Route Optimization Manager

Department: Analytic Support 105604

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Sterling Heights

Description

The Route Optimization Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence across a designated region by overseeing daily route scheduling, fresh food ordering, and planogram management. This position leads a team of 5–10 Route Optimization Specialists, ensuring alignment with corporate service standards and operational goals. A key focus of this role is the successful integration of regional practices into the Continental corporate standard, with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement, efficient service execution, product freshness, and customer satisfaction. The Route Optimization Manager will leverage data insights to lead initiatives that reduce waste, minimize out-of-stock incidents, and increase units per service.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Operations Leadership:

• Lead the integration of regional operations into Continental’s corporate standards, ensuring full compliance and consistency in execution.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements and standardizations.
  
  

Route Scheduling & Optimization

• Oversee and approve daily route schedules to maximize efficiency, driver productivity, and on-time service delivery.
• Continuously review and refine routes based on data, geography, traffic patterns, and service windows.
  
  

Fresh Food & Inventory Oversight

• Ensure weekly fresh food orders are accurate, timely, and optimized to reduce waste while maintaining product freshness.
  
  

Planogram Compliance & Merchandising Standards

• Lead planogram execution across markets and vending locations, ensuring alignment with merchandising best practices.
• Partner with merchandising and product teams to update layouts based on product changes, sales trends, and customer preferences.
  
  

Jira Ticket Resolution & Operational Support

• Monitor and ensure timely resolution of Jira tickets across the team to maintain high service levels and minimize disruptions.
• Troubleshoot operational challenges and implement corrective actions quickly and effectively.
  
  

Performance Metrics & Reporting

• Track and report on key KPIs, including units per service, stale rates, stockouts, and route efficiency.
• Use data analysis to identify trends, diagnose issues, and lead improvement initiatives that enhance team and route performance.
  
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Route Optimization Specialists and field personnel to achieve performance goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, coaching sessions, and team training to build skillsets and promote growth.
  
  

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Logistics, or a related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in route optimization, field operations, or merchandising leadership.
• Proven experience managing a team and integrating regional teams into standardized corporate processes.
• Strong proficiency in data analysis tools and route optimization software.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, change-driven environment.
  
  

Job Benefits

We prioritize the health, wellness and work-life balance of our team members and designed our comprehensive compensation packages to reflect that.

• Full-time team members are eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, parental leave, 401(k) with company match, at-work dining perks, flexible schedules, generous PTO, and a total rewards program. Team Members can also use our inclusive employee assistance program.
• Part-time Team Members are eligible for our 401(k) with company match, at work dining perks and team members can also use our inclusive employee assistance program.
  
  

Location-specific perks may also include wellness programming, on-the-job training, corporate-hosted courses, certifications and team events.

#CONALB