Dispatch Planner

VersaCold is a food-first supply chain company with one of North America’s largest cold chain networks. We're dedicated to ensuring the safety, quality and freshness of the food families eat. With 65 years of experience, we collaborate as entrusted partners to maintain cold chain integrity and deliver customized solutions to complex business challenges. The foundation of our culture is based upon The VersaCold Way demonstrating our commitment to health and safety, integrity, innovation, performance and collaboration.

We are a growing organization and currently looking for a passionate and motivated Logistics Associate to join our winning team.

**Employment Type**:Permanent

**Reports to**: Manager, Transportation Solutions

**Office/Facility**:Lachine

**Shift**: Sunday to Thursday 9:30pm to 6:00am

**Position Summary**

The Dispatch Planner is responsible for the timely planning and execution of daily pick-ups and deliveries for the Terminal by coordinating the scheduling and routing of trips to meet service, cost, and timeliness objectives. The Dispatch Planner works closely with the Dispatcher and Terminal Operations team to ensure all trips are coordinated, appointments are secured, resources are optimized, and customer requirements are met and/or exceeded. The Dispatch Planner communicates with customer service and transport partners to plan, track, and manage orders to achieve and maintain high service levels.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Safety & Compliance_
- Promotes a culture where Health & Safety is the #1 priority.
- Operates within the Code of Business Conduct, company policies and procedures, and all statutes and legislation governing the workplace.
- Works with Dispatcher to ensure Driver hours are not exceeded.
- Understands and adheres to all Transportation Safety policies and guidelines.
- Ensures compliance with prescribed Health & Safety programs and Cold Chain Assurance programs, as directed by terminal management team and regional Health & Safety and Cold Chain Assurance leads.
- Customer Experience_
- Collaborates effectively with all team members in Transportation and Warehousing to achieve daily objectives.
- Provides the highest levels of service to all customers with whom they interact, whether internal or external, with the goal of continuously improving the customer experience.
- Works with the Supervisor, Terminal Operations and leadership team to implement Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) related to daily customer service objectives.
- In collaboration with the Supervisor, Terminal Operations, communicates with existing customers to understand and prioritize their needs, participating in calls and meetings as appropriate.
- Researches, develops and recommends solutions to meet customer requirements.
- Implements improved operational processes that enhance capabilities to meet/exceed service standards.
- Ensures adherence and accountability to QMS and standard operating procedures.
- Operational Excellence_
- Manages inbound shipment ETA’s to maximize planning efficiency and ensure customer needs are met.
- Collaborates with the operations team and transportation partners to determine equipment requirements and schedules.
- Develops efficient routing patterns to meet required schedules.
- Ensures all documentation relating to the movement of orders or shipments in or out of the facility is completed accurately and on time.
- Coordinates with dispatcher and transportation partners involved in the daily pick-up and delivery of freight.
- Ensures pick-up and delivery appointments are secured within a timely manner to meet customer’s requested delivery dates.
- Ensures regular communication with dispatcher, customer service, and transportation partners to plan, track, and manage orders.
- Ensures the collection, audit, tracking and filing of internal paperwork from Drivers (PODs, fuel slips, and maintenance records).
- Consistently utilizes the Transportation Management System (TMS) to monitor/manage shipments, identify issues and develop solutions.
- Prepare and provide reports to Supervisor, Terminal Operations, showing all on time and late departures.
- Recommends continuous improvement efforts and identifies cost saving and growth initiatives.
- Answers inbound phone calls relating to linehaul delays and driver/carrier check-ins.
- Provides vacation and sick coverage for dispatch and operations support functions.
- Performs other duties as assigned in accordance with the company vision, mission, strategy and culture.

**Key Requirements**
- 1-2 years’ experience in a planning, dispatch or logistics coordinator role working in a transportation/ logistics environment.
- High school graduation or equivalent.
- Diploma and/or bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain & logistics, or related field an asset.
- Working knowledge of transportation software systems (Truckmate) an asset.
- Experience working with company drivers, owner operators and third-party carriers.