Malina Downey was fresh out of college with an industrial engineering degree when she was hired full-time at UPS. Looking for a place to grow, she discovered a whole lot more in a 25-year career delivering what matters.
Engineering our global network: Today, Malina is an industrial engineering director overseeing the moments when people ship the most packages – think annual holidays or the December shipping rush – to ensure operations run smoothly. Her team works on solutions to potential challenges – things like surges in package volume or unpredictable weather.
"A big part of my job is forecasting package volume, building contingency and staffing plans, and adjusting our network to take on extra volume,” Malina said. “We’re hiring more people, renting more vehicles and planes, and even leasing buildings so we’re ready.”
Flashback: When Malina started as an intern, she was excited to see packages travelling through a network of sorting facilities with sensors and scanners collecting important data that made accurate and timely delivery possible.
Malina quickly realized just how important UPS engineers really are.
“We make sure packages are in the right place with the right number of people and the right equipment to process and deliver efficiently,” Malina said. “A big part of our focus is working with the sales team to flex our network to meet the demands of our customers and manage volume increases effectively.”
From intern to expert: Throughout Malina’s career she’s had various roles – from helping operations run efficiently to improving delivery and long-distance routes. Each step in her career has deepened her understanding of our business and prepared her for greater responsibilities – a hallmark of our promote-from-within culture at UPS.
Did you know? Promoting employees from within the company is a strong tradition at UPS. Nearly 40% of UPS’s leaders in the U.S. started on the front line.
“Some people job-hop to improve their skills and knowledge,” she said. “At UPS, you can have several different careers, all within the same company.”
Want to be like Malina? We need your help delivering for the holidays! Nearly 75% of our seasonal positions don't require an interview – most applicants will get a job offer in just 10 minutes. Apply at UPSjobs.com.