About the Team:
The Supply Chain team focuses on keeping things moving across all aspects of our business. They make an impact by ensuring our products get from the vendors to the DCs to the stores in the most efficient and timely way. Their goal is to improve each step within the process, so we have the right product at the right place at the right time for our pet parents.
About the Location:
Collaborative Work Environment:
At PetSmart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.
About the Job:
Position Summary
The Outbound Transportation Manager owns end-to-end execution and financial performance of outbound transportation from distribution centers to stores. This role leads a third-party planning provider and internal team to deliver reliable, cost-efficient transportation outcomes, with clear accountability for service, speed of decision-making, and freight spend.
This leader is expected to operate with urgency and a strong bias for action—making timely, data-informed decisions to resolve issues, optimize network performance, and protect service to stores. This role requires strong financial acumen, with direct ownership of transportation cost performance, trade-off decisions, and continuous identification of cost-saving opportunities.
Success in this role is defined by consistent service execution, disciplined cost control, and the ability to quickly translate data into action.
Key Responsibilities
Internal Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, develop, and coach a team of four associates responsible for transportation oversight, performance monitoring, analytics, and provider governance.
• Establish clear performance expectations aligned with transportation service, cost management, and operational execution goals.
• Provide coaching and development to strengthen analytical capabilities, vendor management skills, and decision-making.
• Conduct performance management activities including goal setting, performance reviews, feedback, and development planning.
• Ensure the team effectively monitors provider performance and drives accountability to established KPIs.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. - Develop financial acumen within the team, ensuring understanding of cost drivers and P&L impact.
Third-Party Provider Oversight & Performance Management
- Oversee a third-party transportation planning provider responsible for outbound load planning and execution across the distribution network.
• Establish clear performance expectations through defined SLAs, KPIs, and operational standards aligned with service, cost, and execution goals.
• Conduct regular performance reviews with the provider to ensure accountability for service levels, planning quality, and operational execution.
• Partner with the internal team to monitor provider performance, identify gaps, and drive corrective actions.
• Ensure strong governance processes are in place to maintain consistent execution and continuous improvement.
• Maintain a productive partnership with the provider while holding them accountable for results.
Transportation Planning & Service Execution
- Oversee daily outbound transportation planning activities executed by the third-party provider to ensure reliable store deliveries and effective network execution.
• Ensure outbound loads are planned efficiently and aligned with store delivery windows, distribution center shipping schedules, and carrier capacity.
• Provide strategic oversight on routing strategies, load optimization, and transportation planning decisions.
• Maintain strong service performance by ensuring issues impacting on-time delivery are proactively identified and resolved to include severe weather events and ad-hoc network disruptions.
Service & Cost Management
- Ensure transportation planning decisions effectively balance store service commitments with disciplined cost management.
• Monitor transportation service metrics including on-time delivery, delivery reliability, and service exception trends.
• Hold the third-party provider accountable for decisions that protect service levels while maximizing network efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve both service performance and transportation cost efficiency through improved planning strategies.
Carrier Management & Performance
- Manage relationships with outbound carrier partners supporting PetSmart’s store delivery network.
• Oversee carrier performance management through scorecard adherence, ensuring carriers meet service expectations related to on-time delivery, tender acceptance, and operational reliability.
• Partner with the third-party provider to ensure appropriate capacity is secured to support store delivery volumes.
• Address service failures and implement corrective action plans when carrier performance falls below expectations.
Cost Management & Transportation P&L Ownership
- Own outbound transportation financial performance, with direct accountability for delivering against budget and cost targets.
- Actively manage freight spend through real-time decision-making on routing, mode, carrier selection, and service trade-offs.
- Challenge planning decisions and provider recommendations to ensure cost-efficient outcomes.
- Translate transportation data into actionable cost drivers and implement changes that deliver measurable savings.
- Drive continuous cost improvement through network optimization, carrier strategy, and execution discipline.
- Make clear trade-off decisions between cost and service, with ownership of outcomes.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with distribution center leadership to align transportation planning with shipping operations and labor scheduling.
• Collaborate with inbound transportation teams to ensure balanced freight flows across the network.
• Engage with supply chain leadership to support transportation strategies that improve service reliability and network efficiency.
Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor transportation performance metrics including on-time delivery, carrier performance, routing efficiency, and transportation cost performance.
• Analyze transportation data to identify service trends, operational challenges, and opportunities for network improvement.
• Lead initiatives with the third-party provider to improve planning processes, routing strategies, and transportation tools.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts that enhance service reliability while improving cost efficiency.
Decision Making & Bias for Action
- Make timely, data-informed decisions to resolve daily transportation issues, minimizing service disruption and cost impact.
- Operate with a bias for action, avoiding analysis paralysis in favor of practical, high-confidence decisions.
- Take ownership of escalations and drive rapid resolution across providers, carriers, and internal partners.
- Clearly define decision rights between internal team and third-party provider to ensure speed and accountability.
- Balance short-term execution needs with long-term network efficiency in decision making.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain operations.
• Experience managing third-party logistics providers or outsourced operations preferred.
• Experience leading teams in a transportation or operations environment.
• Strong understanding of retail transportation networks and store delivery operations.
• Experience working with transportation management systems (TMS) and transportation analytics tools.
• Strong stakeholder management and vendor oversight capabilities.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Key Competencies
- Third-party provider management and governance
• Team leadership and development - Bias for action and sense of urgency
- Strong decision-making under ambiguity
- Financial acumen and cost ownership mindset
- Ability to translate data into action quickly
• Transportation planning oversight
• Service and cost balance decision-making
• Carrier management and performance oversight
• Transportation cost management and P&L accountability
• Data-driven operational leadership
• Cross-functional collaboration and influence
• Continuous improvement mindset
Additional Job Considerations:
- This role requires collaboration, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, leaders, and/or clients.
- Being in the office ensures access to leaders, cross-functional partners, and resources necessary to make timely decisions and drive results.
- On-site presence in accordance with our FlexSmart policy supports our culture of innovation, mentorship, and engagement, which is integral to our success in developing the best team.
* This is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exhaustive list of all essential job functions for this position. PetSmart retains the right to change or assign other required job duties to this position.
About the Culture:
At PetSmart, Anything for Pets begins with our people. Every associate plays a vital role in creating meaningful experiences for pets and their families, and we empower our teams with the tools, resources, and opportunities to grow and succeed.
We’re more than a workplace, we’re Team PetSmart. Together, we grow, collaborate, and challenge ourselves to be the best in all we do. Our culture is built on belonging and shared purpose, where every voice and experience matters. Guided by our values, we strive to do what’s right, lead responsibly, and bring our passion for pets to life every day. Not sure if you meet 100% of the position requirements and whether you should apply? We’d still like to hear from you and encourage you to apply with us! You might be the right fit for this role or another opportunity across Team PetSmart.
Our home office offers outstanding amenities in a fun and rewarding workplace including:
- Pet-friendly environment, bring your pets to work and enjoy the on-site dog park!
- On-Site Events & Adoptions, enjoy community-building opportunities, including pet adoption days, seasonal celebrations, family events, art events, & holiday festivals
- “Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists, personal trainers, and wellness spaces
- “Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options, snacks, & more
- “Lil Paws” NAEYC-accredited onsite childcare facility providing high-quality early education
- Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart
- Print Center and Business Services, Dry Cleaning, Mother's Rooms, Sustainable Infrastructure & more
PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.