Operations Manager – Air & Ocean Freight Forwarding

Operations Manager – Air & Ocean Freight Forwarding – Houston, TX

Freight Forwarding | Houston, TX (Greater Houston Metropolitan Area) $90,000 – $100,000 Base + 25% Annual Bonus + Benefits

WHY THIS ROLE

Houston is this forwarder's leading US branch for energy and project cargo, running $180M in annual revenue across air and ocean. The role is being created to take full operational ownership of the branch: a team of 22 across air export, air import, ocean export, ocean import, and customs brokerage, with service KPIs, margin discipline, and process consistency as the core mandate. The outgoing Ops Manager is moving into a regional role, leaving a high-performing platform to inherit.

ABOUT

Founded in 1906 in Hamburg, this global freight forwarder operates across 52 countries with 8,200 people. The business has built its reputation on project cargo, heavy-lift, oil & gas, and EPC logistics, with vertical depth across chemical & petrochemical, aerospace defence, and industrial equipment. Houston has been designated the Americas HQ for energy and project logistics, running out of a 48,000 square foot Ship Channel facility with direct IAH air gateway coverage and Port of Houston ocean terminal access. The branch is the top revenue generator in the US network.

WHAT YOU'LL DELIVER

• Operational ownership of a 22-person Houston branch team across air export, air import, ocean export, ocean import, and customs brokerage.
• Branch-level P&L accountability of $180M revenue, with 18–22% margin targets across product lines.
• Branch service KPIs: 97%+ on-time AMS/ACE/AES filing, 98%+ invoice accuracy, sub-4-hour RFQ turnaround alongside pricing.
• Process consistency in CargoWise, with SOP discipline on oil & gas and project cargo files.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 7+ years operational air and ocean freight forwarding in the US market, with 3+ years in a management or supervisory capacity.
• People leadership: managed teams of 10+ direct reports.
• Deep CargoWise expertise: file creation, SOP management, reporting.
• Working command of AMS/ACE/AES filings, ISF timing, HTS classification, and bonded movement discipline.
• Vertical exposure in oil & gas, project cargo, aerospace defence, or chemical & petrochemical.

This role leads operations across air and ocean. Candidates from pure customs brokerage, domestic trucking, or 3PL warehouse backgrounds are welcome if you can evidence international air/ocean forwarding operations experience at management level.

WHAT'S ON OFFER

The package reflects the branch's scale and the role's accountability. Base $90,000 – $100,000 depending on experience. Annual bonus up to 20% of base, tied to branch P&L and service KPI performance. Full medical, dental, and vision from day one, 401k with 5% employer match, 25 days PTO plus US public holidays.

Full-time on-site at the Houston Ship Channel facility, with ad hoc site visits to key customers and port terminals. This is not a hybrid or remote role. The branch is operationally live and needs presence.

You'll inherit a high-performing team with low turnover, a Ship Channel facility with dedicated project cargo bays, and branch leadership that has backed ops investment for the last five years. Progression track to Branch Manager within 24–36 months and Regional Operations Director thereafter. The business has an internal record of developing Ops Managers into branch leadership rather than hiring it externally.