Operations Manager, Contract Logistics
Forward Air · Atlanta
The Operations Manager provides day-to-day operational leadership for our contract logistics operations. They are accountable for service delivery, operational performance, safety, quality, productivity, and workforce effectiveness across assigned functional areas, shifts, or value streams. This role translates site objectives into disciplined execution by leading Supervisors, Team Leads, and frontline teams. They maintain significant responsibility for P&L, workforce management, productivity performance, cost control, and meeting customer and operational commitments. With proven leadership experience in transportation, warehousing, or supply chain operations, they play a critical role in ensuring operational stability, improving performance, and elevating customer satisfaction.
Responsibilities
- Lead daily operations across assigned functional areas, shifts, transportation networks, warehouse processes, or value streams to ensure consistent execution of service commitments.
- Drive disciplined execution of operational plans that align with customer requirements, service levels, and broader site or network objectives.
- Serve as the primary operational escalation point for service, quality, throughput, routing, capacity, or execution issues.
- Enforce adherence to standard work, operating procedures, regulatory requirements, and established operating rhythms.
- Own operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, delivery, service, cost, and productivity within assigned scope.
- Lead daily, weekly, and monthly performance reviews, using metrics and dashboards to assess results and drive corrective actions.
- Identify, prioritize, and lead continuous improvement initiatives aimed at improving labor efficiency, equipment utilization, throughput, routing efficiency, accuracy, and service reliability.
- Apply structured problem-solving and root cause analysis to eliminate recurring operational or service issues.
- Lead safety culture and performance for assigned areas; reinforce compliance with safety policies, procedures, and applicable regulations (e.g., OSHA, DOT).
- Ensure quality standards are consistently met through audits, corrective actions, issue containment, and adherence to defined processes.
- Manage workforce planning, staffing levels, scheduling, labor deployment, and productivity targets to align resources with demand fluctuations.
- Monitor variable costs, labor spend, and operational expenses within assigned scope, taking corrective action when needed.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial reviews by providing accurate operational inputs and cost visibility.
- Drive cost awareness and financial discipline across Supervisors, Team Leads, and frontline associates.
- Lead, coach, develop, and mentor Supervisors and front-line teams, including succession readiness.
- Set clear performance expectations, conduct coaching conversations, and reinforce accountability at all levels.
- Foster employee engagement, teamwork, and a performance-driven, continuous‑improvement culture.
- Partner with engineering, continuous improvement, maintenance, quality, transportation, and support functions to improve operational performance.
- Collaborate with account management and site leadership to ensure operational alignment with customer commitments and service expectations.
- Participate in customer discussions, business reviews, and site visits as appropriate, focused on operational execution and performance outcomes.
- All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.
Qualifications
- Education: Undergraduate degree (or higher) in Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics, or a related field preferred; High School Diploma or GED/equivalent required.
- Certification/Licensure: Valid forklift certification/licensure (or ability to obtain before operating equipment) required, including operation of applicable material handling equipment (MHE) such as sit-down/stand-up forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet riders, or other specialized MHE as required by the site. Additional equipment certifications may be required depending on facility needs.
- 5+ years’ experience in transportation, supply chain, 3PL/contract logistics, manufacturing, or similar operational environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading Supervisors or multi-level teams in high-volume, complex operational settings.
- Strong experience using dashboards, KPIs, and operational metrics to drive accountability and improve results.
- Strong understanding of workforce planning, labor management, productivity measurement, and cost control.
- Working knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and reporting/data tools.
- Experience with LEAN, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other structured continuous improvement methodologies applied in live operations.
- Equipment: Ability to safely operate material handling equipment (MHE) such as pallet jacks, dollies, hand trucks, order pickers, pallet riders, conveyors, dock plates, dock levelers, sit-down/stand-up forklifts and reach trucks (with company-assisted certification/training), and/or other specialized MHE as required by the site.
- Physical Demands: Extensive standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and twisting for 8-12 hours per/shift, with the ability to lift, push, pull, and carry freight up to 50lbs without assistance, with occasional lifting of freight up to 75lbs with assistance or mechanical aids throughout each 8-12 hour shift, multiple times per/week.
- Environment: Ability to work safely around moving equipment, vehicles, and freight in a non-climate-controlled environment, including frequent exposure to temperature extremes (both hot and cold), occasional outdoor work and/or exposure to precipitation (rain, sleet, snow, etc.), regular exposure to moving equipment, vehicle traffic, exhaust, dust, and moderate to loud noise.
- Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
- Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
- Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with occasional travel for related meetings, events, and client engagements.
#LI-Onsite #LI-KB1
The Operations Manager provides day-to-day operational leadership for our contract logistics operations. They are accountable for service delivery, operational performance, safety, quality, productivity, and workforce effectiveness across assigned functional areas, shifts, or value streams. This role translates site objectives into disciplined execution by leading Supervisors, Team Leads, and frontline teams. They maintain significant responsibility for P&L, workforce management, productivity performance, cost control, and meeting customer and operational commitments. With proven leadership experience in transportation, warehousing, or supply chain operations, they play a critical role in ensuring operational stability, improving performance, and elevating customer satisfaction.