Manager, Startup Transportation
Symbotic
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteSalary
💰 $95,000 - $131,000 per year
Job Level
Mid-LevelSenior
Tech Stack
React
About the role
- Lead all preparations for dock, yard, and transportation execution, including trailer flow design, staging plans, pre-receiving workflows, shipping lanes, returns processes, and carrier readiness.
- Coordinate with Engineering and Start-Up teams on SAT (Site Acceptance Testing) for dock equipment, yard systems, yard tractors, sensors, and automation supporting dock-level operations.
- Ensure all dock-related 5S work, signage, safety barriers, trailer restraints, and traffic plans are completed before go-live.
- Onboard and validate all transportation and dock vendors, including carriers, yard management services, and MHE providers.
- Serve as the on-site leader for dock, yard, and transportation execution, directing daily operations during ramp-up.
- Manage and deploy ~100 hourly associates (dock workers, yard spotters, clerks, and transportation support roles).
- Oversee inbound and outbound trailer movement, live vs. drop prioritization, pre-receiving planning, dispatch readiness, returns handling, and value-added services.
- Validate WMS/WES transaction accuracy for trailer check-in/out, load closures, yard map movements, and dock-door assignments.
- Monitor dock cycle times, unload/load pacing, transportation service levels, and carrier compliance.
- Troubleshoot operational and system issues in real time to stabilize performance.
- Drive key execution metrics including trailer turn-time, on-time shipping, dock-to-stock times, yard accuracy, shrink, and cost per unit.
- Partner with automation and technology teams to integrate robotics/AI tools into dock workflows and to ensure systems remain operational during launch.
- Identify waste and inefficiencies, implementing Lean practices, standard work, and corrective action plans to improve throughput.
- Conduct structured root-cause analyses on delays, bottlenecks, carrier issues, or yard misalignments.
- Develop, coach, and mentor supervisors and leads who oversee dock and yard associates.
- Ensure all personnel achieve certification in standard work, MHE, safety, and dock processes.
- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and high performance at the launch site.
- Coordinate closely with maintenance, robotics engineering, IT, safety, HR, customer service, and supply chain teams to ensure all transportation and dock operations support broader building needs.
- Partner with carriers and transportation providers to resolve issues and align on service expectations.
- Maintain dock and transportation budget discipline across labor, equipment, consumables, and yard operations.
- Ensure full compliance with OSHA, DOT, environmental regulations, and company safety policies.
- Prepare and present transportation and dock performance reports, KPI dashboards, and launch-readiness updates to senior leadership.
Requirements
- High school diploma required; Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or equivalent experience preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in dock, yard, or transportation operations within a warehouse or distribution center environment.
- Experience managing inbound and outbound dock activities, trailer flow, yard operations, or carrier coordination.
- Exposure to transportation systems, yard management systems (YMS), WMS, or dock-level automation preferred.
- Experience leading large hourly teams across multiple shifts in fast-paced environments.
- Strong understanding of dock safety, yard traffic flow, and transportation compliance requirements.
- Ability to manage labor, productivity, service levels, and safety performance.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to react quickly to delays, disruptions, or system issues.
- Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and operational reporting tools.
- Comfortable working in physically demanding environments, including prolonged standing, climbing stairs, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
- Strong communication, teamwork, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Flexibility to travel extensively and work non-standard schedules during site launches.
Benefits
- medical
- dental
- vision
- disability
- 401K
- PTO
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
dock operationsyard operationstransportation operationstrailer flow designsite acceptance testing (SAT)yard management systems (YMS)warehouse management systems (WMS)Lean practicesroot-cause analysisperformance metrics
Soft skills
leadershipproblem-solvingcommunicationteamworkcross-functional collaborationcoachingmentoringflexibilityaccountabilitysafety culture
Certifications
high school diplomaBachelor’s degree in Supply ChainBachelor’s degree in LogisticsBachelor’s degree in BusinessMHE certificationsafety certificationstandard work certification