Global Logistics Operations Manager

Mill is a waste prevention technology company reimagining what it means to eliminate waste, starting with food. We build smart systems and infrastructure for homes, businesses, and municipalities that transform food scraps from landfill-bound waste into valuable resources, including chicken feed. Tens of thousands of Mill’s residential food recyclers are already helping households divert millions of pounds of food scraps every year, paving the way for our upcoming launch of Mill Commercial—the industry’s first end-to-end solution for managing, understanding, and preventing food waste in commercial environments (e.g. grocery, restaurants, food services). At Mill, we are passionate about building easy-to-use, beautifully designed technologies that keep food in the food system and out of landfills. The Global Logistics Operations Manager at Mill owns the strategy and execution of all logistics and distribution operations across the full lifecycle of Mill’s hardware products. This role is accountable for inbound and outbound distribution, global freight transportation, customs and trade compliance, inventory positioning, and reverse logistics. As a senior Operations leader, this role manages a high-impact logistics team, leads strategic partnerships with Third Party Logistics (3PL) and freight providers, defines and reports on business Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and drives continuous cost, service, and scalability improvements. The Global Logistics Operations Manager also plays a critical role in shaping Mill’s systems, planning tools, and operational infrastructure to support rapid growth, new product launches, and international expansion. Core Logistics & Distribution Management Develop and execute end-to-end logistics and distribution strategies that ensure on-time delivery, optimized schedules, and cost efficiency across distribution, refurbishment, warranty, and special programs. Own and manage strategic relationships with 3PL distribution and logistics partners, driving operational efficiency and leveraging partner capabilities to maximize customer satisfaction and responsiveness. Lead continuous cost-optimization initiatives across the full distribution chain, from point of manufacture through last-mile delivery. Leverage advanced inventory and demand models to optimize pipeline inventory levels, balancing service levels, working capital, and risk of excess or obsolete stock. Select, evaluate, and manage all logistics partners, including leading pricing, contract, and performance negotiations. Analyze logistics spend and implement programs to capture all applicable tax, duty, and trade benefits for international shipments (e.g., USMCA, duty drawback, bonded inventory). Oversee global import/export operations, including product classification, customs documentation, broker management, and compliance. Lead logistics strategy across multiple channels of distribution, including Direct-to-Consumer (D2C), Retail, and Business-to-Business (B2B) ensuring each channel is supported with the most efficient fulfillment models, service levels, cost structures, and compliance requirements. Design and optimize channel-specific distribution flows, balancing speed, cost, inventory positioning, and customer experience across distribution channels, retail partners, and enterprise or commercial customers. Operational Excellence & Process Improvement Design and implement scalable pack-out, fulfillment, and distribution processes that reduce order cycle times and enable flexible Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) and order configurations. Drive end-to-end optimization of reverse logistics, from customer service intake through refurbishment, replacement, and disposition of returned units. Partner with Systems, Finance, and Operations teams to define and implement logistics functionality within Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and planning systems (e.g., NetSuite), ensuring accurate inventory, cost, and shipment visibility. Contribute to the development and adoption of AI-enabled planning and analytics tools to improve forecasting accuracy, scenario planning, and decision-making. Define and maintain a robust KPI framework for logistics partners, including service, cost, quality, and compliance metrics, with regular business reviews and executive reporting. Team & Strategic Leadership Build, manage, and develop a high-performing logistics team, proactively assessing capacity and skill needs as the business scales. Serve as a key cross-functional partner to Manufacturing, Supply & Demand Planning, Product, Finance, and Customer Experience. Support new product introductions (NPI), line transitions, and go-to-market launches by ensuring logistics readiness, cost modeling, and risk mitigation. Own logistics budgets and forecasts, clearly communicating trade-offs, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership. Present data-driven insights and proposals to executives, influencing decisions on cost, service, network design, and growth strategy.