Director, Distribution and Partner Performance

Description

The Director, Distribution and Partner Performance owns inventory storage, freight flow, and all-in distribution cost from McLane to stores across the network, ensuring the distribution partner executes Hana’s plan on time and on budget.

The primary focus of this role is distribution performance — order accuracy, delivery reliability, and in-stock levels at stores — together with all-in distribution cost, inventory aging and turns, and partner accountability through a disciplined operating cadence. This role is the central point of ownership for order-filling, shipping, and delivery issues, and owns service quality resolution regardless of where the issue originates.

This position combines partner management, cost ownership, performance analytics, issue resolution, and operational validation. Success looks like stores receiving orders on time and in full at target service levels, all-in distribution cost meeting or beating budget, recurring service failures eliminated, and leadership holding clear confidence in distribution performance.

Key Competencies

Influence, Financial Acumen and Data Analytics, Planning and Priority Setting, Drive for Results, Problem Solving, Communication, Partnership and Collaboration

Duties & Responsibilities

• •Own inventory storage and freight flow from McLane to stores, ensuring the distribution partner executes Hana’s plan on time and on budget.
• •Own all-in distribution cost across the network, including partner markup and fees, and deliver to or below budget.
• •Provide oversight of inbound freight as structured, including cost, routing, and carrier performance.
• •Establish performance targets and service level expectations with the distribution partner and hold the partner accountable to them.
• •Own the day-to-day McLane relationship as the primary point of contact, with clear expectations and consistent follow-through.
• •Lead the weekly and monthly operating cadence with the distribution partner, including performance review, action items, and closure.
• •Serve as the central point of ownership for all order-filling, shipping, and delivery issues raised by stores, Franchisees, or internal teams.
• •Own service quality resolution regardless of source, and ensure issues are closed and do not recur.
• •Drive root cause analysis on recurring service failures and implement corrective action with the partner.
• •Manage inventory aging across the network, including slow mover control and inventory turns.
• •Partner with sourcing, category, and operations teams on product transitions, discontinuations, and new item launches to minimize obsolescence and write-offs.
• •Conduct periodic distribution center visits to confirm that reported performance reflects actual operating conditions.
• •Validate partner-reported data and reporting accuracy, and challenge results that do not reconcile.
• •Build and maintain distribution performance reporting that gives leadership clear visibility into service, cost, and risk.
• •Navigate disruption — including weather, supplier failure, and capacity constraints — and lead contingency planning to protect store service levels.
• •Support network and capacity planning, including new market entry, store growth, and changes to the distribution footprint.
• •Partner with finance on distribution budget, forecasting, cost tracking, and variance explanation.
• •Partner with operations, culinary, franchise, and supply chain teams to align distribution execution with store and Franchisee needs.
• •Support contract, pricing, and scope discussions with the distribution partner in partnership with sourcing and legal.
• •Represent distribution performance to senior leadership with clear, accurate reporting on service, cost, and risk.

This job posting describes the general duties and responsibilities for the position. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Requirements

• •Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience;
• •Eight or more years of progressive experience in distribution, logistics, or supply chain, including direct ownership of a third-party distribution or logistics partner relationship.
• •Experience in foodservice, grocery retail, convenience, or multi-unit restaurant distribution preferred; experience with fresh or short-shelf-life product is a plus.
• •Demonstrated track record navigating disruption such as weather events, supplier failure, and capacity constraints without loss of store service.
• •Proven ability to operate tactically while maintaining a strategic mindset.
• •Strong command of distribution economics, including markup and fee structures, freight cost, storage and handling cost, and inventory turns.
• •Ability to deliver results through influence with both internal partners and external providers, without direct authority over partner teams.
• •Strong analytical skills with the ability to validate partner-reported data and translate performance into clear decisions.
• •Strong operator with a bias for efficiency improvement and service quality.
• •Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present performance and risk to senior leadership.
• •Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Excel, and experience with supply chain or ERP reporting systems.
• •Demonstrated alignment with the company mission and core values.

Physical Requirements:

• •Ability to work in an office setting, including prolonged periods seated and working on a computer
• •Ability to operate office equipment and communicate by phone, email, and video conference
• •Ability to visit distribution centers and store locations, including walking warehouse floors and standing for extended periods
• •Ability to work in refrigerated and freezer environments and in areas with temperature variations, noise, and equipment activity
• •Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move materials weighing up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation
• •Ability to travel as required to support distribution, partner, and store activities

Hana Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer