Operations Manager

Forward Air Corp.; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Forward Air Corp. is seeking an Operations Supervisor in Austin, TX to lead day-to-day multimodal transportation and logistics activities. You will oversee frontline associates, ensure safety and quality, and drive productivity and continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires strong leadership, English communication, and knowledge of warehouse and transportation processes. On-site work with opportunities to contribute to operational excellence.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; Associate’s degree in related field preferred.
• Forklift certification or ability to obtain before operating equipment.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily operational activities across multimodal transportation, supply chain, and/or contract logistics operations.
• Coordinate and prioritize work assignments for team members to meet safety, quality, and productivity targets.
• Ensure inventory, freight, or equipment handled safely and on time; monitor resources and equipment usage.

Job description

• Locations 4801 FREIDRICH LANE, Austin, TX, 78744, US (On-site)
• Job Category Operations: Leadership
• Job Category Logistics and Transportation
• Job Function Operations

Job Description

The Operations Supervisor is responsible for leading day-to-day activities across multimodal transportation, supply chain, and/or contract logistics operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and accurate execution of core service processes. This role provides direct leadership to frontline associates and is accountable for operational performance, safety, quality, and customer service within the assigned function, area, or shift. They drive productivity, adherence to standard work, and continuous improvement while supporting customer commitments and operational excellence goals. They play a critical role in problem-solving, process optimization, and issue resolution in fast-paced operational environments.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily operational activities, which may include receiving, storage, picking, packing, shipping, dispatching, routing, yard management, or other logistics workflows.
• Coordinate and prioritize work assignments for team members to meet service, quality, safety, and productivity targets.
• Ensure inventory, freight, or equipment is handled, processed, transported, and dispatched safely, accurately, and on time based on operational needs.
• Monitor workflow, resource utilization, labor allocation, and equipment usage to support efficient operational execution.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, regulatory, and operational policies and procedures.
• Promote and enforce safe work practices, lead safety observations, and actively support facility and/or fleet safety initiatives.
• Ensure adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and change control processes.
• Support audits and compliance activities related to quality, safety, customer requirements, or regulatory standards (such as OSHA or DOT).
• Lead and support problem-solving activities related to service issues, quality defects, operational delays, process gaps, or customer escalations.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, or similar methodologies.
• Identify opportunities to enhance accuracy, efficiency, cost control, asset utilization, and service performance.
• Respond to operational issues and service concerns in real time, making timely decisions to minimize disruption.
• Escalate issues appropriately and collaborate with cross-functional teams such as transportation, planning, customer service, engineering, and quality.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and direction to frontline associates, supporting performance management and fostering a positive team environment.
• Support training, onboarding, cross-training, and skill development for team members, including safe and compliant operation of equipment.
• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)/equivalent required; Associate’s degree (or higher) in Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics, Transportation, or a related field preferred.
• Certification/Licensure: Valid forklift certification/licensure (or ability to obtain before operating equipment) required, including operation of applicable material handling equipment (MHE) such as sit-down/stand-up forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet riders, or other specialized MHE as required by the site. Additional equipment certifications may be required depending on facility needs.
• Experience: 3+ years of experience in warehouse, distribution, transportation, or broader supply chain operations, including supervisory or team lead responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise frontline teams in fast-paced operational environments with a focus on performance management, engagement, and development.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal and written).
• Working knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and reporting tools.
• Familiarity with operational processes such as inventory management, order fulfillment, transportation dispatch, routing, or dock/yard operations.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, or similar continuous improvement tools or methodologies.
• Exposure to quality, environmental, regulatory, or safety management systems (e.g., ISO standards, OSHA or DOT requirements as applicable).
• Equipment: Ability to safely operate material handling equipment (MHE) such as pallet jacks, dollies, hand trucks, order pickers, pallet riders, conveyors, dock plates, dock levelers, sit-down/stand-up forklifts and reach trucks (with company-assisted certification/training), and/or other specialized MHE as required by the site.
• Physical Demands: Extensive standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and twisting for 8-12 hours per/shift, with the ability to lift, push, pull, and carry freight up to 50lbs without assistance, with occasional lifting of freight up to 75lbs with assistance or mechanical aids throughout each 8-12 hour shift, multiple times per/week.
• Environment: Ability to work safely around moving equipment, vehicles, and freight in a non-climate-controlled environment, including frequent exposure to temperature extremes (both hot and cold), occasional outdoor work and/or exposure to precipitation (rain, sleet, snow, etc.), regular exposure to moving equipment, vehicle traffic, exhaust, dust, and moderate to loud noise.
• 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 occasional travel for related meetings/events.
  #LI-KK1
  #LI-Onsite

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 .