Sea Logistics Reefer Operational Care Specialist

Kuehne Nagel; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Kuehne+Nagel is seeking a Sea Logistics Reefer Operational Care Specialist to help deliver operational excellence for Healthcare & Perishables shipments. You will coordinate end-to-end transport, manage carrier bookings, data entry, and documentation while partnering with Customer Care to meet service requirements.

Join a global team and use KPI dashboards to monitor performance, improve workflows, and ensure compliant, cost-efficient services.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in freight forwarding, supply chain, or Sea logistics.
• Basic understanding of logistics operations and regulations, with willingness to learn Healthcare & Perishables requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365.
• Ability to work with logistics systems, dashboards, and data to support daily operations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Highly organized with strong decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively under time pressures in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with internal teams and external stakeholders to deliver excellent customer service.
• Ensure accurate customer onboarding and a smooth, positive experience.
• Respond promptly to customer inquiries, prioritizing needs and ensuring timely, accurate follow-up.
• Secure spot quotes in coordination with pricing teams.
• Align all customer setup details with requirements by collaborating with related support teams.
• Monitor customer receivables and ensure quotes and rate cards are available for Revenue Care.
• Work with process and systems teams to improve workflows and eliminate inefficiencies.
• Maintain and update skills through ongoing training and development.
• Support supplier selection, onboarding, and contract management.
• Help define, monitor, and enforce Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Ensure cost-efficient supplier choices and develop contingency plans to manage risk.
• Use KPI dashboards to monitor performance, drive improvements, and support informed decision-making.
• Provide accurate, timely customer information and analyze KPI reports for continuous enhancement.
• Track and increase automation using the eTouch Automation dashboard.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to arrange services such as trucking and customs clearance.
• Follow internal healthcare guidelines and Global Quality HealthChain requirements.
• Maintain required training compliance and uphold essential GxP awareness.

Skills

Freight forwarding

Microsoft 365

Data analysis

Communication skills

Time management

Problem solving

Tools

Logistics systems

Dashboards

Job description

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.

How you create impact

The Sea Logistics Reefer Operational Care Specialist plays a vital role in delivering operational excellence for Healthcare & Perishables shipments. This position coordinates end‑to‑end transport activities within the Operational Care Center, managing carrier bookings, data entry, and documentation while working closely with Customer Care teams to meet service requirements. The Specialist ensures full compliance with sea freight regulations and industry‑specific standards, and builds strong relationships with customers, carriers, and vendors to support seamless, high‑quality logistics execution.

• Partner with internal teams and external stakeholders to deliver excellent customer service
• Ensure accurate customer onboarding and a smooth, positive experience
• Respond promptly to customer inquiries, prioritizing needs and ensuring timely, accurate follow‑up
• Secure spot quotes in coordination with pricing teams
• Align all customer setup details with requirements by collaborating with related support teams
• Monitor customer receivables and ensure quotes and rate cards are available for Revenue Care
• Work with process and systems teams to improve workflows and eliminate inefficiencies
• Maintain and update skills through ongoing training and development
• Support supplier selection, onboarding, and contract management
• Help define, monitor, and enforce Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
• Ensure cost‑efficient supplier choices and develop contingency plans to manage risk
• Use KPI dashboards to monitor performance, drive improvements, and support informed decision‑making
• Provide accurate, timely customer information and analyze KPI reports for continuous enhancement
• Track and increase automation using the eTouch Automation dashboard
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to arrange services such as trucking and customs clearance
• Follow internal healthcare guidelines and Global Quality HealthChain requirements
• Maintain required training compliance and uphold essential GxP awareness

What we would like you to bring

• 1+ years of experience in freight forwarding, supply chain, or Sea logistics
• Basic understanding of logistics operations and regulations, with willingness to learn Healthcare & Perishables requirements
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365
• Ability to work with logistics systems, dashboards, and data to support daily operations
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills
• Highly organized with strong decision‑making capabilities
• Ability to work effectively under time pressures in a fast‑paced environment

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be currently authorized 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 programs and career mobility. Base wage 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 authorized 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 analyze 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. We kindly advise that placement agencies refrain from submitting unsolicited profiles. Any submissions of candidates without prior signed agreement will be considered our property and no fees will be paid. 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, color, 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.