Import Transportation Manager

Mohawk Global Logistics Corp • Itasca, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Import Transportation Manager is responsible for the overall performance, leadership, and operational health of the import transportation department. This role leads Supervisors and Team Leads while driving departmental execution, client satisfaction, operational consistency, and employee development. A critical function of this role is developing leaders through structured 1:1s, leadership coaching, quarterly reviews, and performance management, ensuring Supervisors are equipped to effectively lead their teams. The Import Transportation Manager is expected to identify operational risks, improve processes, and build stronger organizational capability by creating independent leaders and scalable systems. This role serves as the strategic connector between daily execution and broader business goals while improving profitability and operational efficiency through process optimization, leadership development, and performance accountability while reducing operational risk through strong compliance and service consistency. By developing frontline leaders, strengthening departmental decision making, and improving organizational capacity, the Transportation Manager creates a stronger operational foundation for growth, client retention, and long-term business success.

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

Nice To Haves

• 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

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Mohawk Global considers all of these variables when extending an offer of employment.
• We pride ourselves in being a highly employee-centric organization that truly puts our people (and clients) first!
• At Mohawk, these aren’t just words, they are demonstrable values that we put into action by our behaviors each day.
• We have been certified as a “Great Place To Work” for the past thirteen years…see what our greatest assets, our people, have to say about us here: Mohawk Global - A Great Place to Work!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed