Global Head of Routing

Sofar Ocean•San Francisco, CA

23h•$100,000 - $150,000•Remote

About The Position

The Global Head of Routing is responsible for keeping all of the vessels on Wayfinder's platform safe and efficient at sea. Sofar's routers use our algorithmic path-finding & route costing technology to craft guidance that helps ship and shore-side teams save fuel and time. We have an excellent Routing Team, comprised of 15 people spread across three shifts. As the team grows beyond voyage optimization into areas like emissions tracking and voyage reporting, we need a leader who can scale with it — someone who brings operational depth, strategic vision, and a passion for building great teams. This role sits on the Wayfinder leadership team, meaning you'll have real influence over the direction of the product and the company. The ideal candidate is tech-forward and excited to work with AI and other emerging tools to sharpen how we operate. You'll work hand-in-hand with our software and product teams to shape the future of how we serve our customers — bringing the operator's perspective that only someone close to the work can provide.

Requirements

You have great communication, both verbal and written
High emotional intelligence, you're someone who wants to help others
You lead with curiosity and execute with speed and precision
You have experience managing large, distributed teams - ideally across multiple shifts or time zones
You're operationally sharp and comfortable jumping in hands-on when the team needs it, whether that's routing a vessel or covering a gap in coverage
You're tech-forward and excited to experiment with AI and emerging tools to drive process improvements
You have a background in maritime, voyage optimization, or a related field and can earn the trust of experienced routers quickly
You think strategically about talent: hiring, developing, and retaining a high-performing global team
You're comfortable working cross-functionally with software and product teams, translating operational needs into clear requirements
You have a track record of building or improving processes, SOPs, and quality standards in a fast-moving environment

Responsibilities

Lead and manage a global team of 15 routing specialists across three shifts, ensuring safe and efficient voyage optimization for all vessels on the Wayfinder platform
Own shift scheduling and coverage in partnership with Shift Leads, ensuring 24/7 operational continuity
Drive team performance through clear goal-setting, regular feedback, and ongoing development — stepping in to route vessels directly when needed
Expand the team's scope beyond voyage optimization to include voyage reporting, emissions tracking, and other emerging customer and operational responsibilities
Identify and execute on efficiency improvements across the routing team and adjacent operations
Set and uphold a high standard for quality of service, developing and maintaining routing SOPs that keep the team consistent and effective
Build and execute a global talent strategy — recruiting, developing, and retaining a world-class routing team
Serve as a key member of the Wayfinder leadership team, contributing to company-wide strategy and decisions
Partner closely with software and product teams to shape new features and improve the customer experience, bringing an operator's perspective to the product roadmap
Champion the use of AI and new technology to modernize routing workflows and raise the team's overall efficiency and output