What are the responsibilities and job description for the Strategic Vertical Capacity Manager position at C.H. Robinson International, Inc.?
Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your skills and make a significant impact on the Global Forwarding network? If you’re a strategic leader with a commercial mindset, skilled in negotiation and relationship management, this is the perfect opportunity for you! C.H. Robinson is seeking an ambitious Strategic Vertical Capacity Manager to develop and execute specialized vertical solutions, including temperature-controlled warehousing and final-mile delivery partnerships across North America. This role focuses on securing capacity for high-value and high-theft commodities, aligning with our Inland Product centralized carrier procurement and carrier management strategies while ensuring ISO, GDP, GMP, and CTPAT compliance across healthcare, automotive, retail, and electronics sectors.
As a Vertical Capacity Leader, you will drive security, compliance, and cost efficiency for high-value shipments by building a network of specialized partners, secure warehouses, and yards. You will work closely with counterparts in the Healthcare & Automotive Competency Centers to expand and standardize our network. Once established, you will take on a key quality role, overseeing post-implementation quality management, auditing, and ongoing training for providers handling our exclusive, high-value, high-risk vertical business.
To excel in this role, you must be an exceptional communicator and collaborator, with deep expertise in healthcare and automotive logistics standards (ISO, GDP, GMP, and CTPAT). Before assuming the position, you will complete lead auditor training and work closely with our commercial teams to identify and address coverage gaps in North America that may be limiting new opportunities.
This role is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Vertical service offerings, ensuring compliance, security, and operational excellence across our growing network.
***Internal candidates: please apply by Friday, February 28
Responsibilities:
Planning & Relationship Management
- Lead pre-RFP planning, providing subject matter expertise and curating feasible solutions to execute business opportunities.
- Identify risks and collaborate with internal partners to develop solutions and drive effective problem-solving.
- Oversee post-award procurement planning, ensuring awards align with the right capacity solutions and teams.
- Interpret carrier analytics and leverage market data, freight pricing tools, and procurement strategies to make informed buying decisions.
- Work with portfolio teams to identify where additional capacity is needed to support scalability and growth.
- Align temperature-controlled and high-value infrastructure with customer needs for long-term business expansion.
Operational Execution & Continuous Improvement
- Evaluate award health, monitoring adherence to procurement plans and conducting monthly performance reviews against customer scorecards.
- Develop action plans to ensure service metric compliance and drive continuous improvement throughout the lifecycle of the award.
- Provide day-to-day problem resolution, identifying opportunities, determining the best course of action, and implementing solutions.
- Work closely with internal teams on shipment updates, problem resolution, and operational execution.
- Provide expertise in solution development and pricing strategies for business opportunities.
Network & Compliance Management
- Build and manage a network of secure healthcare & Automotive carrier channel partners, including truckload providers, warehouses, and secure yards.
- Lead post-implementation quality management, overseeing auditing and ongoing training for partners handling our high-value vertical business.
- Ensure compliance with ISO, GDP, GMP, and CTPAT requirements across all verticals, particularly within healthcare & Automotive logistics.
- Complete intensive lead auditor training before assuming the role to ensure expertise in compliance and quality management.
- Collaborate with the Sales team to identify and address network coverage gaps that may be limiting new business opportunities.
Quality
- Extensive experience in healthcare logistics, specializing in ISO, GDP, GMP, and CTPAT compliance.
- Proven track record in developing and managing strategic partnerships across warehousing, transportation, and secure storage facilities.
- Expertise in capacity procurement, carrier management, and supply chain risk mitigation.
- Strong negotiation skills, with a focus on reducing broker dependency and optimizing cost control.
- Skilled in cross-functional collaboration with internal teams, competency centers, and external providers to enhance operational efficiency.
- Dedicated to improving quality through automation, on-time performance, and hourly compliance monitoring.
- Expertise in enhancing cost efficiency, security, and compliance for high-value shipments.
- Experienced in reviewing on-time performance and compliance metrics, ensuring alignment with customer security, ISO, and GDP expectations.
- Accountable for meeting key performance indicators (KPIs) in line with customer expectations and internal trading rules.
- Leads communication and enforcement of customer-specific security requirements, engaging directly with carriers and account owners.
- Ensures strict adherence to high-risk/high-value fraud SOPs, conducting audits, including on-site evaluations as needed.
- Actively participates in weekly healthcare commercial team communications and contributes to stand-up meetings.
- Develops a deep understanding of healthcare client needs, ensuring their specific requirements are represented within the capacity network.
- Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, ensuring compliance with ISO standards through evidence-based audits.
- Manages supplier relationships using the Quality Management System (QMS) and the Qualityze Supplier Module.
- Committed to continuous improvement, post-implementation quality oversight, and training programs for high-risk verticals.
Required Qualifications:
- High School diploma or GED equivalent
- At least 5 years of global forwarding experience in a commercial or capacity facing role with direct or indirect leadership experience
- Ability to influence without authority and collaborate across multiple verticals
- Willingness to become ISO 9001 certified, which includes a certification class and the ability to pass the exam within two attempts
- Ability to travel 15-20%
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- Previous experience creating strategic procurement solutions
- Familiarity with quality management systems
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging to the appropriate audience
- Professional presence, strong influencing skills and ability to build effective relationships, primarily focused on mid to senior level leadership.
- Ability to gather various points of data to understand business conditions, draw conclusions and formulate an effective course of action.
- Capable of making effective decisions of varying difficulty and complexity, based on data, expertise, and circumstances specific to the situation.
- Ability to understand daily or hourly freight landscape and prioritize effectively to ensure optimal coverage
We will review applications for this role on an ongoing basis and encourage all interested candidates to apply at their earliest convenience.
Compensation Range
$71,800.00 - $149,200.00The base pay range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum base pay for the position across all U.S. locations. Your individual base pay within this range is determined by work location, which takes into account geographic cost of labor, and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. During the hiring process, your recruiter will provide more details about the specific base pay for your location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base pay only and do not include additional variable compensation.
Questioning if you meet the mark? Studies have shown that women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities may be less likely to apply unless they match the job description exactly. Here at C.H. Robinson, we’re building a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel they belong. If this position excites you, we welcome you to apply whether you check all the preferred qualifications or just a few. You may just be our next great fit!
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer
C.H. Robinson is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We believe in equality for all and celebrate the diversity of our employees, customers and communities. We believe this increases creativity and innovation, drives business growth and enables engaged and thriving teams. We’re committed to providing an inclusive environment, free from harassment and discrimination, where all employees feel welcomed, valued and respected.
Affirmative Action Employer/EOE/M/F/Disabled/Veteran
Benefits
Your Health, Wealth and Self
Your total wellbeing is the foundation of our business, and our benefits support your financial, family and personal goals. We provide the top-tier benefits that matter to you most, including:
Two medical plans (including a High Deductible Health Plan)
Prescription drug coverage
Enhanced Fertility benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Account (including employer contribution)
Dental and Vision
Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
Paid and floating holidays
Paid time off (PTO)
Paid parental leave
Paid time off to volunteer in your community
Charitable Giving Match Program
401(k) with 6% company matching
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Plus a broad range of career development, networking, and team-building opportunities
Dig in to our full list of benefits on OUR CULTURE page.
Salary : $71,800 - $149,200