Airfreight Operations Leader (Import/Export)

DHL Air (UK) Ltd; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 93,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Match

Stock Purchase Plan

Medical insurance

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

Paid time off

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

Airfreight leadership

Customer relationship management

Operational excellence

Communication & negotiation

Regulatory compliance awareness

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, business, or related field

Tools

CargoWise or similar

Job description

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.