CTPAT & Operations Security Specialist

Forward Air Corp.; Des Plaines (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan with employer

Paid time off

Life and disability benefits

Job summary

Forward Air Corp. is seeking a Security Compliance Specialist to implement and enforce security and regulatory programs across the enterprise.

You will serve as the subject matter expert for CTPAT compliance and support TSA/TAPA objectives, collaborating with Operations, Security, Legal, and Quality teams. The role requires 3+ years in security/compliance within logistics or regulated environments, bilingual English/Spanish preferred, and strong auditing and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED Equivalent required; Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university preferred.
• Experience: 3+ years’ progressive experience in CTPAT, TSA compliance, air cargo operations, freight forwarding, LTL, or logistics within regulated environments.
• Knowledge: CTPAT, TSA, TAPA or similar security compliance programs; certifications such as CTPAT SCSS, ASIS, or Certified Quality Auditor preferred.
• Ability: Interpret regulatory requirements and apply across multi-site operations.
• Experience: Supporting audits, inspections, and interactions with government agencies or regulatory bodies.
• Skills: Analytical, organizational, and documentation management with an audit-focused mindset.
• Communication: Able to advise and influence stakeholders on compliance matters.
• Language: Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred.
• Discretion: Protect sensitive information.
• Technical: Proficient with Windows, MS Office 365, and web conferencing.
• Environment: On-site work with travel.

Responsibilities

• Act as enterprise owner for CTPAT compliance strategy, execution, and oversight.
• Assess practices for compliance risks, perform gap analyses, and plan corrective actions.
• Lead internal audits and regulatory reviews, interpreting findings and responses.
• Verify facility-level CTPAT and TSA compliance including security controls and chain-of-custody.
• Provide guidance on compliant cargo handling, documentation, and incident responses.
• Analyze compliance data and trends to inform leadership on audit readiness and risk.
• Collaborate with Legal/Security/Quality/Operations to resolve issues.
• Maintain enterprise CTPAT documentation standards and audit readiness.
• Support cross-functional initiatives including TSA and TAPA alignment.
• Travel domestically and internationally for site assessments and improvements.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

CTPAT compliance

TSA compliance

Regulatory compliance

Auditing

Data analysis

Documentation management

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Communication

Independent judgement

Education

High School Diploma / GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Windows

Web conferencing (Teams/Zoom/Webex)

Job description

• Job Category Operations: Individual Contributors
• Job Category Logistics and Transportation
• Job Function Quality Assurance and Claims

Job Description

Position: Security Compliance Specialist

Compensation: $70,000 - 80,000 Annually

The Security Compliance Specialist is responsible for administering, interpreting, and enforcing security, regulatory compliance, and related initiatives across the company’s enterprise operational network. They serve as the enterprise subject matter expert for Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) compliance, and supports Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), and customer security objectives. They play a critical role in safeguarding the organization against regulatory, operational, and reputational risk through proactive oversight and audit readiness. They partner closely with Operations, Security, Legal, and Quality teams to ensure consistent, compliant execution security programs across the enterprise.

Responsibilities

Serve as the enterprise owner and centralized authority for CTPAT compliance strategy, execution, and oversight.

Assess operational practices for compliance risks, conduct gap analyses, and determine appropriate corrective action plans to mitigate regulatory exposure.

Lead and support internal audits and regulatory reviews, providing expert interpretation of findings and required responses.

Validate facility - level compliance with CTPAT and TSA standards, including physical security controls, cargo handling procedures, and chain - of - custody requirements.

Provide authoritative guidance to operations and leadership regarding compliant cargo handling, documentation, exceptions, and security incidents.

Analyze compliance data, trends, and reports to inform leadership decisions related to audit readiness, training effectiveness, and risk exposure.

Collaborate cross-functional with Legal, Security, Quality, and Operations to resolve complex compliance issues and implement sustainable solutions.

Maintain enterprise - level CTPAT documentation standards and retention practices to ensure continuous audit readiness.

Participate in cross-functional compliance, security, and regulatory initiatives, including TSA and TAPA alignment where applicable.

Domestic and international travel as needed to conduct site assessments, validate compliance practices, and support continuous improvement efforts.

All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

Education: High School Diploma or GED Equivalent required; Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university preferred.

Experience: 3+ years’ progressive experience in CTPAT, TSA compliance, air cargo operations, freight forwarding, LTL, or logistics within regulated environments.

Demonstrated working knowledge of CTPAT, TSA, TAPA or similar security compliance programs; professional certifications such as CTPAT SCSS, ASIS, or Certified Quality Auditor preferred.

Proven ability to interpret regulatory requirements and exercise independent judgment in applying them across complex, multi - site operations.

Experience supporting audits, inspections, and interactions with government agencies or regulatory bodies.

Strong analytical, organizational, and documentation management skills with an audit - focused mindset.

Effective communicator capable of advising and influencing operational and leadership stakeholders on compliance matters.

Language: Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred.

Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.

Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.).

Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on - site setting (listed in this posting), with travel for related meetings/events.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Compensation: Competitive base pay based on experience, industry/geographic benchmarks and internal equity. Some positions may be eligible for incentive pay programs and/or equity-based incentives. Pay ranges published on job boards are not provided nor verified by the Company.
• Health: Medical and Pharmacy insurance; Health Savings Account (HSA); Vision; Dental; Life and Disability; Critical Illness; Accident Indemnity; Hospital Indemnity; On-demand telehealth via Teladoc; Employee Assistance Program (counseling and financial/lifestyle coaching).
• Wealth: 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match; Employee stock purchase program; Flexible Spending Account (FSA); Commuter Benefits; LegalEASE legal coverage.
• Time: 7 paid holidays and generous Paid Time Off (PTO) tiers ranging from 10-25 days annually.
• Culture: A collaborative, transformation-driven, solutions-first environment full of "can do" attitude and "will do" work ethic.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Agencies: The Company does not accept unsolicited outreach from third parties. Absent an agreement signed by internal Talent Acquisition and Procurement, and a documented request from Talent Acquisition to submit candidates for a specified requisition, we will not approve payments to any third party.
• Work Authorization: Within the United States, the Company is an E-Verify employer. Unless otherwise indicated, U.S.-based workers must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship, including but not limited to F-1, H-1, H-2, L, J, and TN visas, etc.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): The Company is proud to be an equal opportunity employer . Applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Physical/mental requirements are listed only to identify where potential accommodations may be needed, not as qualification standards. In compliance with applicable laws and regulations (including ADA, ADEA, and FMLA), accommodations may be available to qualified individuals unable to perform essential duties without them. Additional requirements may apply to meet legal, regulatory, and Company standards.
• Recruitment Fraud: We will only contact you from @forwardair.com or @omnilogistics.com emails (system messages may come from @workflow.email.us-phoenix-1.ocs.oraclecloud.com). If reached via Indeed or LinkedIn, verify recruiters by reviewing their LinkedIn profiles. We will never request sensitive personal information outside secure systems, nor ask for purchases. Report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General .