Transportation Network Planner

Princess Auto is a private, Canadian-owned company employing over 3,000 Team Members, with our Home Office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We provide hard-working Canadians with a unique assortment of tools and equipment through more than 50 stores coast-to-coast, a National Call Centre, and our online store.

Our strength is in our people. In fact, we call our employees “Team Members”, and our managers “Leaders”. We all work together towards a common goal: to make Princess Auto a great place to work and shop.

Overview of the Position:

The Transportation Network Planner is part of an integrated Supply Chain team responsible for coordinating both the inbound and domestic outbound freight movements to stores. As a member of a centrally managed and regionally deployed team, the Transportation Network Planner will be responsible for planning transportation routes, carrier assignment, and equipment supply as well as ensuring these plans are attainable and executed by assigned carriers to ensure a high service level at the store level.

This position is an on-site role, with the option to be based working directly out of one of our three office locations in Canada:

• Calgary Distribution Centre - 283009 Logistics Drive, Rocky View County, AB
• Winnipeg Home Office - 475 Panet Road, Winnipeg, MB
• Milton Distribution Centre - 1825 Reading Court, Milton, ON

Key Accountabilities include:

• Coordinates, plans and sources the day-to-day Transportation operations requirements for carriers, third party logistics (3PL) partners and stores; ensures delivery of merchandise in a safe and timely manner that aligns with scope, scale and priorities of Princess Auto’s overall strategy
• Utilizes optimization software, determines the most efficient and economical route to move freight from the distribution schedule which fully meets customer requirements while managing expenses to budget
• Reviews previous day's load plans for success and failures and provide metrics; initiates investigations into causes of service failures, damages or shortages of consignments
• Manages multiple processes to ensure the fluid movement of shipments through the supply chain and ensures compliance to regulations and customer requirements
• Identifies, manages and reports issues/opportunities when customer requirements are resulting in significant cost impacts to the business
• Works as a cross functional Team Member to ensure a high level of communication, collaboration and coordination to achieve operating standards as well as interdependent processes such as “Merge in Transit” and liaises with stores to confirm and coordinate the delivery plans
• Represents Princess Auto in meetings to address Customer Service and Transportation issues; acts as a change agent and driver for identified gaps in current processes and procedures
• Balances priorities within a changing and dynamic work environment to manage service expectations while ensuring identified escalation procedures and protocols are maintained
• Works to support the DC and service provider’s production plans with creation and review of transportation preliminary plans, assign appropriate carriers and ensure equipment supply to meet transportation and facility objectives
• Monitors carriers, forwarders, 3PL partners and service providers against standards and Key Performance Indicators and follows-up if deficiencies found to correct inefficiencies
• Initiates claims against damage and/or loss by carriers, freight forwarders, or 3PLs
• Liaises with a variety of parties, including Princess Auto’s supply chain partners, vendors, store Team Members, Customers, and internal customers to resolve transportation-related issues
• Provides front-line communications link between stores and the carrier community
• Gathers consistent, relevant and accurate data from various sources; analyzes and normalizes to ensure data integrity; conducts research for industry trends and benchmarks
• Prepares monthly and quarterly reports for senior management; analyzes data and makes comparisons to industry / company benchmarks, determines trends, and prepares cost analyses; provides recommendations optimum routing, carrier lane assignment, cost savings, and/or improved service levels
• Efficiently coordinates vendor Purchase Orders shipments, ensuring that all deliveries are scheduled and tracked accurately. Resolves any logistical issues that arise, maintain constant communication with shipping partners, vendors and DCs, and ensure that all shipments meet quality and timing requirements

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• Post-secondary education in business, economics, geography an asset
• 3-5 years’ experience in supply chain
• Specific experience working in transportation and third party logistics as well as good understanding of supply chain management and flow of goods
• Statistics would be an asset
• Strong geographical knowledge and familiar with various modes of transportation including Consolidated Full truck load, Intermodal and LTL shipping
• Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation Certificate an asset
• Systematic thinking and detail oriented
• Ability to negotiate with ease
• Excellent time management/project management skills
• Strong business acumen
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong teamwork skills, actively contributing to group efforts and supporting colleagues to achieve common goals.
• Ability to work effectively within diverse teams, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment
• Excel in collaboration, with the ability to communicate clearly and work closely with various departments. Adept at building relationships and sharing knowledge

What our unique and fun world can offer you:

At Princess Auto, we strive to be unique . . . in our product selection, our Team Members and in our Leadership. We share information. We value opinions and collaboration from all our people across the company, regardless of position or scope of responsibility and work as a collective team in a supportive environment. We strive to provide Royal Service, our high standard of serving not just our customers, but each other, and it is a philosophy we embrace and demonstrate every day.

In addition, our Team Members receive:

• Competitive Compensation
• Company-funded, comprehensive benefits package (not just for you, but for your eligible dependents too!)
• Paid vacation and personal care time
• Paid "My Community Day" (a day to spend volunteering at something meaningful to you!)
• Long-term Disability coverage
• Annual Profit Sharing Plan
• Deferred Profit Sharing Plan
• Company Pension Plan
• Group RRSP, TFSA, RESP
• Maternity Leave top-up plan
• Discount at our retail stores
• Free parking
• Access to onsite amenities such as a restaurant, salon, and gym
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Opportunities for advancement and relocation

Voted one of Canada’s Best Employers 2024 by Forbes