Logistics and Systems Specialist - Learning Resources : Job Details

About our family of companies:We are on a mission to bring learning to life! At our family of companies, Learning Resources, Educational Insights, and hand2mind, we create a unique range of toys, educational products and supplemental curriculum trusted by teachers and loved by families alike. Voted among the Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces for the last four consecutive years, we are a 350-person strong, family-owned organization dedicated to helping kids succeed in school and develop a love of learning. In addition to high-quality, hands-on products like VersaTiles and Cuisenaire Rods, we make award-winning toys, including top sellers such as the Pretend & Play Cash Register, the Farmer's Market Color Sorting Set and Toy of the Year winner Botley the Coding Robot as well as Educational Insights top sellers Kanoodle, GeoSafari Jr. series, and Playfoam. We pride ourselves on being committed to our employee's personal and professional development, a thriving culture and a diverse, creative atmosphere. Along with our culture and competitive benefits package, we offer opportunities for training and development by Harvard and UCLA professors as well as in-demand, motivating external speakers. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you'll come join our award-winning team today!Team & Position Description:We are currently seeking a Logistics and Systems Specialist. This position will be responsible for supporting purchasing and supply chain team members by coordinating purchasing activities, delivery activities and overseeing shipping, transportation and receiving of goods. The focus is on order fulfillment and supply chain coordination accurately and maintaining Purchase Order and Vendor Maintenance with the most up to date information. This position is also responsible for managing a small vendor base of logistic providers.What we're looking for (Key Performance Objectives):* Order Management: manage shipping orders with freight forwarders and ensure expedites are carried out properly between LCL and FCL shipments by 30 days of hire* Documentation Management: manage supplier shipping documents and ensure they are processed correctly in the system, while also ensuring adherence to corporate transportation guidelines within 60 days of onboarding* Freight Management: serve as the primary contact for our Freight Forwarders, responsible for obtaining and managing all freight costs (ocean & air, inbound & outbound) across the company within 90 days of hiring* Customs Compliance: act as the main liaison with our customs lawyer, ensuring accurate input and updates of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes, as well as compliance with FDA and FCC standards by 180 days of hiring* Performance Monitoring: Expertise in developing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) for freight service providers throughout the shipping, receiving, and transportation cycles by 180 days of onboarding* Drop Ship Oversight: manage and track Drop Ship orders, ensuring timely shipments, and handle the creation and upload of shipping documents to customer portals as neededRequirements/Ideal Attributes:* Bachelor's degree required in related field (i.e., Supply Chain, Operations, Business).* 3-5 years' experience in Logistics and/or Operations* Experience with the manufacturing industry as it relates to in-house assembly is preferred.* Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Access.* Must have the ability to influence and work at all levels of an organization.* MRP experience in Microsoft D365 preferred* Detail-Oriented Communicator: A candidate who is detail-oriented with strong verbal and written communication skills.* Independent and Strategic: A self-starter who can work under pressure, meet deadlines, and independently develop and execute strategies.* Data-Driven Problem Solver: Someone skilled at extracting and analyzing data to make critical decisions in a problem-solving environment, addressing immediate issues while also finding long-term solutions.We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.#LI-hybrid