logistics operations including receiving, shipping, and inventory control processes.
Experienced in defining, managing, and optimizing budgets, capital, and contracts.
Knowledge of International transportation laws, rules and regulations, and transportation systems and policies.
Strong functional knowledge of IS systems related to transportation and operations.
Previous experience with Manhattan Associates WMS and SAP Hana EWM preferred.
Can effectively influence key executives on strategy and work collaboratively in implementing new freight out programs.
Knowledge of ESG developments within the market for customers and carrier.
Proven record of successful freight contract negotiations.