National Distribution Manager

Reports to: Director of DistributionWith a projected 1,000 cafes in the United States by 2030, Paris Baguette is one of the fastest-growing neighborhood bakery cafés in the world. Our vision is to reestablish the neighborhood bakery café as the heart of the community around the world. Paris Baguette's mission is to bring expertly crafted baked and brewed goods through a warm and welcoming bakery café experience that delivers joy to everyone.If you are someone who has heart, wants to spread joy, nourish community and is ready to rise to the occasion, we are looking for you to join our growing team!WHAT WE ARE HUNGRY FORThe National Distribution Manager is responsible for overseeing end-to-end distribution operations ensuring timely, cost-effective, and compliant movement of goods from manufacturing and co-packing facilities to customers, distribution centers, and Franchise partners. This role leads to distribution strategy, 3PL management, and continuous improvement initiatives while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality, and service. The role partners cross-functionally with Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance to support service level targets, cost controls, and growth initiatives.KNOWLEDGE AND RESPONSIBILITIESFreight & Transportation ManagementLead all inbound and outbound transportation activities, including TL, LTL, drayage, and refrigerated freightManage relationships with 3PLs, carriers, and freight brokersNegotiate carrier contracts, rates, and service-level agreements to meet cost and service objectivesMonitor freight spending, lane performance, accessorial, and carrier complianceDevelop contingency plans for capacity constraints, weather disruptions, and peak seasonsCollaborate with transportation and logistics teams to optimize outbound and inter-facility shipmentsSupport distribution network design, including DC footprint, capacity planning, and lane optimizationIdentify cost-reduction opportunities while maintaining service and product integrityFood Safety, Quality & ComplianceEnsure compliance with FDA, USDA, and customer requirementsMaintain cold-chain integrity and temperature control standards throughout transportation and storageLead root cause analysis for freight-related quality issues and corrective actionsCost Control & Continuous ImprovementAssist with transportation and distribution budgets, forecasts, and KPIsDrive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce freight costs, damages, and lead timesImplement routing guides, mode optimization, and network design improvementsTrack and report metrics such as freight cost and damage ratesSystems & AnalyticsLead the use and optimization of TMS, WMS, ERP, and freight audit/payment systemsAnalyze data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvementSupport system implementations, integrations, and upgradesLeadership & Cross-Functional CollaborationSupport and develop a team of logistics and distribution professionalsEstablish performance goals, coaching, and succession planningPartner with Quality Control, Operations and Finance to support customer requirements and margin goalsAct as escalation point for service failures and customer-impacting issuesOther duties, as assigned. WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVEBachelor's degree in supply chain, or related fieldAt least 5+ years of progressive experience in frozen food distribution or cold-chain logisticsAt least 5+ years managing multi-site, multi-region distribution operationsDeep knowledge of frozen cold-chain requirements and global food safety regulationsExperience with global trade compliance and customs processesAdvanced WMS and ERP experience (SAP, Oracle, Manhattan, Blue Yonder, NetSuite)International logistics and trade complianceOperational excellence on a scaleFinancial and cost-to-serve optimizationStrong people leadership across culturesRisk management and resilience planningRegular presence in frozen warehouse environments (freezer conditions)Feedback is a gift! Ability to provide constructive feedback and recognition to every member of the organization, along with Franchisees, to ensure we have an open and transparent culture of high performance standards.High emotional intelligence with the ability to work with, and support diverse teams by being highly empathetic, intuitive, self-motivated and driven. Teams Win! Has to be a team player who fosters a collaborative and engaged team work environment.Being a Brand Ambassador, with an excellent knowledge of and commitment to Paris Baguette's Mission, Vision, Brand Values and Culture.SWEET BENEFITSCompetitive compensation Free Cake for your BirthdayMedical, Dental, Vision benefits401K Retirement PlanPaid time off, paid Holidays High Performance Culture