Air Logistics Operational Care Manager

Kuehne+Nagel; Bensenville (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and welfare benefits

401k retirement savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Kuehne+Nagel in the United States seeks an Air Logistics Operational Care Manager to lead a specialized team responsible for global air import/export operations for enterprise accounts. You will drive service excellence, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement while shaping operational strategy.

This leadership role requires 5+ years in air freight, proven team management, and the ability to collaborate across functions such as Customer Care, Customs, and Carrier Management.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Air Freight, Freight Forwarding, Operational Care, or related logistics experience.
• Proven leadership experience managing operational teams and performance.
• Strong background in air import operations and international transportation.
• Experience supporting large enterprise customers or high-volume logistics operations.
• Ability to manage customer escalations and complex operational challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Air Logistics Operational Care professionals.
• Serve as the primary operational leader responsible for service execution and customer satisfaction.
• Oversee daily air import/export operations, ensuring shipments move efficiently and compliantly.
• Take ownership of customer escalations and drive timely resolutions.
• Build strong relationships with customers as a trusted operational advisor.
• Collaborate with Customer Care, Customs Brokerage, Warehouse Ops, Procurement, Carrier Mgmt, and Sales.
• Strengthen carrier partnerships to improve reliability and cost management.
• Analyze performance data and implement corrective actions to improve productivity and service quality.
• Drive process improvements, automation opportunities, and best-practice implementation.
• Ensure compliance with company, regulatory, security, and industry requirements.

Skills

Air Freight

Operational Care

Leadership

Customer engagement

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

International transportation

Problem solving

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.

Are you an experienced air freight operations leader who excels in fast-paced, customer-\u00adcentric environments? Kuehne+Nagel is seeking an Air Logistics Operational Care Manager to lead a specialized Operational Care team supporting some of the world\'s most demanding technology, semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, and mission-\u00adcritical supply chain customers.

This is more than a traditional operations management position. You will serve as a strategic leader responsible for operational performance, customer satisfaction, service excellence, team development, and continuous improvement while overseeing complex international air freight operations for key enterprise accounts. This role offers a unique opportunity to directly influence customer experience, drive operational strategy, and help shape the future growth of a high-visibility business segment.

How you create impact

As the Air Logistics Operational Care Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring best-\u00adin-\u00adclass service delivery across a portfolio of strategic global customers while leading and developing a high-\u00adperforming team.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Air Logistics Operational Care professionals.
• Serve as the primary operational leader responsible for service execution, customer satisfaction, and operational performance.
• Oversee daily air import and export operations, ensuring shipments move efficiently and compliantly through the global network.
• Take ownership of customer escalations and critical service issues, driving effective and timely resolutions.
• Build strong relationships with customers while serving as a trusted operational advisor and escalation point.
• Collaborate closely with Customer Care, Gateway Operations, Customs Brokerage, Warehouse Operations, Procurement, Carrier Management, and Sales teams to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Strengthen carrier and supplier partnerships to improve reliability, capacity utilization, and cost management.
• Analyze operational performance data and implement corrective actions to improve productivity, service quality, and customer outcomes.
• Drive process improvement initiatives, operational efficiencies, automation opportunities, and best-\u00adpractice implementation.
• Ensure compliance with all company, regulatory, security, and industry requirements.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer focus.

What we would like you to bring

You are a highly engaged leader who thrives under pressure and takes ownership of results. You are energized by solving operational challenges, building strong customer relationships, and leading teams through complex situations. You can balance strategic thinking with hands-\u00adon operational execution and understand how exceptional service drives long-\u00adterm customer success.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership presence and decision-\u00admaking ability.
• A proactive, solutions-\u00adriented mindset.
• Exceptional customer engagement and relationship-\u00adriving skills.
• The ability to influence cross-\u00adfunctional stakeholders and drive results.
• Confidence managing urgent situations and service recoveries.
• A commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.

We\'re Looking For

• 5+ years of Air Freight, Freight Forwarding, Operational Care, or related logistics experience.
• Proven leadership experience managing operational teams and performance.
• Strong background in air import operations and international transportation.
• Experience supporting large enterprise customers, strategic accounts, or high-\u00advolume logistics operations.
• Demonstrated success managing customer escalations and complex operational challenges.
• Strong understanding of freight forwarding operations, global transportation networks, and import/export regulations.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working within fast-\u00adpaced environments where urgency, responsiveness, and customer service are critical.

Preferred Qualifications

• Semiconductor, technology, electronics, or advanced manufacturing logistics experience.
• Experience supporting customers in the ASML, semiconductor equipment, data center, or high-\u00adtech sectors.
• Enterprise account management experience.
• Carrier procurement, vendor management, or airline relationship experience.
• Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or operational transformation experience.Multi-\u00adsite or regional operational leadership experience.

What\'s in it for you

At Kuehne+Nagel we strive daily to inspire, empower, and deliver not only to our customers, but also to our colleagues. We offer a dynamic global work environment with opportunities for excellent training programs and career mobility. The hourly wage for this role is between $85,000 – $95,000 annually. Base wage is part of a competitive total rewards package that includes health and welfare benefits, a 401k retirement savings plan, tuition reimbursement, and incentive compensation for eligible roles. Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by a number of factors including experience, skills, job location, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. Kuehne+Nagel reviews pay ranges regularly to ensure competitive and fair pay based on industry market data.

Kuehne+Nagel participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in specific process [e.g., screening applications, interview scheduling]. These tools analyze information to support decision-making, but final decisions are made by human reviewers.

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-\u00adsaving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.

We kindly advise that placement agencies refrain from submitting unsolicited profiles. Any submissions of candidates without prior signed agreement will be considered our property and no fees will be paid.

Kuehne+Nagel is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (\"EEO\") and to compliance with all federal, state, and local laws that prohibit workplace discrimination and unlawful retaliation. Kuehne+Nagel strictly prohibits all discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, religious creed or belief, physical or mental disability, marital or familial status, legally protected medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sexual orientation, citizenship status, protected activity (such as opposition to or reporting of prohibited discrimination or harassment. Kuehne+Nagel will also make reasonable accommodations for disabled applicants and employees, including accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth, and for the sincerely held religious beliefs of applicants and employees depending upon individual circumstances unless such accommodation would create an undue hardship on Kuehne+Nagel.