Air Logistics Operational Care Manager

Kuehne+Nagel; Colnbrook; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Route 2 Rewards

Employee assistance programme

Wellbeing centre

Forces-friendly employer

Job summary

Kuehne+Nagel in London Heathrow is seeking an experienced Air Logistics Healthcare Operational Care Manager to lead all time-critical healthcare shipments from import to export. You will ensure regulatory compliance, drive operational excellence, and collaborate with carriers, ground handlers, and internal stakeholders to deliver reliable service for QuickSTAT and related customers.

You will build and coach the Import & Export teams, fostering a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Air Logistics, courier ops, or time-critical healthcare supply chains.
• Proven leadership to motivate and develop teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Broad knowledge of Air Logistics processes including healthcare handling.
• Strong planning, organisation and time management under pressure.
• Excellent communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in process review and continuous improvement.
• Strong negotiation skills with cost awareness and savings focus.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint; GDP-related training.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily end-to-end import/export ops with customs compliance and procedures.
• Monitor schedules, resolve delays, and communicate during disruptions.
• Conduct bi-weekly compliance checks for HS codes, EORI, Incoterms.
• Act as backup for HMRC+E and AEO matters to ensure continuity.
• Build partnerships with carriers and service providers to improve performance.
• Manage staffing, overtime, and resources while protecting gross profit.
• Analyze productivity data to identify inefficiencies and drive improvements.
• Promote safety, QSHE, and proactive reporting within teams.

Skills

Leadership

Team coaching

Communication

Planning

Decision making

Problem solving

Negotiation

MS Office

Education

GDP-related training

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

It's more than a job

As a member of the Freight Forwarding team Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in transporting goods, optimising processes, and fulfilling our customers' promises. And by transporting medicines, toys and important machine parts, you are not only delivering goods, you are making small and big moments possible for people all around the world. At Kuehne+Nagel, our contribution counts in more ways than we imagine.

It's more than a job

As a member of the Freight Forwarding team Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in transporting goods, optimising processes, and fulfilling our customers' promises. And by transporting medicines, toys and important machine parts, you are not only delivering goods, you are making small and big moments possible for people all around the world. At Kuehne+Nagel, our contribution counts in more ways than we imagine.

As the Air Logistics Healthcare Operational Care Manager, you will lead all import and export activities for time‑critical and temperature‑sensitive healthcare shipments at our London Heathrow operation. You will ensure full compliance with customs regulations, maintain operational excellence, and support the delivery of high‑quality service for QuickSTAT, Sterling, and Quick Time Critical customers. You will build strong partnerships with airline carriers, ground handling agents, logistics service providers, and internal stakeholders to ensure reliability, efficiency, and continuous improvement. You will also lead, coach, and develop the Import & Export teams, fostering a culture of safety, compliance, and high performance.

How you create impact

• Lead the daily end‑to‑end import and export operation, ensuring full compliance with customs regulations, internal procedures, and international trade laws.
• Monitor shipment schedules, proactively resolving delays and coordinating timely communication during operational disruptions.
• Conduct bi‑weekly compliance audits, ensuring accurate HS code classification, EORI declarations, and adherence to Incoterms.
• Act as the designated backup for HMRC+E and AEO matters, maintaining continuity of compliance and regulatory oversight.
• Build strong partnerships with airline carriers, ground handling agents, and logistics service providers to enhance service performance.
• Manage staffing levels, overtime approvals, and resource allocation to support operational needs while protecting gross profit targets.
• Analyse productivity and performance data to identify inefficiencies, rebalance workloads, and drive continuous improvement.
• Promote a culture of safety, QSHE awareness, and operational excellence, encouraging proactive reporting and recognising positive behaviours.

What we would like you to bring

• Minimum 5 years of industry experience in Air Logistics, courier operations, or time‑critical/temperature‑sensitive supply chains.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop teams in a fast‑paced operational environment.
• Broad knowledge of Air Logistics processes, including transport, warehouse, import/export, and healthcare‑specific handling requirements.
• Strong planning, organisation, and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Excellent communication, decision‑making, and problem‑solving abilities, with a collaborative and solutions‑focused mindset.
• Experience in process review, continuous improvement, and identifying operational inefficiencies.
• Strong negotiation skills and financial awareness, including cost control and identification of savings opportunities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, supported by strong overall IT literacy and GDP‑related training.

What's in it for you

If you would like to become a valued member of our team, we will make sure that you’re rewarded for your commitment and expertise. You can join the contributory Kuehne+Nagel pension plan and enjoy our Route 2 Rewards scheme, which offers everything from discounts, benefit information, recognition and its own wellbeing centre. We care for our colleagues (and their immediate family) with our employee assistance programme providing access to 24/7 GP, legal and financial advice along with mental health counselling. All of this to help you live a happier and healthier life. As proud holders of the Gold Covenant, we are a forces‑friendly employer who recognise the skills, expertise and value service leavers bring to our organisation.

Who we are

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world. As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life‑saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.

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