Vice President, Land Transportation Operations
Crowley
Jacksonville, FL
Who We Are:
As a privately held, U.S.-owned and operated company, Crowley provides services to 36 nations and island territories. Our purpose is to bravely advance what's possible to elevate people and planet, with our core values of Integrity, Sustainability and Drive guiding everything we do.
By expanding and innovating our services, we have expanded our footprint within the Logistics, Land Transportation, Shipping, and Energy industries. Crowley and its affiliated companies have generated more than $3.5 billion in annual revenue through our people's focus on excellence and a culture that values everyone's voices and collaboration.
To continue laying the groundwork and challenge what's possible for our business, we seek to partner with individuals ready to elevate their careers with us.
Work Arrangement:
Hybrid
What You'll Do:
The Vice President, Land Transportation Operations is responsible for ensuring reliable, safe, and cost‑effective land transportation execution across the network, supporting end‑to‑end logistics performance.
This role leads U.S. DFTS operations with full P&L accountability for both DFTS and third‑party drayage services, overseeing dispatch, equipment management, carrier performance, and day‑to‑day land transportation execution. While the role does not own commercial strategy or pricing decisions, it is accountable for financial performance through disciplined cost management, productivity optimization, and effective utilization of owned and third‑party capacity.
Operating in a fast‑paced, high‑volume environment, this leader is accountable for on‑time performance, service reliability, margin delivery, and operational responsiveness, partnering closely with Commercial, Commercial Excellence, and other logistics functions to ensure transportation execution aligns with customer commitments and integrated logistics objectives.
Responsibilities
General Accountabilities:
Land Transportation Operations Leadership
- Provide overall leadership and direction for U.S. land transportation operations, ensuring alignment with divisional strategy, customer commitments, and financial objectives.
- Own full P&L accountability for DFTS and third‑party drayage operations, setting operational priorities, performance expectations, and execution standards across dispatch, routing, and execution teams.
- Establish clear operating principles, governance, and accountability to drive consistent, disciplined execution at scale.
Operational Reliability & Service Performance
- Ensure reliable, on time service delivery that meets or exceeds customer and contractual commitments.
- Oversee load planning, routing, dispatch, and day to day execution to optimize network flow, capacity utilization, and responsiveness.
- Lead real-time operational decision making in response to service disruptions, capacity constraints, or execution risks to protect customer outcomes.
Financial Performance & Cost Management
- Own DFTS and third‑party drayage financial performance, including cost, productivity, and margin outcomes, balancing service and cost trade‑offs to optimize P&L performance
- Monitor and manage unit costs, productivity metrics, and driver, equipment, and carrier efficiency, identifying and executing opportunities for sustained cost improvement across DFTS and third‑party drayage.
- Partner with Finance to support budgeting, forecasting, and performance management disciplines.
Asset & Equipment Management
- Drive effective equipment management and utilization across the land transportation operation, including both owned and third‑party capacity.
- Optimize asset deployment to maximize utilization, reduce idle time, and support service reliability.
- Ensure equipment strategies align with demand patterns, service requirements, and cost objectives.
Safety, Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with all safety, regulatory, and operational standards governing land transportation operations.
- Embed safety, compliance, and risk considerations into daily operational decision making and leadership routines.
- Serve as the escalation point for operational risks impacting safety, regulatory compliance, or service continuity.
Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
- Establish, track, and review KPIs related to service performance, cost, utilization, productivity, and safety.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance execution discipline, operational excellence, and network efficiency.
- Use data driven insights to reduce variability, improve reliability, and strengthen operational outcomes.
Talent Development & Succession
- Develop leaders at all levels by building accountability, ownership, and capability; own succession planning to ensure a strong, ready leadership bench aligned to current and future business needs, with disciplined development action plans and measurable progress.
- Model and reinforce enterprise leadership expectations by driving a high performance, inclusive culture through visible leadership, strong engagement, and a consistent coaching cadence that holds leaders accountable for developing their teams and future leaders.
Qualifications
Experience:
- 12–15+ years of experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain operations, with a focus on land transportation.
- Ability to obtain and maintain government security clearance.
- Proven leadership experience managing large-scale, asset-based operations.
- Strong understanding of dispatch operations, routing, and transportation network optimization.
- Experience with P&L ownership and cost management in a transportation environment.
- Demonstrated ability to drive service performance, productivity, and operational efficiency.
