Yard Operations Leader - Capacity, Safety & Excellence

A.P. Moller - Maersk; Santa Fe Springs (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401k + Company Match

Paid Time Off

Flexible Work Schedules

Job summary

Maersk Logistics USA, Inc. seeks a Head of Yard Operations to lead yard leadership, safety, and efficiency across our distribution network. You will drive capacity planning, asset utilization, and cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Transportation, and Finance to achieve operational excellence.

The role requires 10+ years in a 3PL environment with supervisory experience, strong accountability, and a hands-on approach to continuous improvement in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7-10 years industry experience in a 3PL environment and company owned distribution center or warehouse facility.
• Minimum 10 years supervisory or managerial experience.
• Labor Relations Experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of handling drayage and intermodal transportation.
• Financial Acumen, ability to make effective decisions and experience managing projects and risk.
• Skills in planning, controlling, staffing, budgeting, organizing, and communicating are required.
• May be required to work extended shift hours based on business need and up to including evenings, weekends and Holidays.
• A hands-on management approach that encourages change and creative problem-solving.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced and high-intensity environment.
• Ability to interact effectively at multiple levels in support of customer relationships.
• A commitment to continuous improvement in an ever-changing industry.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills and high integrity.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Ability to grow and grow others High level of computer skills, to include, but not limited to Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint

Responsibilities

• Ensure the yard is maintained in a safe, secure, organized, and compliant condition at all times.
• Monitor yard capacity and equipment availability throughout the day, particularly during peak operating periods, and communicate capacity status to operational leadership.
• Oversee daily yard execution, including trailer, container, and parking asset utilization.
• Partner with Operations to forecast yard moves, coordinate door assignments, and manage outside carrier trailer and container pools.
• Monitor and improve key operational metrics, including yard driver productivity, door dwell time, equipment dwell time, asset utilization and availability.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term yard capacity strategies to support customer growth, seasonal demand, and network optimization.
• Lead capacity planning initiatives for trailers, containers, yard tractors, and parking assets to maximize utilization.
• Develop contingency plans to support peak volume events and business continuity requirements.
• Coordinate inbound and outbound equipment planning with internal and external transportation partners.
• Develop strategies to improve asset utilization, reduce detention and demurrage costs, and increase overall transportation efficiency.
• Maintain responsibility for yard-related financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, financial reporting, and general ledger reconciliation.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities through process improvements, asset optimization, and carrier management.
• Develop capital expenditure recommendations for equipment, technology, automation, infrastructure, and facility improvements.
• Create executive dashboards and performance reporting to support operational visibility and data-driven decision-making.
• Analyze operational trends and leverage predictive analytics to recommend strategic improvements.
• Present operational performance, financial results, and improvement initiatives to executive leadership.
• Develop organizational structures, succession plans, workforce planning strategies, and leadership development programs for Yard Operations.
• Establish performance management systems and accountability metrics to ensure operational excellence and employee development.

Skills

Leadership

Operations mgmt

Yard operations

Drayage knowledge

Intermodal transport

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Communication

Data analysis

Excel/SharePoint

Education

College Degree Preferred

Tools

MS Excel

SharePoint

Job description

Maersk Logistics USA, Inc. seeks a Head of Yard Operations to lead yard leadership, safety, and efficiency across our distribution network. You will drive capacity planning, asset utilization, and cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Transportation, and Finance to achieve operational excellence.

The role requires 10+ years in a 3PL environment with supervisory experience, strong accountability, and a hands-on approach to continuous improvement in a fast-paced setting.