Area Air Logistics Gateway Operations Manager

About the role

The Area Air Logistics Gateway Operations Manager is a strategic operations leader responsible for overseeing and growing air export gateway operations while ensuring service excellence, operational efficiency, and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all area air export gateway operations, ensuring efficient service delivery, operational excellence, and business growth.
• Manage, mentor, develop, and train gateway teams to achieve performance objectives and maintain high productivity standards.
• Support regional and national air export operations, origin stations, and global destination offices to ensure seamless freight movement.
• Plan and manage scheduled consolidation services while meeting on-time performance targets.
• Drive continuous process improvement initiatives across gateway and branch operations.
• Oversee gateway financial activities, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and profitability.
• Ensure compliance with air cargo security requirements, company policies, procedures, and quality standards.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with airline partners, carriers, GSAs, and transportation providers to secure capacity and competitive rates.
• Negotiate carrier agreements that support profitability and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with national gateway leadership, procurement teams, regional directors, and branch management to solve operational challenges and improve service delivery.
• Support air import operations and maintain effective coordination across internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with healthcare, quality, GxP, SecureChain, and Semicon requirements and standards.
• Promote company culture, values, and professional standards while driving operational performance and customer satisfaction.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Logistics, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• Professional certification preferred.
• 5-10 years of leadership experience managing teams and operational performance.
• 2-5 years of Air Logistics experience.
• 2-5 years of experience within the air freight or freight forwarding industry.
• Project management experience preferred.
• International business experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of air logistics and transportation operations.
• Ability to negotiate effectively, influence stakeholders, and resolve conflicts.
• Strong presentation, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Advanced interpersonal and intercultural skills with the ability to manage diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, financial, strategic planning, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience reviewing contracts, invoicing processes, and commercial agreements.
• Able to identify market trends and translate opportunities into business growth.
• Strong decision-making skills, accountability, and ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
• International mindset with a collaborative leadership approach.
• Fresh English required; Spanish proficiency preferred.
• Willingness to travel domestically on an occasional basis and support operations that may include evenings, weekends, and extended business hours.

Qualifications

• Willingness to travel domestically on an occasional basis and support operations that may include evenings, weekends, and extended business hours.

Skills

• Strong leadership and business acumen.
• Industry expertise.
• Strategic planning and problem-solving capabilities.
• Collaboration and relationship management skills.
• Financial analysis and compliance knowledge.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of air logistics and transportation operations.
• Ability to manage diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite.
• International mindset and cultural awareness.

Benefits

At Kuehne+Nagel, we offer a dynamic global work environment with opportunities for excellent training programs and career mobility. The hourly wage range for this position is between $130,000 and $145,000 annually. Base wage is part of a competitive total rewards package that includes health and welfare benefits, a 401k retirement savings plan, tuition reimbursement, and incentive compensation for eligible roles.

Pay

The hourly wage range for this position is between $130,000 and $145,000 annually.

Schedule

Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by a number of factors including experience, skills, job location, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations.