Manager, Operations - Private Fleet

Location:

Bethlehem, PA, US, 18020

At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate Employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide. We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!

About the role:

Barry Callebaut is a global organization poised for growth; a company which has embraced the vision to delight its customers, while outperforming its competitors, a business which is committed to sustainability, has innovation in its DNA, is a leader in complex manufacturing and supply chain solutions and is focused on being a best-in-class employer. Barry Callebaut seeks diverse and passionate people who thrive in a dynamic environment, focused on continuous learning, living BC’s Values and of course loving chocolate.

The Private Fleet Operations Manager is responsible for the end-to-end leadership, performance, and strategic direction of the company’s private fleet within a logistics network. This role ensures safe, compliant, and highly efficient transportation operations supporting manufacturing and food distribution operations that consistently deliver superior service to internal and external partners. The manager drives operational excellence across fleet, drivers, dispatch and network alignment while optimizing cost, capacity, and asset utilization.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead all aspects of private fleet operations supporting local, regional or national logistics networks
• Drive rapid response to operational disruptions, including delays, breakdowns, and volume surges
• Lead and oversee dispatch, routing, and scheduling functions to maximize efficiency and service reliability
• Ensure consistent execution of on-time pickups and deliveries in alignment with customer and business SLAs
• Lead and execute fleet strategies that align with broader logistics and supply chain objectives
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve service performance
• Lead network optimization efforts, including route design, raw material pick-ups, and reduction of empty miles
• Support scalability of operations to meet growth and sales demand variability
• Own and manage the fleet operating budget, including labor, fuel, maintenance, and capital expenditures
• Analyze key performance indicators such as cost per mile, cost per delivery, utilization, and dwell time
• Identify cost reduction opportunities while maintaining or improving service levels
• Develop business cases for fleet investments and improvements
• Champion a safety-first culture across all fleet operations
• Ensure compliance with DOT, FMCSA, and all applicable regulatory requirements
• Oversee driver safety programs, training, audits, and performance management
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective/preventive actions
• Provide leadership for fleet lifecycle management, including procurement, replacement, and disposal
• Ensure robust preventive maintenance programs that minimize downtime and ensure service continuity
• Partner with maintenance teams and vendors to improve equipment reliability and uptime
• Oversee lifecycle management of tractors, trailers, and refrigerated units (reefers)
• Ensure high equipment availability to support production and shipping schedules
• Manage preventive maintenance programs focused on reliability and food-grade equipment standards
• Coordinate trailer pools, drop-and-hook strategies, and yard management for plant and warehouse efficiency

About you:

• Bachelor’s degree in logistics, supply chain, business
• 5-10 years in private fleet management, logistics or transportation management
• 4+ years in a management role within fleet operations
• CDL
• Proficient in English
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to lead and manage changes in a complex environment
• Travel requirements: 5-15%

What you can expect from Barry Callebaut:

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Environment that welcomes workplace flexibility
• An atmosphere where diversity is embraced, and inclusivity is second nature. We call it #OneBC! Just ask our champions with the Americas Women’s Forum and the Racial Equality Forum!
• Ability to grow personally and professionally within an organization that values development and internal career growth.
• Be part of our mission in making sustainability the norm through Forever Chocolate with priorities centered around prospering farmers, zero child labor, carbon and forest positive, and creating 100% sustainable ingredients in all of our products.

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we’ve experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong. #oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.

If you want to learn more about Barry Callebaut, please find further information here.

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