[Hiring] Import Transportation Manager @Mohawk Global

Role Description

The Import Transportation Manager leads the overall performance, development, and operational effectiveness of the import transportation department. This role drives service excellence, operational consistency, and regulatory compliance while developing Supervisors and Team Leads to build a scalable, high-performing organization. Partnering closely with operational and commercial leaders, the Import Transportation Manager identifies improvement opportunities, strengthens team capability, and aligns departmental execution with business goals to support growth, profitability, and customer retention.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Customer & Client Experience:
  • Ensure department wide service consistency and client satisfaction across all accounts
  • Support resolution of major client escalations and service failures
  • Partner with Account Management and leadership to strengthen client retention and service delivery strategies
  • Ensure alignment between operational execution and client expectations
  • Drive a client-first operational culture across the department
• Operational Execution:
  • Oversee department wide workflow, staffing, and operational performance
  • Maintain operational visibility across all teams to identify risk, inefficiencies, and opportunities
  • Ensure strong process discipline, SOP compliance, and service execution standards
  • Drive operational improvements, scalability initiatives, and workflow optimization
  • Monitor department capacity, productivity, and service levels
  • Create stronger departmental structure to support future growth
• Problem Solving & Issue Resolution:
  • Serve as the primary escalation point for Supervisors and major operational issues
  • Solve high-level operational challenges while coaching leaders through complex problem-solving
  • Strengthen leadership funnel effectiveness by ensuring issues are resolved at the lowest effective level
  • Identify systemic operational issues and implement department-wide corrective actions
  • Support difficult personnel decisions, performance improvement plans, and terminations when necessary
• Collaboration & Communication:
  • Conduct regular 1:1s with Supervisors and Team Leads focused on leadership development, operational performance, and career growth
  • Lead quarterly reviews for direct reports and ensure leadership consistency across the department
  • Coach Supervisors on how to conduct effective 1:1s, behavioral coaching, and difficult conversations
  • Partner cross-functionally with Customs Brokerage, Exports, Account Management, and upper management
  • Create strong communication flow across leadership levels and operational teams
  • Weekly Team Meetings
  • Strengthen trust, transparency, and accountability throughout the department
• Financial / Administrative Accuracy:
  • Own departmental KPI performance and operational reporting
  • Monitor profitability drivers, billing accuracy, and cost control opportunities
  • Reduce financial exposure through operational discipline and compliance oversight
  • Ensure strong reporting accuracy and department-level business visibility
  • Partner with leadership on resource planning and financial forecasting
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benchmarks for Measuring Success

• Maintains strong department wide KPI performance across productivity, service, and compliance
• Develops Supervisors into stronger, more capable people leaders
• Improves leadership consistency through strong 1:1s, reviews, and coaching practices
• Reduces escalations to Operations Manager/General Manager by strengthening leadership capability
• Improves operational efficiency and departmental scalability
• Identifies and executes department-wide process improvements
• Builds strong succession readiness across multiple leadership levels

Qualifications

• Technical Skills:
  • Advanced expertise in import transportation operations, compliance, and workflow design
  • Strong CargoWise proficiency
  • Advanced understanding of operational KPIs, productivity reporting, and department analytics
  • Strong understanding of customer SOPs and service frameworks
  • Cross-functional operational knowledge across brokerage and export functions
• Business Skills:
  • Department planning and capacity management
  • Financial awareness and profitability management
  • KPI ownership and business performance analysis
  • Process design and operational scaling
  • Client retention strategy
  • Risk management and resource planning
• Leadership Skills:
  • Leadership development and coaching
  • Encourage Supervisor involvement in Team Meetings
  • Advanced 1:1 leadership development
  • Performance management and succession planning
  • Coaching leaders through difficult conversations
  • Organizational influence and change management
  • Building leadership bench strength
  • Conflict resolution and executive communication
  • Talent development across multiple levels

Requirements

• 7+ years of international transportation or freight forwarding experience
• 3+ years of leadership experience in Supervisor or Management roles
• Strong operational leadership experience in import transportation
• Proven success in developing leaders and improving team performance
• Strong business acumen and operational decision-making capability
• Advanced CargoWise proficiency

Preferred

• Experience managing multiple teams or leadership layers
• Cross-functional expertise in Customs Brokerage and Export Operations
• Experience in KPI ownership, profitability management, and process design

Office / Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position operates in a professional office environment (and/or remotely from a home office) with a quiet to moderate noise level and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, photocopying machines, and storage/filing cabinets. This is a largely sedentary role; however, lifting items under 25 pounds as well as the ability to bend, stand, and walk short distances may be required.

Travel Requirement

• Minimal travel required. Annual Leadership Retreat.

Mohawk Global is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.