Terminal Operations Manager

Veritas Search Group; Soldotna (AK); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Veritas Search Group seeks an experienced Terminal Operations Manager to lead a key Alaska terminal, owning daily operations, safety, performance, and customer service. The role demands hands-on leadership, P&L awareness, and strong collaboration across safety, sales, and finance to optimize costs and service in Soldotna.

The successful candidate will manage labor, KPIs, budgets, and process improvements while navigating Alaska-specific scheduling, weather, and logistics challenges.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in transportation, logistics, trucking, freight forwarding, terminal operations, 3PL, distribution, warehouse, cross-dock, or related operations
• 2+ years of people leadership experience including coaching, staffing, and performance management
• Experience at operations leadership level (e.g., Operations Manager, Terminal Manager)
• Strong understanding of terminal/warehouse operations, transportation, labor planning, dispatch, service execution, and cost control
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational KPIs and improve performance
• Budgets, P&L information, operating expenses, labor costs, or similar financial metrics experience
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to lead from the floor and stay closely involved with daily operations
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to lead change, standardize processes, and drive measurable improvements
• Proficiency with MS Office and reporting systems
• Forklift certification if required

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily terminal and transportation activities including receiving, loading/unloading, staging, dispatch, yard activity, driver and fleet coordination, freight movement, and service execution
• Ensure freight handling efficiency and customer commitments while adapting to Alaska market requirements
• Provide hands-on leadership to terminal employees and drivers, fostering safety, accountability, teamwork, and excellence
• Staffing, onboarding, training, coaching, employee engagement, performance management, scheduling
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to productivity, service levels, labor utilization, safety, cost, and terminal performance
• Identify operational issues and implement practical solutions to improve service and efficiency
• Oversee labor planning, overtime, vendor expenses, productivity, operating expenses, and other costs
• Review budgets, P&L, and operating metrics to inform decisions
• Promote safety-focused culture and ensure DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, HAZMAT compliance
• Develop strong customer relationships and serve as local point of contact when needed
• Collaborate with Safety, Customer Service, Sales, Pricing, Claims, HR, Finance, and Ops leadership
• Evaluate and improve SOPs, work instructions, and processes across terminal, transportation, dispatch, and supervision
• Partner cross-functionally to support business objectives and service execution
• Drive continuous process improvements across operations

Skills

Leadership

Operational Excellence

Communication

Problem Solving

Budgeting

P&L awareness

Safety & Compliance

Forklift certification (if required)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Transportation reporting systems

Job description

This role requires candidates who are currently authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship, and C2C arrangements are not accepted. This role is onsite in Soldotna, Alaska.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Terminal Operations Manager to lead day-to-day operations at a transportation and logistics terminal in Soldotna, Alaska. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for an operations professional who understands freight and transportation operations, knows the unique challenges of the Alaska market, and is comfortable taking ownership of an operation.

The Terminal Operations Manager will be responsible for operational performance, workforce leadership, safety, service execution, cost management, customer support, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate combines strong operational leadership with knowledge of the Alaska freight and transportation pipeline, including the unique scheduling, transportation, weather, and logistical considerations associated with moving freight throughout Alaska.

This position is well suited for a Senior Operations Manager, Terminal Manager, Transportation Operations Manager, Warehouse Operations Manager, or similar logistics leader ready to take ownership of a terminal operation.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Terminal Operations

Oversee daily terminal and transportation activities, including receiving, loading and unloading, staging, dispatch, yard activity, driver and fleet coordination, freight movement, and overall service execution.

Ensure freight is handled efficiently and customer commitments are consistently met while adapting operations to the unique transportation and logistical requirements of the Alaska market.

Lead & Develop the Team

Provide hands-on leadership to terminal employees and drivers while creating a culture of accountability, safety, teamwork, and operational excellence.

Support staffing, onboarding, training, coaching, employee engagement, performance management, scheduling, and workforce planning.

Manage Operational Performance

Establish, monitor, and improve key operational metrics and KPIs related to productivity, service levels, labor utilization, safety, cost, and overall terminal performance.

Identify operational issues quickly and implement practical solutions that improve service, efficiency, and accountability.

Manage Labor & Costs

Oversee labor planning, overtime, vendor expenses, productivity, operating expenses, and other controllable costs.

Utilize financial and operational reporting to understand performance, manage budgets, and make informed decisions.

Candidates should be comfortable working with P&L information, budgets, KPIs, labor costs, and operating expenses.

Drive Safety & Compliance

Promote a safety-first culture and ensure operations comply with applicable DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, HAZMAT, company, and transportation safety requirements.

Maintain appropriate operating procedures and reinforce safe work practices throughout the terminal.

Support Customers

Develop strong relationships with customers and serve as a local operational point of contact when necessary.

Partner with customer service, sales, pricing, and operations teams to resolve issues, improve service, and identify opportunities to strengthen customer relationships.

Improve Processes

Evaluate existing operating practices and identify opportunities to improve productivity, consistency, communication, and service.

Develop and improve SOPs, work instructions, and operational processes across terminal, transportation, dispatch, driver, and supervisory functions.

Partner Cross-Functionally

Collaborate with Safety, Customer Service, Sales, Pricing, Claims, Human Resources, Finance, and Operations leadership to support business objectives and strengthen overall service execution.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in transportation, logistics, trucking, freight forwarding, terminal operations, 3PL, distribution, warehouse, cross-dock, or related operations

• 2+ years of people leadership experience, including coaching, training, staffing, performance management, and employee development

• Previous experience at the Operations Manager, Senior Operations Manager, Terminal Manager, Transportation Manager, Distribution Manager, or comparable leadership level

• Strong understanding of terminal or warehouse operations, transportation, labor planning, dispatch, service execution, and cost control

• Demonstrated ability to manage operational KPIs and improve performance

• Financial acumen with experience working with budgets, P&L information, operating expenses, labor costs, or similar financial metrics

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills

• Ability to lead from the floor and remain closely involved with daily operations

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills

• Ability to lead change, standardize processes, and drive measurable operational improvements

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and transportation, warehouse, or operational reporting systems

• Ability to become forklift certified if required

Highly Preferred

• Previous Alaska transportation, freight, trucking, terminal, or logistics experience

• Strong understanding of the Alaska freight pipeline and transportation market

• Experience moving freight between Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and the Lower 48

• Knowledge of Alaska-specific freight schedules, port limitations, weather considerations, and transportation challenges

• Existing familiarity with the Kenai Peninsula, Soldotna, Anchorage, or surrounding Alaska logistics market

• Experience managing Class A drivers or trucking operations

• Freight forwarding, LTL, linehaul, ocean freight, or multimodal transportation experience

• Customer-facing or business development experience within transportation or logistics

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will take ownership of the terminal, develop strong relationships with employees and customers, maintain a safe and efficient operation, and continuously look for opportunities to improve performance.

This role requires someone who can balance people leadership, operational execution, financial responsibility, and customer service while navigating the unique challenges of Alaska transportation and logistics.

Relocation Assistance

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates who demonstrate strong transportation and logistics experience, leadership capability, and the ability to successfully transition into the Alaska market. Relocation assistance is subject to final review and approval.