- Strong decision-making capability in dynamic, real-time operational environments.
- Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership skills.
Technical Proficiencies:
Proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Outlook and Word.
Education & Credentials:
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, logistics or a related field; or a combination of post-high school and equal experience may be substituted for education. MBA preferred.
Other:
- Ability to travel as needed.
What We Offer?
We inspire top talent by offering a comprehensive and competitive package that supports the diverse needs of our people—on land, at sea, in offices, and remotely.
Our Total Rewards include:
- Competitive pay with recognition programs
- Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, and paid vacation and holidays
- Leave and family support: parental leave and sick leave
- Learning and growth: access to training and development for continuous skill development
- Well-being resources: Employee Assistance Program, wellness program, and gym membership discounts
At Crowley, we invest in you—your success, your health, and your future.
General Accountabilities:
Land Transportation Operations Leadership
- Provide overall leadership and direction for U.S. land transportation operations, ensuring alignment with divisional strategy, customer commitments, and financial objectives.
- Own full P&L accountability for DFTS and third‑party drayage operations, setting operational priorities, performance expectations, and execution standards across dispatch, routing, and execution teams.
- Establish clear operating principles, governance, and accountability to drive consistent, disciplined execution at scale.
Operational Reliability & Service Performance
- Ensure reliable, on time service delivery that meets or exceeds customer and contractual commitments.
- Oversee load planning, routing, dispatch, and day to day execution to optimize network flow, capacity utilization, and responsiveness.
- Lead real-time operational decision making in response to service disruptions, capacity constraints, or execution risks to protect customer outcomes.
Financial Performance & Cost Management
- Own DFTS and third‑party drayage financial performance, including cost, productivity, and margin outcomes, balancing service and cost trade‑offs to optimize P&L performance
- Monitor and manage unit costs, productivity metrics, and driver, equipment, and carrier efficiency, identifying and executing opportunities for sustained cost improvement across DFTS and third‑party drayage.
- Partner with Finance to support budgeting, forecasting, and performance management disciplines.
Asset & Equipment Management
- Drive effective equipment management and utilization across the land transportation operation, including both owned and third‑party capacity.
- Optimize asset deployment to maximize utilization, reduce idle time, and support service reliability.
- Ensure equipment strategies align with demand patterns, service requirements, and cost objectives.
Safety, Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with all safety, regulatory, and operational standards governing land transportation operations.
- Embed safety, compliance, and risk considerations into daily operational decision making and leadership routines.
- Serve as the escalation point for operational risks impacting safety, regulatory compliance, or service continuity.
Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
- Establish, track, and review KPIs related to service performance, cost, utilization, productivity, and safety.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance execution discipline, operational excellence, and network efficiency.
- Use data driven insights to reduce variability, improve reliability, and strengthen operational outcomes.
Talent Development & Succession
- Develop leaders at all levels by building accountability, ownership, and capability; own succession planning to ensure a strong, ready leadership bench aligned to current and future business needs, with disciplined development action plans and measurable progress.
- Model and reinforce enterprise leadership expectations by driving a high performance, inclusive culture through visible leadership, strong engagement, and a consistent coaching cadence that holds leaders accountable for developing their teams and future leaders.
Experience:
- 12–15+ years of experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain operations, with a focus on land transportation.
- Ability to obtain and maintain government security clearance.
- Proven leadership experience managing large-scale, asset-based operations.
- Strong understanding of dispatch operations, routing, and transportation network optimization.
- Experience with P&L ownership and cost management in a transportation environment.
- Demonstrated ability to drive service performance, productivity, and operational efficiency.
- Strong decision-making capability in dynamic, real-time operational environments.
- Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership skills.
Technical Proficiencies:
Proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Outlook and Word.
Education & Credentials:
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, logistics or a related field; or a combination of post-high school and equal experience may be substituted for education. MBA preferred.
Other:
- Ability to travel as needed.
What We Offer?
We inspire top talent by offering a comprehensive and competitive package that supports the diverse needs of our people—on land, at sea, in offices, and remotely.
Our Total Rewards include:
- Competitive pay with recognition programs
- Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, and paid vacation and holidays
- Leave and family support: parental leave and sick leave
- Learning and growth: access to training and development for continuous skill development
- Well-being resources: Employee Assistance Program, wellness program, and gym membership discounts
At Crowley, we invest in you—your success, your health, and your future.