District Manager - Air & Ocean

Rhenus Logistics; Cranford (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhenus Logistics in Cranford, NJ seeks a senior finance leader to drive district P&L performance and oversee financial operations across a multi-site network. The role partners with Heads of Air and Ocean Product to align financial targets with commercial growth strategies.

The candidate will lead budgeting, forecasting, pricing analysis, and risk management while supporting strategic initiatives and ensuring governance across regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in international freight forwarding or multi-site operations with leadership responsibility.
• Experience managing P&L performance, budgets, forecasts, cost controls, and profitability improvements.
• Strong knowledge of air and ocean freight forwarding including pricing, carriers, and international logistics.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accountability for district P&L performance including revenue, profitability, expenses, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Monitor district financial performance, identify improvements, and implement corrective actions.
• Oversee credit management, AR, and financial risk controls while supporting growth.
• Analyze pricing, costs, and margins to enhance financial performance and competitiveness.
• Prepare and present district performance reports, analyses, forecasts, and recommendations.

Skills

P&L management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Cross-functional leadership

Financial analysis

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Tools

ERP systems

Financial reporting software

Job description

What You Can Expect :

Financial Management & District Performance

• Maintain overall accountability for district P&L performance, including revenue, profitability, operating expenses, budgeting, forecasting, and financial targets, in alignment with the Heads of Air and Ocean Product.
• Monitor branch and district financial performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective measures to achieve profitability and growth objectives.
• Oversee credit management, accounts receivable, and financial risk exposure, ensuring effective controls while supporting commercial growth.
• Analyze pricing structures, cost components, operational efficiencies, and profit margins to improve financial performance and competitiveness.
• Prepare and present district performance reports, financial analyses, forecasts, and strategic recommendations to regional leadership.

Commercial Growth & Business Development

• Drive district revenue growth through strategic business development, key account management, customer retention, and market expansion initiatives.
• Partner with Sales and Product leadership to identify new business opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, and expand air and ocean freight volumes.
• Support the development of competitive freight forwarding solutions, including pricing strategies, service offerings, and cross-selling opportunities.
• Maintain relationships with strategic customers, addressing escalations and ensuring long-term satisfaction and account profitability.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and customer requirements to identify opportunities and support district commercial strategies.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Provide leadership and oversight across district branch operations, ensuring service quality, productivity, regulatory compliance, and consistent execution of operational standards.
• Collaborate with the Operational Excellence Team (OET) to implement and maintain standardized operating procedures, process improvements, and regional best practices.
• Monitor operational KPIs, service performance, and customer satisfaction, implementing improvement initiatives where necessary.
• Work closely with Air and Ocean Product teams to align operational capabilities, service delivery, and commercial commitments.
• Identify opportunities to optimize workflows, resource utilization, cost efficiency, and overall branch performance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable transportation regulations, internal policies, financial controls, and corporate governance requirements.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, coach, and develop branch management teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, and a high-performance culture across the district.
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, succession planning, and employee development in partnership with Human Resources.
• Establish clear performance expectations and measurable objectives, ensuring branch leaders are accountable for financial, operational, and commercial results.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration between Operations, Sales, Product, Finance, HR, and other regional stakeholders.
• Drive organizational change, employee engagement, and continuous improvement while maintaining alignment with Rhenus' leadership principles and corporate values.
• Perform additional responsibilities and strategic initiatives as assigned by regional leadership.

What You Bring:

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in international freight forwarding, including significant leadership responsibility within branch, district, or multi-site operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing P&L performance, budgets, financial forecasts, cost controls, and profitability improvement initiatives.
• Strong operational and commercial knowledge of both air and ocean freight forwarding, including import/export processes, pricing, carrier relationships, and international logistics solutions.
• Proven track record of driving revenue growth through business development, strategic account management, customer retention, and cross-selling initiatives.
• Experience leading branch operations or multiple locations, with demonstrated success in improving service quality, operational efficiency, and financial performance.
• Strong people leadership capabilities, including managing and developing teams, coaching managers, performance management, and succession planning.
• Sound understanding of freight forwarding regulations, compliance requirements, operational procedures, and industry best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with Product, Sales, Finance, HR, and Operational Excellence teams in a matrix organization.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, with experience using operational KPIs, financial reporting, and performance metrics to guide business decisions.
• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and customer relationship skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior leadership and key accou