The new USPS Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe has announced job cuts among the managementstaff to reduce operating costs and to streamline revenue-generating business units.
As part of the restructuring, 16% of the officer ranks are planned to be eliminated, reducingtop-level positions from 44 to 37, and the senior vice president title has been eliminated.
Besides cost savings, the main objective of these measures is to enhance and strengthen customerservice and relationships. “The realignment flattens the organisation, enabling flexibility to morequickly adapt to changing market forces and continuing mail volume decline,” USPS stated.
The measures will help accomplishing its key business goals such as strengthening the B2Cbusiness, improving customer experience and increasing its presence in the parcel market, theheavily loss-making US postal operator added.
“It is imperative that the Postal Service continue its evolution as a forward-thinking,fast-acting company capable of providing quality products and services for customers and awelcoming, diverse, professional workplace,” Donahoe said.
Under the changes, only one officer will from now on be responsible for developing both marketdominant and competitive products, the vice president of Domestic Products. Where those productsare sold – in retail, online or in alternative spaces – becomes the responsibility of the vicepresident of Channel Access.
The vice president of Consumer and Industry Affairs will be in charge of all customerinteraction and support, whether for large corporations, small businesses or individual consumers.The Consumer Advocate remains a vital part of customer service and will report to this officer. Theengineering technology and systems that help develop future technologies for USPS includingIntelligent Mail, will become an integral part of the Information Technology department.
All Human Resources functions will be led by the Chief Human Resources Officer, supported by thevice presidents of Labour Relations and Employee Resource Management. The Chief SustainabilityOfficer will continue the leadership role in greening the Postal Service and the mailingindustry.
Another cost-cutting measure includes the closure of the Southeast Area Office, based inMemphis, Tennessee. About 120 jobs will reportedly be saved through the closure.
“The Postal Service is committed to making necessary changes to continue to provide qualityservice to our customers and to reinforce the value of the mail,” Donahoe added. “Ensuring customersatisfaction is the ultimate goal of all plans and strategies we develop.”
