Chief Operating Officer

About Sunland:

Since Sunland was founded in 1982, the most consistent answer to the question “What makes Sunland a great place to work?” continues to be, “The people & the culture.” Sunland has grown from a local to a national third-party logistics company, the Leadership Team has been very intentional about caring for and investing in our people & making sure the positive culture continues. Sunland’s Company Values are at the heart of our positive, continuous improvement culture. Our values are not just words on the wall, they are the cornerstones for guiding how we behave and make decisions, so we can help our people and our customers to be better.

Why Choose Sunland:

• Growth Opportunities
• Competitive Pay
• Supportive leadership and team
• Excellent benefits

Job Summary

This position contributes to Sunland's success by leading enterprise operations, commercial strategy, and organizational performance across the company. The Chief Operating Officer is accountable for delivering profitable growth, operational excellence, financial performance, customer success, and strategic execution while building the leadership, systems, and culture required to support Sunland's continued growth. The COO champions Sunland's culture by leading with Safety First, Servant Leadership, a Learning Organization, and Results That Matter.

As Chief Operating Officer, you will:

• Lead enterprise operations, safety, quality, and financial performance.

• Drive profitable growth through business development, strategic customer partnerships, and commercial leadership.

• Build executive relationships with customers while leading negotiations, business reviews, and strategic initiatives.

• Develop high-performing leaders through Servant Leadership while strengthening organizational capability and fostering a Learning Organization.

• Partner with the CEO to execute Sunland's strategic vision and deliver Results That Matter through long-term enterprise growth.

Summary of Key Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions included but are not limited to the following:

Business Development & Commercial Leadership

• Partner with the CEO and Sales leadership to drive profitable growth and execute the company's commercial strategy.

• Develop executive relationships with strategic customers and prospective clients.

• Lead executive business reviews, customer presentations, contract negotiations, and commercial discussions.

• Support new business pursuits, pricing strategy, proposals, and contract renewals.

• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts, enter new markets, and develop strategic partnerships.

• Serve as the executive sponsor for key customer relationships.

Enterprise Operations

• Lead enterprise operations across all facilities, business units, and customer programs.

• Deliver safe, consistent, and scalable operational performance.

• Establish enterprise operating standards, KPIs, and accountability systems.

• Improve productivity, quality, service, and customer satisfaction.

• Drive Lean, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.

Financial Leadership

• Deliver revenue, EBITDA, margin, cash flow, and operational performance objectives.

• Optimize labor, operating costs, and capital investments to maximize profitability.

• Partner with Finance on forecasting, budgeting, and business planning.

• Ensure disciplined capital allocation and enterprise risk management.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team.

• Align cross-functional leaders around enterprise priorities and strategic objectives.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and execution.

• Represent Sunland with customers, industry partners, and strategic stakeholders.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and develop a high-performing leadership team.

• Strengthen succession planning and organizational capability.

• Coach senior leaders while establishing clear performance expectations.

• Foster a culture of ownership, engagement, and continuous learning.

Enterprise Strategy & Transformation

• Partner with the CEO to develop and execute the company's long-term strategic plan.

• Lead acquisitions, integrations, start-ups, and major customer implementations.

• Champion digital transformation through automation, AI, WMS, business intelligence, and operational technologies.

• Simplify organizational processes and systems to improve scalability and execution.

• Evaluate market opportunities that strengthen Sunland's long-term competitive position.

• Position the organization for sustainable, profitable growth.

Required Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• 15+ years of executive leadership experience in third-party logistics (3PL), supply chain, distribution, warehousing, manufacturing, or related industries.

• Proven executive leadership of complex, multi-site 3PL operations with full P&L responsibility.

• Experience leading organizations exceeding $100M in annual revenue.

• Strong financial acumen in budgeting, forecasting, labor optimization, and capital planning.

• Proven experience driving business development, executive customer relationships, contract negotiations, and commercial strategy.

• Demonstrated success scaling organizations through operational excellence, technology, and strategic growth.

• Experience leading digital transformation, automation, AI, and continuous improvement initiatives preferred.

• Exceptional executive presence with strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field required; MBA preferred.