Director Strategic Carrier Partnerships

Essential Job Functions

• Strategic Carrier Development
• Identify, qualify, and onboard strategic national and regional carriers aligned with Crane Solutions’ risk, service, and pricing strategy
• Own executive‑level relationships with carrier leadership (operations, security, pricing, sales, and executive sponsors)
• Negotiate enterprise frameworks covering security standards, HVHR protocols, escalation authority, service levels, and commercial rate structures
• Serve as the escalation point for carrier‑level systemic issues impacting multiple regions, programs, or pricing commitments
• Carrier Procurement & Pricing Strategy
• Develop and maintain enterprise carrier rate frameworks that support brokerage, managed transportation, and HVHR programs
• Partner with Sales, Solutions, and Pricing teams to ensure carrier pricing enables competitive bids and new customer wins
• Secure committed or semi‑committed pricing with national and regional carriers for core lanes, programs, and surge scenarios
• Reduce reliance on volatile spot markets by expanding strategic carrier participation
• Support RFQs, new customer pursuits, and expansions with pre‑negotiated carrier pricing strategies
• HVHR & Secure Transportation Enablement
• Ensure strategic carriers meet or exceed Crane Solutions HVHR security, compliance, and tracking standards
• Partner with Security, Compliance, and Operations leadership to continuously improve carrier risk posture without eroding pricing discipline
• Lead carrier readiness reviews for high‑risk programs and sensitive customers
• Remove, restrict, or reprice carriers when risk thresholds or performance standards are breached

• Carrier Governance & Performance

• Evaluates and ensures carrier performance including, but not limited to, SLA adherence, tender acceptance, KPIs, safety and security
• Establish carrier scorecards and executive business reviews (QBRs) covering service, security, and pricing performance
• Track performance trends, near misses, pricing adherence, and systemic rise indicators
• Provide leadership with data‑driven insights on carrier selection, promotion, restriction, removal, or renegotiation
• Maintains database of strategic carrier partners
• Internal Alignment
• Partner with Carrier Sales, Operations, Security, Pricing, and Client Development to align execution with carrier strategy
• Ensure new customer pursuits and RFQs are supported by viable, pre‑qualified carrier and pricing strategies
• Other duties as assigned

Other Skills & Abilities

• Quality management-look for ways to improve and promote quality and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High degree of organizational skills
• Demonstrates effective negotiation and closing techniques
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Works well in a team environment

Physical Requirements

• Talking, hearing and using hands to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and other computer components
•  Sitting for extended periods of time
•  Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus
• Job will require punctual attendance and regular presence on-site at the assigned work location

• Walking within the warehouse and inspecting freight

Education & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in transportation, carrier management, logistics strategy, or carrier procurement
• Demonstrated experience negotiating enterprise‑level carrier pricing with national/regional asset‑based carriers
• Deep understanding of truckload operations, carrier economics, and HVHR risk dynamics
• Proven ability to operate at executive and enterprise levels
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship‑building skills
• High school diploma or GED/Bachelor’s degree preferred

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES

• Professional certification may be required in some areas.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK FOR CRANE?

At Crane, we believe in providing our employees with excellent benefits at a Great Place to Work.

We offer:

• Quarterly Incentive Plan
• 136 hours of Paid Time Off which equals 17 days for the year, that can be used for Sick Time or for Personal Use
• Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement for education related to your job