Manager, Operations - International
The Manager, Operations - International is responsible for leading and optimizing a multi-modal transportation operation spanning domestic and international air freight forwarding and domestic trucking (FTL/LTL), and warehousing/distribution services for a diverse portfolio of B2B and enterprise accounts. This role owns end-to-end operational performance, from booking through final delivery, while managing both internal teams and a broad network of air carriers, ground carriers, agents, and third-party service providers. The ideal candidate is highly analytical, operationally hands-on, and experienced in managing complex air and ground transportation networks and customer relationships in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities
Network & Operational Performance Management
- Own performance of a domestic and international air freight network as well as a domestic trucking (FTL/LTL) network
- Monitor and drive KPIs including on-time transit, freight claims/damage rates, customer satisfaction, and cost efficiency per shipment
- Identify performance gaps and implement corrective actions across origin/destination teams, agents, and carrier partners
- Ensure efficient booking, routing, and capacity planning across air and ground networks
Carrier & Vendor Management
- Build and manage relationships with airlines, air freight agents/GSAs, and domestic trucking carriers (FTL/LTL)
- Lead regular business reviews with carriers and agents to ensure SLA compliance and continuous improvement
- Partner with leadership on carrier/agent selection, rate negotiation, onboarding, and contract management
- Ensure adherence to safety, regulatory, and company standards across the network
Customer & Account Management
- Serve as primary operational contact for key accounts across domestic and international air freight and domestic trucking shipments
- Manage complex customer relationships, including manufacturing, retail, and enterprise clients
- Oversee project pricing, quoting, and execution for large-scale and time-critical initiatives
- Handle escalations and drive root-cause resolution to improve customer satisfaction (NPS/CSAT)
Multi-Modal Operations Oversight
- Oversee daily operations across:
- Domestic air freight forwarding, including time-critical and next-flight-out shipments
- International air freight forwarding (import/export)
- Domestic trucking, including full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) service
- Warehousing, distribution, and specialized project coordination
- Coordinate across internal teams (operations, warehouse, customer service, pricing)
- Ensure seamless handoffs between origin agents, air carriers, ground carriers, and final delivery
Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement
- Leverage data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and cost drivers across trade lanes
- Develop dashboards, reporting, and performance scorecards
- Lead process improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
- Create and standardize operational processes and documentation
Cost & Financial Management
- Manage freight cost structures, rate management, and profitability by lane and account
- Analyze cost drivers and identify savings opportunities across air and trucking spend
- Ensure adherence to budgets while maintaining service quality
- Support business development initiatives and strategic growth opportunities
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead hiring, training, and development of operations staff
- Drive workforce planning and staffing strategies across business lines
- Foster a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement
- Collaborate cross-functionally with leadership, sales, and support teams
Problem Solving & Execution
- Manage day-to-day operational challenges including delays, damages, and service failures
- Make real-time decisions balancing customer expectations with operational realities
- Navigate complex, high-value, and time-sensitive international logistics projects
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 7+ years of experience in air freight forwarding, domestic trucking, or 3PL logistics operations
- Experience managing carrier networks, including airlines and domestic trucking (FTL/LTL) partners
- Proven ability to manage complex domestic and international B2B customer relationships
- Strong analytical skills (Excel, BI tools, or similar)
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with freight forwarding/TMS platforms (e.g., CargoWise, Magaya, or similar)
- Experience with time-critical, next-flight-out, or charter air freight shipments
- Experience with domestic FTL/LTL routing and dispatch software
- Lean/Six Sigma certification or equivalent
- Additional language proficiency a plus
Physical/Mental Demands:
They physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Physical requirements include the ability to sit and stand for several hours at a time, walk, reach, bend, stoop, stretch, lift, push, transport, and move up to 25 pounds and to talk and hear
- Manual dexterity and visual acuity are needed to operate normal office equipment, such as a computer, telephone, and copier. Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
Environmental/Working Conditions:
This role will work out of our corporate office in Eagan, MN. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Work is performed in an indoor office environment and involves frequent contact with customers, vendors, employees, and the public
About ACS Logistics Holdings:
We are a fast-growing logistics and transportation company with three areas of business. Anderson Cargo Services specializes in domestic and international air freight forwarding, domestic trucking, and custom shipping solutions for B2B and enterprise clients. Allegro Home Delivery specializes in nationwide home deliveries of large-scale items. DataTrec offers data center relocations and provides safe, secure, high-speed transportation services and logistics for data center enterprise equipment.
ACS Logistics Holdings provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absences, compensation and training.