Transportation Management Process Owner Associate Director

Job Description

General Summary:

The Associate Director, Transportation Management Business Process Owner (BPO) is a critical role responsible for defining and advancing the global vision, strategy, and performance of Transportation Management processes across all modes of transportation. This role serves as the architect, steward, and guardian of the end-to-end process, with overall accountability for standardizing process design and scope, driving continuous improvement, and monitoring process effectiveness and maturity across the organization.

The focus of the role may evolve over time based on business priorities. At times, the emphasis will be on strategic transformation and capability advancement; at others, it will center on sustaining process performance, strengthening adoption and adherence, leading change management efforts, and driving continuous improvement.

This role is a highly visible business partner, working cross-functionally with senior stakeholders and functional leaders across Global Supply Chain, Global & ISC Logistics, DTE, and other key areas to ensure global consistency in Transportation Management processes, systems, and capabilities.

Acting as a change agent and champion, the Associate Director is responsible for maintaining up-to-date Transportation Management business requirements; supporting Logistics functions in aligning SOPs and work instructions with system design; and ensuring processes, systems, and applications are compliant, user friendly, and positioned to deliver measurable business value. The ultimate objective is to improve compliance, efficiency, and productivity while supporting broader Supply Chain goals.

This role is integral to the success of the Global Logistics strategy and ongoing systems transformation, enabling stronger logistics operations and enterprise-wide process excellence.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
 

Accountability to drive Transportation Planning & Execution Strategy

• Own end-to-end Transportation Management process design, scope, documentation and governance across: Transportation Planning & Execution, Freight Bill Audit & Pay, Transportation visibility, carrier connectivity, and routing logic in Vertex Logistics systems & applications.

• Partner with Global and ISC Logistics operational teams, Network Design & Development, Cold Chain Validation, and Strategic Partner Management to translate business needs into process and system improvements.

• Drive the global strategy for Transportation Management by partnering with Global & ISC Logistics operational and functional leaders to understand business processes, key pain points, priorities, and future needs, while helping shape the broader Global Logistics strategy and direction.

• Drive process adoption and adherence through structured change management and stakeholder engagement.

• Manage critical cross-functional handoffs and process interfaces to ensure seamless transition, integration, and execution across Transportation Management and adjacent functions.

• Assess process maturity and ensure alignment between business processes, system capabilities, and operational execution to support standardization, adoption, and performance.

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize opportunities to resolve process issues, address pain points, and improve compliance, efficiency, productivity, and planning outcomes.

Systems Enablement & Change Management

• Serve as the business owner for TMS and partner with DTE to translate Transportation Management business process requirements into syssem capabilities across TMS and future ERP logistics modules - ensuring process design, system delivery, and stakeholder readiness move together.

• Partner with other Supply Chain BPOs, in alignment with the SCORE model, to establish common standards, promote best practices, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration surrounding Supply Chain Master Data, current & future enabling systems and applications

• Maintain Transportation Management routing tables as an ongoing business as usual responsibility.

Execution and Governance

• Builds cross-functional consensus, alignment, and commitment around Transportation Planning & Execution strategies, priorities, and plans, enabling shared ownership and consistent delivery of business outcomes.

• Collaborates closely with business and functional teams to execute improvement opportunities, ensuring initiatives are implemented smoothly, with clear coordination, accountability, and operational integration.

• Aligns organizational resources to support strategic initiatives, helping ensure Transportation Management improvements and transformation efforts are properly prioritized, supported, and executed.

• Drives governance across improvement efforts by monitoring progress, risks, dependencies, and change adoption, while promoting transparency, accountability, and sustained results.

• In conjunction with the Global Logistics Leadership Team, drives alignment on the initiation and ownership of applicable change controls in accordance with GDP regulations and the internal Quality Management System, ensuring Transportation process and system changes are governed appropriately and remain compliant.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate complex issues and solutions enterprise-wide.

• Excellent team player who is able to build and sustain respect and trust at all levels of the organization.

• Ability to anticipate adverse scenarios and provide contingency plans to address them.

• Sound judgment and business acumen with personal versatility and flexibility as the business and team evolves.

• Direct experience with managing logistics and temperature control / cold chain operations.

• Proven supervisory experience and demonstrated ability to develop direct reports.

• Has familiarity with managing Logistics with a network of both internal and external (CDMO) manufacturing sites.

• Has an excellent understanding of Good Distribution Practices in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

• Has a working knowledge of Trade Compliance requirements.

• Has knowledge of Logistics systems such as TMS, WMS and system / carrier integrations.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully plan and optimize all resources of a group or function (budgets, staff, technology, succession planning, etc.) for advancement of all goals and objectives.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative and fast-paced team environment, including business leadership to build alignment.

• Ability to influence others in sensitive or difficult situations.

• Ability to think critically and demonstrate troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to function efficiently and independently in a changing environment.

• Familiarity with various regulations including those related to hazardous shipments, employee safety, and freight classifications.

• In depth experience in Microsoft Excel (tables, arrays, formulas, conditional formatting).

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

• 7+ years of progressive experience in Supply Chain or Logistics, with direct experience in Transportation Management.

• Hands-on experience with TMS platforms (Oracle OTM strongly preferred).

• Experience in pharmaceutical or life sciences logistics, including cold chain and GDP compliance.

• Demonstrated experience as a business process owner or in a process governance / digital transformation role.

• Proven ability to deliver executive-level communications and drive cross-functional alignment in a matrixed organization* Demonstrated understanding of the principles and regulations associated with GDP operations.

• Professional certifications and membership in Professional Associations (APICS CLTD, CSCP) is strongly preferred. ​

Pay Range:

$153,700 - $230,500

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

Remote-Eligible

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this Remote-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as: 
1.    Remote: work remotely five days per week and come into the office on occasion – you’re always welcome on-site; or select 
2.    Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select
3.    On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time. 

#LI-Remote

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com