Sea Logistics Operational Key Account Manager

Kuehne Nagel; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Kuehne+Nagel in Charlotte, NC, seeks an Operational Key Account Manager within Sea Logistics to deliver operational excellence for global clients. You will bridge customers and operations, drive process improvements, and tailor solutions to client needs.

Join a fast-paced, international environment, collaborate with Global Key Account Managers and operations, and help optimize performance, transparency, and onboarding of new business. This role requires work authorization in the U.S.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in Sea Logistics operations and supply chain processes.
• Solid understanding of operational systems and process optimisation.
• Proven ability to manage key customer relationships in a complex environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Customer-focused and solution-oriented mindset.
• Strong analytical skills with KPI data interpretation.
• Ability to work independently with good organisation and prioritisation.
• Experience in process documentation and standardisation.
• Flexibility to changing customer and operational demands.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain trust-based relationships with key customers.
• Serve as primary escalation point for operational issues and customer concerns.
• Manage and align customer expectations while fulfilling service commitments.
• Clarify and formalise operational requirements with customers.
• Design and implement customer-specific solutions to increase satisfaction.
• Act as SME on service offerings to support new business.
• Coordinate onboarding of new business, projects, and special requests.
• Identify operational risks and ensure visibility among stakeholders.
• Develop and standardise processes across global and local operations.
• Support system setup, digitisation, and process automation initiatives.
• Define and agree on customer KPIs with key stakeholders.
• Monitor performance through reporting and KPI tracking.
• Analyse root causes of gaps and drive improvements.
• Present operational metrics during customer business reviews.

Skills

Sea Logistics experience

Process optimisation

Key account management

Stakeholder communication

Customer-focused

KPI analytics

Independent working

Process documentation

Adaptability

Job description

It's more than a job As a member of the Freight Forwarding team Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in transporting goods, optimising processes, and fulfilling our customers' promises. And by transporting medicines, toys and important machine parts, you are not only delivering goods, you are making small and big moments possible for people all around the world. At Kuehne+Nagel, our contribution counts in more ways than we imagine.

Join our Sea Logistics team as an Operational Key Account Manager, where you will play a critical role in delivering operational excellence and enhancing customer satisfaction for key global clients. In this position, you will act as the bridge between customers and operations, ensuring seamless service delivery, driving process improvements, and implementing tailored solutions that meet client needs. You will work in a fast-paced, international environment, collaborating closely with Global Key Account Managers, operational teams, and system experts to optimise performance, improve transparency, and support business growth.

How you create impact

• Establish and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key customers
• Serve as the primary escalation point for operational issues and customer concerns
• Manage and align customer expectations while ensuring fulfillment of service commitments
• Clarify, negotiate, and formalise operational requirements with customers
• Design and imple­ment customer-specific solutions to increase satisfaction and loyalty
• Act as a subject‑matter expert on service offerings and operational capabilities to support new business
• Coordinate and facilitate onboarding of new business, customer projects, and special requests
• Identify operational risks and ensure visibility among all relevant stakeholders
• Advocate for customer needs within the internal operational organisation
• Develop, maintain, and standardise processes (MOPs/SOPs) across global and local operations
• Support system set‑up, digitisation, and process automation initiatives
• Define and agree on customer KPIs in collaboration with key stakeholders
• Monitor operational performance through reporting and KPI tracking
• Analyse root causes of performance gaps and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Prepare and present operational performance metrics and insights during customer business reviews

What we would like you to bring

• Strong experience in Sea Logistics operations and supply chain processes
• Solid understanding of operational systems and process optimisation
• Proven ability to manage key customer relationships in a complex environment
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Customer-focused and solution-oriented mindset
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret KPI data and drive improvements
• Ability to work independently with strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Experience in process documentation, standardisation, and continuous improvement
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing customer and operational demands

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be currently authorised to work in the United States on a full‑time basis without the need for current or future employer sponsorship.

What's in it for you

At Kuehne+Nagel we strive daily to inspire, empower, and deliver not only to our customers, but also to our colleagues. We offer a dynamic global work environment with opportunities for excellent training programmes and career mobility. The target base salary range for this position is between $85,000 and $100,000. Base salary is part of a competitive total rewards package that includes health and welfare benefits, a 401k retirement savings plan, tuition reimbursement, and incentive compensation for eligible roles. Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by a number of factors including experience, skills, job location, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. Kuehne+Nagel reviews pay ranges regularly to ensure competitive and fair pay based on industry market data.

Kuehne+Nagel participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorised to work in the U.S. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in specific processes [e.g. screening applications, interview scheduling]. These tools analyse information to support decision-making, but final decisions are made by human reviewers.

Who we are

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world.

As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life-saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.

Kuehne+Nagel is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") and to compliance with all federal, state, and local laws that prohibit workplace discrimination and unlawful retaliation. Kuehne+Nagel strictly prohibits all discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, colour, age, national origin, ethnicity, religious creed or belief, physical or mental disability, marital or familial status, legally protected medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sexual orientation, citizenship status, protected activity (such as opposition to or reporting of prohibited discrimination or harassment. Kuehne+Nagel will also make reasonable accommodations for disabled applicants and employees, including accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth, and for the sincerely held religious beliefs of applicants and employees depending upon individual circumstances unless such accommodation would create an undue hardship on Kuehne+Nagel.