Interim Temporary-General Manager

About the role

The Salt Lake City (SLC) Office serves as a centralized service center, providing specialized operational and administrative support to multiple business units. This interim-temporary General Manager role provides strategic leadership to department leaders, ensuring effective delivery of services that support business objectives and operational excellence. The role has overall accountability for Terminal Billing, Customer Support, Inbound/Outbound Vessel Planning, International and Joint Venture Vessel Planning, Systems, Administrative Services, and other department leaders within the Salt Lake City operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the SLC office through collective bargaining negotiations, including developing bargaining strategy, preparing proposals and counter-proposals, coordinating with internal stakeholders (Labor Relations, HR, Legal, and Executive Leadership), and serving as a chief spokesperson or key member of the Company's bargaining team.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with union leadership (ideally OCU/ILWU Office Clerical Unit), fostering constructive dialogue and productive labor-management partnerships before, during, and after contract negotiations.
• Manage union labor relations and workforce administration, including ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, supporting workforce planning, and overseeing productive labor-management relationships.
• Provide leadership during grievance proceedings, arbitration hearings, witness preparation, settlement strategy, and labor dispute resolution.
• Ensure compliance with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), NLRB requirements, labor laws, employment regulations, and contractual obligations.
• Partner with Executive Leadership and Legal regarding unfair labor practice charges, litigation support, labor disputes, and regulatory matters.
• Engage with customers regularly to ensure service quality, strengthen relationships, and proactively address concerns.
• Support and participate in the resolution of workplace issues, including involvement in grievance discussions as appropriate.
• Implement and communicate operational business needs, policies, and process updates.
• Drive continuous improvement with regard to policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
• Ensure that employees comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, and government regulations.
• Promote safe work activities and set operations policies and standards, including determination of safety procedures.
• Monitor spending to ensure that expenses are within approved budgets.
• Review monthly financial reports and P&L statements to improve profitability and operational performance.
• Analyze expenditures and financial information to develop business plans, budgets, forecasts, and strategic initiatives.
• Maintain accountability for labor costs, operating budgets, capital expenditures, revenue growth, and financial results.
• Represent SSA Marine with customers, port authorities, government agencies, community stakeholders, and strategic partners.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, customer focus, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; related advanced degree preferred.
• 7-10+ years of progressive leadership experience in unionized maritime, logistics, transportation, or industrial operations.
• Direct, hands-on experience leading or serving as a principal participant in collective bargaining negotiations is required. Experience negotiating with OCU/ILWU (Office Clerical Unit) or comparable clerical/office bargaining units is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing bargaining strategy, managing the negotiation process from preparation through ratification, and achieving contract outcomes that balance operational, financial, and workforce priorities.
• Proven track record of building credible, professional working relationships with union representatives and leadership, and effectively managing sensitive labor discussions under high-pressure conditions.
• Thorough knowledge of container terminal operations and regulations.
• Experience leading arbitration hearings and complex grievance administration.
• Executive-level financial management experience with full P&L accountability.
• TWIC card required.

Required job duties are normally performed in a climate-controlled office environment with exposure to computer screens. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Yes – 100+ employees.

Pay

Salary range: $150,000–190,000 per year. The posted compensation range is based on the applicable geographic market for the position and may vary depending on factors such as related experience and skill set. Final compensation will be determined based on these items and other relevant factors.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Basic life and accidental death insurance.
• Paid disability insurance, including paid parental leave if eligible.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid sick and vacation time, and company holidays if eligible.
• Paid bereavement leave and paid jury duty.
• 401k plan and a retirement plan.
• Discretionary and/or metric-based bonuses dependent on position.