Interim Temporary-General Manager

ssacareers; Utah; On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SSA Marine in the Salt Lake City area seeks an interim General Manager to provide strategic leadership across the Service Center, overseeing Terminal Billing, Customer Support, Vessel Planning, Systems and Administrative Services. You will partner with executive leadership and department managers to drive performance and operational excellence.

The role requires 7-10+ years in unionized maritime/logistics, direct experience in collective bargaining, and strong financial oversight with full P&L

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 7-10+ years of progressive leadership experience in unionized maritime, logistics, transportation, or industrial operations.
• Direct, hands-on experience leading or participating in collective bargaining negotiations; experience with OCU/ILWU preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing bargaining strategy, managing negotiations from prep to ratification, balancing operational, financial, and workforce priorities.
• Proven track record building relationships with union representatives and handling sensitive labor discussions under pressure.
• Thorough knowledge of container terminal operations and regulations.
• Experience leading arbitration hearings and complex grievance administration.
• Executive-level financial management with full P&L accountability.
• TWIC card required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the office through bargaining negotiations, strategy development, and stakeholder coordination.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with union leadership to foster labor-management partnerships.
• Ensure compliance with NLRA, NLRB requirements, labor laws, and contractual obligations.
• Provide leadership during grievance proceedings, arbitration hearings, and settlement strategy.
• Oversee labor relations, workforce administration, and labor cost management.
• Engage with customers to ensure service quality and address concerns.
• Implement and communicate operational needs, policies, and process updates.
• Drive continuous improvement in policies and procedures.

Job description

The General Manager ensures high-quality service delivery, operational efficiency, and strong cross-functional partnerships to meet the evolving needs of the business units served. The Draper Office serves as a centralized service center, providing specialized operational and administrative support to multiple business units. This role is responsible for providing strategic leadership to department leaders and ensuring the effective delivery of services that support business objectives and operational excellence.

Working closely with executive leadership, internal stakeholders, and department managers, the General Manager drives performance, alignment, and continuous improvement across the Service Center. This role has overall accountability for the management and oversight of Terminal Billing, Customer Support, Inbound/Outbound Vessel Planning, International and Joint Venture Vessel Planning, Systems, Administrative Services, and other department leaders within the Salt Lake City area operations.

*Please note: This role is interim-temporary

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead the office through collective bargaining negotiations, including developing bargaining strategy, preparing proposals and counter-proposals, coordinating with internal stakeholders (Labor Relations, HR, Legal, and Executive Leadership), and serving as a chief spokesperson or key member of the Company's bargaining team.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with union leadership (ideally OCU/ILWU Office Clerical Unit), fostering constructive dialogue and productive labor-management partnerships before, during, and after contract negotiations.
• Extensive knowledge and management of union labor relations and workforce administration, including ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, supporting workforce planning, and overseeing productive labor-management relationships.
• Provides leadership during grievance proceedings, arbitration hearings, witness preparation, settlement strategy, and labor dispute resolution.
• Ensures compliance with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), NLRB requirements, labor laws, employment regulations, and contractual obligations.
• Partner with Executive Leadership and Legal regarding unfair labor practice charges, litigation support, labor disputes, and regulatory matters.
• Engage with customers regularly to ensure service quality, strengthen relationships, and proactively address concerns.
• Support and participate in the resolution of workplace issues, including involvement in grievance discussions as appropriate.
• Implement and communicate operational business needs, policies, and process updates.
• Drive continuous improvement with regard to policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
• Ensure that employees comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, and government regulations.
• Promote safe work activities and set operations policies and standards, including the determination of safety procedures.
• Monitor spending to ensure that expenses are within approved budgets.
• Review monthly financial reports and P&L statements to improve profitability and operational performance.
• Analyze expenditures and financial information to develop business plans, budgets, forecasts, and strategic initiatives.
• Maintain accountability for labor costs, operating budgets, capital expenditures, revenue growth, and financial results.
• Represents SSA Marine with customers, port authorities, government agencies, community stakeholders, and strategic partners.
• Promotes a culture of safety, accountability, customer focus, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; or related advanced degree preferred.
• 7-10+ years of progressive leadership experience in unionized maritime, logistics, transportation, or industrial operations.
• Direct, hands-on experience leading or serving as a principal participant in collective bargaining negotiations is required. Experience negotiating with OCU/ILWU (Office Clerical Unit) or comparable clerical/office bargaining units is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing bargaining strategy, managing the negotiation process from preparation through ratification, and achieving contract outcomes that balance operational, financial, and workforce priorities.
• Proven track record of building credible, professional working relationships with union representatives and leadership, and effectively managing sensitive labor discussions under high‑pressure conditions.
• Thorough knowledge of container terminal operations and regulations.
• Experience leading arbitration hearings and complex grievance administration.
• Executive‑level financial management experience with full P&L accountability.
• TWIC card required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Yes- 100+ employees

Work environment:

• Required job duties are normally performed in a climate‑controlled office environment.
• Exposure to computer screens.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Salary Range: $150,000-190,000 per year

The posted compensation range is based on the applicable geographic market for the position and may vary depending on factors such as related experience and skill set. Final compensation will be determined based on these items and other relevant factors.

Our Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer