Senior Director of Distribution & Logistics

NexTerra Wine Company is a premier wine producer built on the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard. Headquartered just outside of Chicago, the 125,000-square-foot facility houses an onsite winery, state-of-the-art bottling system and multiple warehouses. Partnering with distinguished growers across the globe, NexTerra sources the highest quality grapes and nurtures each wine to its individual needs—a philosophy that has resulted in over 600 national and international wine awards. With deep industry knowledge, boundless creativity, and advanced winemaking techniques, NexTerra has grown to one of the largest U.S. producers outside of California producing over 1,200,000 cases produced in 2024.

The Senior Director of Distribution & Logistics is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of NexTerra’s warehousing, distribution, domestic transportation, and fleet management programs. This role will drive operational excellence, cost efficiency, and strategic growth initiatives to support our company’s growth. The ideal candidate will have proven management and leadership experience, a passion for individual and team development, as well as a background in supply chain management, logistics and process improvement. This individual will manage and lead 30 individuals across our distribution and logistics team and have at least 3 direct reports. This individual will work collaboratively across various functions internally and work directly with key customers.

Key Responsibilities:

Warehousing & Distribution:

• Oversee the operational performance of all warehouse facilities, ensuring efficient inventory management and order fulfillment.
• Champion best practices for warehouse operations, including safety, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive process optimization to enhance warehouse efficiency.

Domestic Transportation & Fleet Management:

• Lead the domestic transportation strategy, ensuring cost-effective and timely movement of goods.
• Manage relationships with carriers and 3PLs, ensuring compliance with service level expectations and performance benchmarks.
• Oversee the management of fleet operations, including maintenance, routing, and compliance with DOT standards and safety regulations.
• Develop strategies to optimize transportation costs and ensure service level standards are met.

Warehouse Management System (WMS):

• Manage the relationship with our WMS provider, ensuring consistent service and support is maintained.
• Develop and manage reports within the system to support accuracy and performance.
• Drive data-driven decision-making through real-time analytics and performance tracking.

Vendor & Supplier Management:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with third-party logistics (3PL) providers, suppliers, and key partners.
• Negotiate contracts and service agreements to drive cost savings and improve service quality.
• Monitor vendor performance, ensuring alignment with operational and strategic goals.

Customer Relationships:

• Develops strong relationships with key customers and provides superior customer service
• Leads regular check-in meetings as required to ensure customer demands are being met
• Acts as the primary liaison / point of contact for distribution and logistics operations with customers and sales team

Leadership & Strategy:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with peers and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Develop and manage warehouse, distribution and logistics budget, ensuring alignment with financial objectives and targets. Monitors expenses, analyze variances and recommend cost savings initiatives where appropriate.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, regulations, and emerging technologies to maintain a competitive advantage.
• Develop, manage, and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across all managed functional areas.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 10 years of progressive experience in logistics, supply chain management, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience managing logistics operations.
• Strong knowledge of WMS, TMS (Transportation Management Systems), and other relevant logistics technologies.
• Expertise in vendor negotiation, contract management, and strategic sourcing.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated experience developing Managers of People
• Ability to analyze data, forecast trends, and drive operational efficiencies.
• Experience in lean methodologies, Six Sigma, or other process improvement frameworks is a plus.
• Bachelor’s in supply chain management, Logistics, Business or related field

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking & Decision-Making
• Operational & Financial Acumen
• Leadership & Team Development
• Strong Negotiation & Relationship Management
• Data-Driven Problem Solving
• Change Management & Continuous Improvement