Outbound Logistics Specialist (Olive Branch)

TK Elevator is currently seeking an Outbound Logistics & Shipping Coordinator in Olive Branch, MS. 

The Outbound Logistics & Shipping Coordinator is responsible for managing and controlling the day-to-day outbound shipping operation, ensuring customer orders are shipped accurately, efficiently, on time, and through the appropriate transportation method. This position serves as a key point of coordination between Warehouse Operations, Customer Service, Purchasing, suppliers, carriers, and internal stakeholders.

A primary responsibility of this role is ownership and continuous maintenance of the Shipping Matrix, ensuring shipping methods, carrier selections, service levels, routing requirements, costs, and customer-specific requirements are accurate and aligned with business needs.

The position will monitor outbound activity, identify shipping exceptions and risks, resolve transportation issues, and drive continuous improvement in shipping performance, cost, and customer service.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

Outbound Shipping Management

• Coordinate and monitor daily outbound shipments to ensure orders are processed and shipped according to customer requirements.
• Ensure shipments are routed using the appropriate carrier, service level, and transportation method.
• Review shipping requirements for standard, expedited, customer-specific, and special-handling shipments.
• Monitor orders through the shipping process and identify potential delays before they impact the customer.
• Coordinate with Warehouse Operations to prioritize and release shipments based on customer need, promised dates, and operational requirements.
• Ensure shipping documentation, labels, tracking information, and other required shipment information are accurate and complete.
• Investigate and resolve shipping discrepancies, including missed pickups, incorrect routing, damaged shipments, delivery delays, and tracking issues.

Shipping Matrix Ownership

• Own and maintain the company’s outbound Shipping Matrix.
• Establish and maintain routing rules based on customer, destination, shipment type, weight, dimensions, service level, cost, and delivery requirements.
• Ensure the Shipping Matrix reflects current carrier capabilities, contracts, service levels, and business requirements.
• Review shipping patterns and recommend changes to routing rules when opportunities for cost savings, improved service, or increased efficiency are identified.
• Maintain clear documentation and version control for changes to the Shipping Matrix.
• Partner with Purchasing, Finance, Customer Service, Warehouse Operations, and Transportation providers when changes to shipping requirements are needed.
• Audit shipping activity against the Shipping Matrix to identify incorrect routing, unnecessary expedited freight, or other process exceptions.
• Establish controls to prevent unauthorized or unnecessary use of premium shipping services.

Transportation & Carrier Management

• Coordinate with parcel, LTL, truckload, courier, and other transportation providers as applicable.
• Monitor carrier performance, including pickup reliability, transit time, delivery performance, claims, and service issues.
• Escalate recurring carrier performance issues and support corrective actions.
• Evaluate opportunities to consolidate shipments or utilize alternate transportation methods.
• Support freight cost analysis and identify opportunities to reduce transportation spend without negatively impacting customer service.
• Assist with carrier onboarding, routing changes, and transportation program improvements.

Order & Customer Support

• Partner with Customer Service to resolve customer-specific shipping requirements and delivery concerns.
• Provide accurate shipment status and tracking information.
• Proactively communicate shipping delays, exceptions, or risks that may affect customer commitments.
• Support urgent and critical customer shipments by coordinating expedited transportation when necessary.
• Ensure customer-specific routing instructions are properly documented and incorporated into the Shipping Matrix.

Forklift & Material Handling Operations: Regularly and safely operate forklifts and material-handling equipment as a core responsibility of the position, including loading and unloading trucks, staging shipments, transporting materials throughout the warehouse, and positioning freight for shipping, receiving, and storage. Ensure materials are handled safely and accurately to prevent product damage and support efficient warehouse flow.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Shipment consolidation opportunities
• Analyze shipping data to identify trends, recurring problems, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and implement standard work for outbound shipping processes.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual shipping activities and improve system visibility.
• Participate in cross-functional improvement projects involving Warehouse, Purchasing, Customer Service, IT, Finance, and suppliers.
• Support root-cause analysis and corrective actions related to outbound logistics issues.

 This is a Safety Sensitive position

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: 

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in shipping, logistics, transportation, warehouse operations, or supply chain.
• Ability to drive a Forklift a must
• Strong understanding of outbound transportation processes and carrier operations.
• Hazmat knowledge and certification preferred.
• Knowledge of domestic and international shipping documentation and requirements.
• Experience working with shipping systems, ERP systems, warehouse management systems, or transportation management systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and the ability to analyze and manipulate shipping data.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience managing transportation routing guides or shipping matrices.
• Experience with parcel, LTL, expedited, and truckload transportation.
• Experience analyzing freight spend and carrier performance.
• Experience with Oracle, Jaggaer, Viadat, or similar ERP/WMS systems.
• Experience developing operational KPIs and reporting.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement experience.

Physical Demands:

• Requires lifting up to 50 pounds approximately 50% of the time.
• Physical demands include walking and/or standing for 100% of the time.
• Requires manual dexterity for repetitive lifting and use of required equipment.
• Requires stooping, bending, and crouching approximately 50% of the time.
• Requires audible and visual abilities for operation and communication.
• Less than 5% travel may be required.