Sr. Manager, Gateway Clearance (LCB)

DHL Express; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical, Dental, Vision

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Time Off

Bonus/Incentive Programs

Employee Discount Program

Job summary

DHL Express is seeking a Sr. Clearance Manager in a high-volume customs environment to oversee the clearance team and ensure regulatory compliance. You will guide operational leadership, drive improvements across multiple locations, and manage escalations with critical customers.

The role requires deep expertise in entry workflows, strong people leadership, and strategic execution to optimize processes while maintaining service excellence. Office-based with travel up to 25% across locations.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in a customs, freight, or logistics environment.
• Proven track record in people management including performance management and talent development.
• Strong understanding of customer contact operations and entry clearance workflows.
• Comfortable in a customer-facing capacity – able to manage relationships and handle escalations professionally.
• Strong people leadership and ability to balance strategic execution with daily operational needs.
• Operationally focused with the ability to maintain oversight across a high-volume production environment.
• Proactive and trend-oriented – identifies patterns in performance data and acts ahead of issues.
• Effective communicator across internal teams and external customers at varying levels of seniority.
• Strategic planning including regulatory changes, shifting priorities, and workflow optimization.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of, and translate, strategy into actionable plans.
• Coach and develop people leaders and ensure consistency in performance across large teams.
• Drive improvement initiatives and optimize processes for multiple teams and locations.
• Project participation, implementation and change management leadership.
• Manage customer relationships and handle complex escalations with broader or high impact.
• Influence and build relationships within department and cross-functionally.
• Oversee workflow and processes across multiple locations to ensure team production, service levels, and quality standards while proactively identifying trends and addressing issues before they escalates.
• Partner with entry teams across the gateway to align regulatory changes, productivity targets, and system-related matters.
• Manage team performance through available reporting tools, translating data into actionable insights and driving a proactive operational culture.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Data-driven decisions

Customer relations

Change management

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor’s degree in Logistics/SC/Business

Customs Brokerage License

Job description

About DHL

What makes DHL great? Our People! We know each employee’s individual contributions make us the #1 Delivery and Logistics Company in the world.

DHL is committed to maintaining an environment that empowers every team member to make the greatest possible impact on our business. Our culture is about personal commitment – to our business, to each other and to our global communities. DHL is dedicated to being a great place to work. In addition to competitive compensation packages, our employees enjoy a range of programs, services and benefits that bring the best to their personal lives.

Sr. Clearance Manager Position

We have an immediate career opportunity for a qualified Sr. Clearance Manager. The Sr. Clearance Manager ensures compliance with Customs and Participating Government Agencies while ensuring there is efficiency in the day‑to‑day roles of our Clearance Agents. Reporting to the Senior Director, Clearance, this position is responsible for the overall operational oversight and people leadership within the Clearance team. This role contributes to strategy development and drives organizational change initiatives with broader impact. Through cross‑functional leadership and collaboration, the Sr. Manager delivers consistent team performance and service quality, strengthens internal talent through development of people leaders and manages relationships and resolves issues at pace in a high‑volume environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of, and translate, strategy into actionable plans
• Coach and develop people leaders and ensure consistency in performance across large teams
• Drive improvement initiatives and optimize processes for multiple teams and locations
• Project participation, implementation and change management leadership
• Manage customer relationships and handle complex escalations with broader or high impact
• Influence and build relationships within department and cross‑functionally
• Oversee workflow and processes across multiple locations to ensure team production, service levels, and quality standards while proactively identifying trends and addressing issues before they escalates
• Partner with entry teams across the gateway to align regulatory changes (e.g., commodities scope, disclosures), productivity targets, and system‑related matters
• Manage team performance through available reporting tools, translating data into actionable insights and driving a proactive rather than reactive operational culture

Skills & Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in a customs, freight, or logistics environment
• Proven track record in people management including performance management and talent development
• Strong understanding of customer contact operations and entry clearance workflows
• Comfortable in a customer‑facing capacity – able to manage relationships and handle escalations professionally
• Strong people leadership and ability to balance strategic execution with daily operational needs
• Operationally focused with the ability to maintain oversight across a high‑volume production environment
• Proactive and trend‑oriented – identifies patterns in performance data and acts ahead of issues rather than in response to them
• Effective communicator across internal teams and external customers at varying levels of seniority
• Strategic planning including regulatory changes, shifting priorities, and workflow optimization

Education & Certificates

• High school diploma required
• Bachelor’s degree required – Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, or related field
• Customs or freight forwarding operational background strongly preferred
• Customs Brokerage License required

Additional Notes

• Office‑based with regular floor presence
• Up to 25% travel to multiple locations
• This position requires access to secured airport areas. Selected candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge, which includes passing a criminal history records check, fingerprinting, and meeting all federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. Candidates must be able to provide all documentation necessary to support the badging process.

Employee Benefits & Incentives

• Competitive Pay
• Bonus/Incentive Programs
• Retirement Savings – 401K with company match
• Medical, Dental, Vision, well‑being programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Generous Paid Time Off – Starting at 4 Weeks (PT/FT)
• Paid Leave
• Employee Discount Program
• Employee Assistance & Work Life Program
• Outstanding training opportunities

DHL is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. The EEO is the Law poster is available here: “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” Poster.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.