Air Freight Manager
DHL Air (UK) Ltd
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
DHL Global Forwarding in Houston seeks an Airfreight Manager to lead the airfreight product across import/export and gateway activities. You will drive operational excellence, compliance with TSA/CBP/IATA, manage key customer relationships, and deliver strong financial performance in a fast-paced environment.
The role requires strategic leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and a focus on process optimization, documentation accuracy, and service quality to meet business goals.
Qualifications
- 5–7+ years of airfreight experience in freight forwarding (import/export).
- Strong knowledge of TSA, CBP, IATA and global trade compliance.
- Proven leadership experience managing teams in logistics or airfreight.
- Solid financial acumen including P&L responsibility and cost management.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience with freight forwarding systems (CargoWise or similar).
Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and develop airfreight operations teams (import and export).
- Oversee daily airfreight operations ensuring on-time performance and regulatory compliance.
- Maintain proper documentation (MAWB/HAWB, invoices, AES filings, DG certs).
- Oversee pricing, capacity management, and KPI monitoring for efficiency.
- Drive continuous improvement and automation across operations.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Job Title: Airfreight Manager
Job Location: Houston, Texas
DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) manages the flow of goods and information across a customer’s global supply chain utilizing air/ocean/ground transportation, customs brokerage services, and dedicated warehousing/distribution centers. As part of DHL Group, the world’s leading logistics provider operating in over 220 countries, we invite you to join our dynamic team. Explore more about our vibrant career opportunities at DHL Careers.
The Airfreight Manager is responsible for leading, developing, and overseeing the full airfreight product—import, export, and gateway activities—within a freight forwarding operation. This role drives operational excellence, ensures compliance with global and national regulations, manages key customer relationships, and delivers strong financial performance. The Airfreight Manager provides strategic direction, leads cross‑functional teams, and ensures high‑quality service delivery in a fast‑paced environment.
- Lead, mentor, and develop airfreight operations teams (import and export).
- Oversee staffing, workload planning, training programs, and ongoing performance management.
- Establish a culture of accountability, teamwork, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for complex issues, customer challenges, and operational exceptions.
- Oversee daily airfreight operations, ensuring on‑time performance, accuracy, and compliance with SOPs.
- Ensure completion and correctness of all documentation (MAWB/HAWB, commercial invoices, AES filings, DG certs, arrival notices, etc.).
- Optimize booking, routing, and capacity management with airlines and service providers.
- Implement and monitor KPIs such as transit times, milestone completion, service failures, and productivity metrics.
- Drive process efficiency, automation adoption, and operational standardization.
- Maintain strict adherence to TSA/IACSSP, CBP, IATA, and export/import regulatory requirements.
- Ensure proper screening, documentation, and handling of cargo, including DG, pharma and perishable shipments.
- Conduct routine audits to ensure documentation accuracy, system integrity, and audit readiness.
- Lead QHSE and security initiatives across the department.
- Manage and support key accounts; ensure service commitments and KPI expectations are met or exceeded.
- Proactively communicate with customers regarding exceptions, delays, or cost impacts.
- Collaborate with sales and account management teams to support business growth, customer onboarding, and service optimization.
- Resolve escalations with urgency and professionalism.
- Negotiate rates and allocations with airlines, trucking providers, and ground handlers.
- Evaluate vendor performance, resolve service issues, and ensure contract compliance.
- Maintain strong relationships with strategic carriers to secure reliable capacity.
- Manage P&L for the airfreight product, including revenue, costs, and gross profit performance.
- Oversee billing accuracy, cost controls, and timely financial closure.
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability through process optimization, vendor negotiation, and strategic pricing.
- Provide financial reporting, forecasts, and budget inputs to senior leadership.
- Develop and execute strategies to grow the airfreight product, strengthen competitive positioning, and improve customer satisfaction.
- Implement service enhancements, and operational improvements.
- Stay current with industry trends, regulatory changes, and market conditions impacting airline capacity and pricing.
- Champion digitalization, automation, and operational excellence initiatives.
- 5–7+ years of airfreight experience in freight forwarding, including both import and export operations.
- Strong knowledge of TSA, CBP, IATA, and global trade compliance requirements.
- Proven leadership experience managing teams in a logistics or airfreight environment.
- Strong financial acumen, including P&L responsibility and cost management.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience with freight forwarding systems (CargoWise or similar).
- Experience managing a medium‑ to large‑scale airfreight station or gateway.
- IATA DG certification (current or previous).
- IATA logistics certifications.
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, business, or a related field.
- Leadership & people development
- Operational strategy & execution
- Financial & analytical skills
- Regulatory compliance expertise
- Customer‑centric decision making
- Effective communication & negotiation
- Continuous improvement & process optimization
- Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment
Pay Range: $93,142.50 - $124,190.00+ (Based on Experience)
- Compensation: Competitive base salary plus role dependent performance-based incentives.
- 401(k) Match: $1-for-$1 match up to 4% quarterly + 2% annual base contribution.
- Stock Purchase Plan: Ability to purchase Deutsche Post AG shares at a discounted rate.
- Medical: Comprehensive plans covering preventive care, inpatient/outpatient services, and prescriptions.
- Vision: Optional coverage for exams, frames, and contacts.
- Dental: Optional coverage for preventive, basic, and major services.
- Paid Time Off: 7 major holidays, 8 floating holidays, and accrued vacation/sick days.
At DHL Global Forwarding, we invest in our employees’ growth, providing training, guidance, and career advancement opportunities. We believe in building careers, not just jobs, and empowering our team to develop skills and achieve long‑term success.
Be part of DHL Group, the world’s leading logistics provider, operating in 220+ countries. DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) is a global leader in air and ocean freight, with 30,000+ employees ensuring seamless transport and supply chain solutions. Explore careers with us: DHL Careers.
DHL Global Forwarding is committed to equal employment opportunities, evaluating all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
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