Transportation Manager in Madison, Wisconsin at Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin

About Second Harvest

At Second Harvest, we believe that healthy food belongs to us all. Since 1986, we have supported our neighbors to achieve food security across 16 counties in southwestern Wisconsin. As a food bank, we work with a network of over 300 food distribution partners to achieve our strategic goals of nutrition security and food equity for all.

Vision - Everyone in our community has enough nutritious food to thrive.

Mission - Second Harvest exists to end hunger in southwestern Wisconsin.

Values – Integrity | Trust | Humility | Inclusion | Equity | Innovation

Summary: The Transportation Manager will provide oversight for the overall transportation distribution functions of SHFB. The Manager will be responsible for supervision of drivers, ensuring compliance with state and federal transportation guidelines, ensuring proper safety protocol compliance, development and implementation of efficient route structures and ensuring proper vehicle maintenance program. The Manager will also be responsible for driving routes as necessary.

Position Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Transportation Logistics, Compliance & Maintenance

• Oversees and coordinates transportation logistics activities for SHF.
• Schedule routes for drivers as well as provide directions/maps if necessary, utilizing Roadnet to schedule pickups and deliveries.
• Leads in formulation and implementation of organizational policies related to transportation logistics.
• Develops goals, performance metrics and management best practices for transportation. Mentor team members in the creation and implementation of metrics to achieve process improvement.
• Continuously evaluates and reviews with operations team all operational processes and process improvement plans.
• Coordinate with Director of Operations and Distribution Center Manager to plan, organize and oversee the inbound and outbound logistics of SHF product, ensuring transportation costs are optimized and within budget.
• Collaborate with Director of Operations and Human Resources to ensure DOT Compliance is met along with any other federal, state or local codes.
• Updates transportation SOP’s in collaboration with the Director of Operations
• Partners with Director of Operations and operations team members to identify and remedy safety concerns, and champion positive safety practices.
• Assist the Director of Operations in the development of operations budget and manages expenses within the approved budget.
• Evaluate and implement safety, equipment and other training needs of transportation staff.
• Oversee proper maintenance of vehicles to ensure compliance with external regulatory bodies, making employee, volunteer and food safety top priorities.
• Compare service options when maintaining vehicles with costs and quality of service at top of mind.
• Reconcile all billings from vendors on vehicle repairs/maintenance.
• Maintain updated list of all vehicles, ensuring any changes are communicated for insurance purposes.
• Ensure Director of Operations is aware of all vehicle servicing and repairs.
• Ensure all drivers stay current and abide by all DOT regulations.
• Perform any other duties as needed to fulfill our mission, drive our vision and abide by our values

Leadership

• Demonstrates a clear understanding of internal and external customers by listening and responding to their needs in a timely manner. Be an outstanding customer service role model.
• Ensure that responsibilities and accountability are defined and understood.
• Create a positive work environment where two-way open communication and a strong sense of trust is established.
• Emphasize teamwork so team members understand the importance of assisting in other areas.
• Recognize employees who meet or exceed performance expectations by positive reinforcement.
• Ensure each team member is fully trained on the skills necessary for them to succeed.
• Ensure workload is distributed equitably monitoring overtime and task assignments.

Personnel Management and Supervision

• Directs hiring, training and supervision of team members, including paid staff and volunteers/interns.
• Supports team members by: establishing performance objectives and measuring progress toward goals; leading team meetings; developing team members’ skills and abilities, both individually and as a group, in order to increase effectiveness; and ensuring that employees have access to the resources needed to be successful.
• Conducts performance reviews on a timely basis in compliance with SHF policy.
• Provides counseling/coaching to ensure successful performance, and utilizes performance management processes as necessary, including use of proper documentation.

Competencies

Management Skills

• Leads through influence; instills a coaching culture, and has an ability to prioritize and communicate with staff about key objectives necessary to achieve organization goals.
• A balanced strategic thinking and strong operator; highly results-oriented.
• Flexible and agile, an ability to manage change positively and balance competing priorities without getting overwhelmed.
• Diplomacy, customer service, and patience – an ability to work with paid staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Innovative and forward thinking, listens for emerging trends from staff, volunteers, and community; able to translate new ideas into action.
• A team player, a collaborator within the operations department and with other departments.
• Excellent relationship building skills with ability to communicate and work effectively with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen and ability to contribute to strategy and operations; use understanding of key business goals and strategies to deliver on the mission.
• Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
• Ability to delegate, providing authority to work independently and set expectations.
• Ability to motivate others to perform well and accept feedback from others.
• Willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment and makes timely decisions.
• Operates with an appropriate sense of urgency.
• Ability to cultivate and develop equitable and inclusive working relationships with staff, volunteers, community partners, vendors and applicants.

Language Ability

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and standard operating procedures.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, managers, agencies, customers, and the general public.

Communications

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to relate well to all levels of SHF, ability to build appropriate rapport, ability to build constructive and effective relationships.
• Demonstrates group presentation skills and conducts productive meetings.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively coach and mentor team members; collaborate and build relationships; and leverage resources within the function and across the organization to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ability to communicate the branded message internally (mission, vision, and values).

Computer Skills

• To perform this job successfully, the individual should have a working knowledge of the following computer software programs.
• Microsoft Office Suite – specifically Word and Excel.
• Internet.
• Order processing, database, and inventory management systems.
• Experience working with an integrated manufacturing and financial system is preferred.
• Experience with routing software such as Roadnet is desired.
• The employee will also be expected to effectively learn and use internal software programs as necessary.

Equipment

• Ability to operate pallet jack.
• Ability to operate warehouse equipment as necessary.

Salary Range: $63,700 - $76,500 based on experience.

To ensure consideration for this opportunity, please apply by 8/10/2026.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Benefit package includes:

• Health Insurance (we pay 90% of premium for full-time employees)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with 5% match
• Short Term Disability Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Time Off starting at 23 Days per year
• 15 Paid Holidays per year
• Floating Holidays
• Paid Family Leave
• Employment Transition Pay

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job operates in a professional office as well as warehouse environment and out in the community making deliveries and picking up donations. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, etc. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While in the warehouse, the employee is regularly exposed to working near moving mechanical parts. The employee must be able to work in extreme temperatures including cooler and freezer, as well as while out in the community. The employee will regularly need to use warehouse equipment such as pallet jacks and forklifts and drive vehicles requiring a CDL A or B.

In instances of a federal, state or locally declared emergency, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all of its employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties outside the scope of their usual responsibilities.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; crouch; crawl; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear. The employee will regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, taste/smell and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Qualifications

Required Education/Experience

• High School Diploma
• 2 years of related supervisory and transportation management experience.
• CDL A, or CDL B with the ability to obtain CDL A within six months of hire, with an appropriate driving record.
• Ability to successfully pass background check.

Preferred Education/Experience

• Five years’ experience with distribution logistics systems preferred.
• Experience with food distribution preferred.
• Lived experience with the impacts of systemic racism or marginalization.