Position: Director, Operations - Contract Logistics

Compensation: $190,000-$210,000

Job Description: 

The Director, Operations – Contract Logistics provides strategic and operational leadership across multiple logistics facilities within a defined region, service area, or client cluster. An experienced operations leader with a client-centered approach, they are responsible for driving operational excellence, customer satisfaction, safety, and compliance across the portfolio. With multiple sites reporting to this role, they lead and develop site leaders of all levels to ensure consistent execution. Responsible for multi-site P&L performance, they work closely with customers, commercial teams, and corporate functions to ensure optimal service delivery, continuous improvement, and profitable growth.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight for multiple transportation, flow-through, and/or warehouse operations sites.

• Ensure consistent execution of operational standards, service level agreements (SLAs), and customer commitments across all sites.

• Establish regional strategies that drive safety, service quality, productivity, and operational discipline.

• Ensure facilities operate in a clean, organized, safe, and compliant manner.

• Own full Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility for the assigned region or portfolio of facilities.

• Develop and execute operating plans that achieve revenue, margin, and operating income targets.

• Monitor financial and operational performance across sites, identify trends and variances, and implement corrective actions.

• Drive productivity improvements, cost optimization, and margin expansion initiatives across the network.

• Ensure effective capital, labor, and asset utilization to maximize return on invested resources.

• Serve as a senior point of contact for key customers, managing performance reviews, contractual obligations, and service expectations.

• Lead customer engagement related to Key Performance Indicator (KPI) performance, scope changes, pricing discussions, renewals, and issue resolution.

• Partner with sales and business development teams to support new business integration and organic growth.

• Identify opportunities to expand customer relationships through additional services and solutions.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements across the portfolio.

• Hold site leaders accountable for safety performance, audit results, and risk mitigation plans.

• Ensure timely completion and resolution of internal and external audits.

• Coach and develop operations leaders, including supervisors, managers, and site managers.

• Ensure leadership depth, succession planning and talent development across the organization.

• Drive a performance-based culture focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure workforce planning aligns with current operations and future growth requirements.

• Review and consolidate weekly and monthly operational and financial performance reporting.

• Ensure consistent performance management disciplines across sites, including KPI reviews and action planning.

• Act as the primary liaison between field operations and corporate support functions.

• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs

Qualifications:

• Education: High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)/equivalent required; Undergraduate degree (or higher) in Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field from an accredited college or university preferred. 
• Certification / Licensure: Lean/Kaizen/Six Sigma certifications preferred.
• Experience: 7+ years’ progressive experience leading large-scale logistics/supply chain/distribution operations, with multi-site responsibilities and full financial accountability.
• Direct working experience in third-party logistics (3PL) and/or contract logistics. 
• Expert knowledge of the regulatory requirements and industry best practices impacting the logistics and transportation industries.
• Experience with implementing and optimizing Distribution Center (DC) processes and technologies.

• Proven expertise supporting sales, solution development, and/or new business integration.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams.

• Proficient in lean methodologies and tools.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; proficient leveraging data to inform decisions and develop solutions. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to quickly establish trust and communicate complex concepts across diverse audiences. 

• Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.

• Specialized Technology Skills: Proficiency in Warehouse Management Systems.

• Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)

• Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with frequent travel for related meetings, events, and client engagements.

Forward Air is an Equal Opportunity Employer

#LI-Onsite #LI-LA1

Since 1990, Forward Air has been a leading provider of ground transportation and related logistics services to the North American air freight and expedited LTL market. We offer surface shipping on an accelerated “time-definite” basis, delivering cargo at a specific time, but under less time-sensitive situations – supplying you with a cost effective, reliable alternative to air transportation. We work with companies of all sizes to develop tangible advantages and build the best products to meet your specific needs. Forward Air presents to the wholesale transportation community (logistics companies, freight forwarders, integrated air cargo carriers, passenger/ cargo airlines, and non-traditional shippers), a single-source provider that can deliver more supply chain services and a superior menu of choices. Throughout the years we have added supplementary lines to our linehaul service, such as full truckload operations (Truckload Services), final-mile coverage (Complete® Cartage), and an Airline Logistics program, and we will continue to expand our services to meet the changing needs and growth of our customer base.

Forward Air is structured to optimize both savings and service to our customers. Direct partnerships with owner-operators and other surface transportation providers, enable us to remain cost-competitive. The Forward Air network is designed with over 90 facilities located at or near major U.S. and Canadian airports, 12 regional sort centers and over 300 beyond points (secondary airports provided through our Complete Cartage service), creating one of the most comprehensive linehaul networks in the industry.

Ranked 3rd in Newsweeks 2022 "Americas Most Trustworthy Companies" publication