Operations Team Lead

Forward Air Corporation; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Air Corporation is seeking an Operations Team Lead to coordinate day-to-day activities for a shift of frontline staff at a logistics site. You will ensure workflows, safety procedures, and SOPs are followed to meet daily KPIs, and you will help train and monitor work quality.

Under supervision, you will allocate labor, assist in resolving routine floor issues, and support operational continuity. This on-site role requires strong communication, safety focus, and hands-on leadership.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in warehouse/logistics operations; lead or coordinator experience preferred.
• Strong English communication, both verbal and written.
• Ability to train and motivate frontline staff.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage competing operational demands.
• Ability to lift/move freight up to 75 lbs with/without assistance or mechanical aids.

Responsibilities

• Schedule ocean and domestic shipments.
• Direct daily work activities for the team based on schedules and plans.
• Assist in executing daily volume, labor, and workload assignments.
• Perform basic system inquiries and searches to resolve discrepancies.
• Coordinate urgent orders, cancellations, and special service requirements.
• Work with customers on schedule changes.
• Use WMS (SAP) for system work.
• Pick, pack, and prepare items for shipping and delivery.
• Assist drivers with loading and unloading following safety procedures.
• Identify damaged freight and report issues promptly.
• Conduct audits on outgoing shipments and monitor quality.
• Escalate equipment, safety, or system issues to minimize disruption.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and operational requirements.

Skills

Leadership

English communication

Safety compliance

Multitasking

Training frontline staff

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

WMS (Warehouse Management System)

Microsoft Office 365

Windows/PC basics

Video conferencing (Teams/Zoom/Webex)

Job description

Job Description

Compensation: $23.00 - 25.00 / Hour

The Operations Team Lead provides day-to-day coordination and hands-on support for a defined shift and group of frontline employees within a logistics warehouse/site or multimodal transportation terminal. They ensure workflows, safety procedures, and SOPs are consistently followed to meet daily targets and KPIs. Working under an Operations Supervisor, Operations Manager, or Terminal/Site Manager, they prioritize tasks, allocate labor and equipment based on pre-set plans, and assist in resolving routine issues on the floor. They play a key role in training, work quality monitoring, and supporting operational continuity.

Responsibilities

• Schedule ocean and domestic shipments.
• Coordinate and direct daily work activities for assigned team members based on established schedules and operational plans.
• Assist the Operations Supervisor in executing daily volume, labor, and workload assignments.
• Conduct basic system inquiries and manual searches to help resolve inventory, shipment, or order discrepancies.
• Coordinate handling of urgent orders, cancellations, re-routes, and special service requirements within established guidelines.
• Work with customer on schedule changes
• Utilize WMS for all systems work (SAP)
• Pick, pack, and prepare items for shipping and delivery.
• Assist drivers with loading and unloading activities following dock and safety procedures.
• Identify damaged freight and promptly report issues, unsafe conditions, or equipment concerns to supervisory personnel.
• Perform audits on outgoing shipments
• Monitor work quality, safety compliance, and adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Escalate equipment, safety, or system issues promptly to minimize disruption.
• Ensure all work is completed in alignment with safety, environmental, and operational requirements.
• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)/equivalent preferred but not required.
• Experience: 3+ years’ experience in a warehouse, distribution, logistics operations, or multimodal terminal environment; prior experience in a lead or coordinator role preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, train, and guide frontline employees.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal and written).
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage competing operational demands within established procedures.
• 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.
• Vision, hearing, and verbal communication skills sufficient to work safely in a noisy dock environment.
• 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.
• Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance.
• Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
• Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
• Experience with Warehouse Management systems
• Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting).