Ocean Freight Operations Assistant Manager

Toll Group; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick time

Floating holidays

Health benefits

Life insurance

401k match

Job summary

Toll Group in Los Angeles is seeking an experienced Ocean Freight Operations Lead to manage end-to-end import/export shipments, booking, documentation, and dispatch for high-value cargo.

You will coordinate with carriers, customs brokers, and service providers, monitor milestones, resolve issues, and ensure regulatory compliance while optimizing costs and margins in a fast-paced logistics environment.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years in ocean freight operations (import/export/domestic).
• Experience with containerized freight, regulatory paperwork, and cost control.
• Strong understanding of ocean transportation and customs requirements.
• Familiarity with freight management systems and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage end-to-end ocean freight operations for import/export.
• Act as the primary escalation point for operational issues and customer satisfaction.
• Coordinate with carriers, brokers, and service providers to ensure compliant cargo movement.
• Review and approve bills of lading, declarations, and regulatory paperwork.
• Monitor milestones, identify risks, and inform stakeholders with solutions.
• Oversee cost control, accruals, invoicing, and financial accuracy.
• Mentor junior coordinators and contribute to process improvements.

Skills

Ocean freight operations experience

Leadership & mentorship

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Analytical mindset

Proactive problem-solving

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Tools

CargoWise One

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Toll Group

At Toll, we do more than just logistics - we move the businesses that move the world. Our 16,000 team members can help solve any logistics, transport, or supply chain challenge – big or small. We have been supporting our customers for more than 130 years. Today, we support more than 20,000 customers worldwide with 500 sites in 27 markets, and a forwarding network spanning 150 countries. We are proudly part of Japan Post — www.tollgroup.com

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage end-to-end ocean freight operations for import/export, including booking, documentation, and dispatch for high-value or complex shipments.
• Act as the primary point of escalation for operational issues, ensuring timely resolution and customer satisfaction.
• Liaise with shipping lines, customs brokers, transport providers, flexitank suppliers, depots, warehouses, and other service providers to ensure efficient cargo movement and regulatory compliance across containerized freight and specialized transportation solutions.
• Review and approve critical documentation such as bills of lading, customs declarations, and regulatory paperwork.
• Monitor shipment milestones, proactively identify risks, and communicate delays or disruptions to customers and stakeholders with solutions.
• Coordinate and optimize end-to-end transportation solutions, including containerized freight, flexitank shipments, tank container movements, warehousing, transloading, and domestic transportation.
• Oversee job management including WIPS, accruals, cost control, and timely closures; ensure financial accuracy and compliance.
• Validate and approve customer invoices, reports, and creditor payments; identify opportunities for cost optimization and margin improvement.
• Maintain accurate shipment records and ensure timely updates in internal systems (e.g., CargoWise One).
• Ensure adherence to customs, quarantine, and maritime regulations; provide guidance on compliance matters.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through proactive communication and service excellence.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives, system enhancements, and operational best practices.
• Mentor and support junior coordinators, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness by analysing job profitability and supporting strategic decisions to enhance financial performance.
• Provide operational oversight and risk management for specialized transportation solutions, including flexitank and tank container shipments.

PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• 5-7 years' experience in ocean freight operations, including import, export, and domestic transportation activities.
• Experience managing complex supply chain solutions, including containerized freight, transloading, warehousing, and specialized cargo movements.
• Experience managing flexitank shipments, tank containers, beverage logistics, wine logistics, or other specialized ocean freight solutions is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of ocean transportation, customs regulations, carrier requirements, documentation, and operational risk management.
• Familiarity with freight management systems and Microsoft Office.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and compliance.
• Team player with a proactive and customer-focused approach.
• Willingness to learn and take on varied operational tasks.

Physical Demands

• This position is generally sedentary in nature; involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.
• Must be able to travel.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 10 lbs. required.
• Ability to talk and hear required.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions required.
• Ability to occasionally move inside the office
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for up to 8 hours per day.
• Ability to move or position self in order to reach, lift, climb, balance, stoop and crouch required.
• Ability to read PC screens; detect color coding, read fine print, and/or normal type size print required.

Pay Transparency

In compliance with applicable state and local laws, the salary range for this position varies based on the work location. Please review the ranges below: Expected base pay range (NY, CA, IL): $70,000 - $100,000 annually, plus bonus This range represents the salary range for this position in these locations. Actual compensation will be determined based on geographic location, experience, qualifications, internal equity, and other job-related factors. Remote Work Considerations: If the position allows remote work, the salary range applicable to the employee's home location will apply. Internal Transfers/Promotions: For current employees, compensation will be determined in accordance with the company’s internal mobility and compensation policies and may vary from the posted range based on current salary and job grade alignment.

Benefits and Other Compensation

• Toll offers all full-time employees paid vacation, sick time, floating holiday time, health benefits, life insurance & personal accident insurance, and 401k with company match.

What moves you?

At Toll, you can help play a vital role in delivering what matters. From food, fuel, medicine and rescue services, we keep businesses and communities thriving. Every day brings change. We see that as an opportunity. To be curious. To ask the right questions. And build meaningful connections. Because finding new ways to solve problems is what we do. With a bold vision to expand our global reach, our 16,000+ people bring a passion for progress. We collaborate in friendly, caring teams, supported by approachable leaders who give us the autonomy to quickly make decisions with impact. Learn and grow with industry-leading training, alongside talented experts. Feel empowered to take on diverse challenges and new responsibilities to move you, our customers, and our world further.

Additional Information

We value a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re interested in this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly then please talk to us – you may be just the right candidate for this or other roles we have coming up. At Toll everyone is welcome including those of all ages, ethnicities, genders and abilities.

Find out more about us visit www.careers.tollgroup.com

You must be entitled to work in United States of America and be prepared to undertake pre-employment checks including a criminal history check and medical.

We’re on a mission to help move the businesses that move the world. With over 130 years' experience, Toll Group, proudly part of Japan Post, operates an extensive global logistics network, covering road, air, sea and rail across 500 locations in more than 27 countries. We collaborate in friendly, caring teams, supported by approachable leaders who give us the autonomy to quickly make decisions with impact. Learn and grow through curiosity, with industry-leading training, alongside talented experts. Play a vital role to deliver what matters while taking on diverse challenges and new responsibilities to move you, our customers and our world further.

Visit https://www.careers.tollgroup.com to learn more.