Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Import/Export Manager for a direct hire opportunity in Brea, CA. This role is ideal for a freight forwarding and logistics professional with strong ocean and air import/export expertise, proven leadership experience, and the ability to drive operational excellence across a customer service team.
The Import/Export Manager will lead a team of 5 Customer Service Representatives, oversee freight forwarding operations, improve department processes, and serve as a key point of contact for customers on freight-related matters. This is a highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to shape local operational strategy, improve end-to-end shipping workflows, and support business growth in a dynamic logistics environment.
This opportunity offers a collaborative team setting, strong operational visibility, and the chance to work closely with leadership, customers, overseas partners, and cross-functional departments. The right candidate will thrive in a supportive, performance-focused culture where communication, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement are valued.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and plan daily freight forwarding operations for a team of 5 Customer Service Representatives, ensuring high-quality service and operational performance.
- Design, implement, and enforce department policies, procedures, workflows, and process improvements to increase efficiency and transparency.
- Serve as a direct customer contact for freight matters, propose value-added solutions, and support customer retention through excellent service.
- Develop local operational strategy, support new freight business implementation, and collaborate with internal departments and overseas entities.
- Monitor monthly targets, freight KPIs, customer expectations, escalations, and compliance with customer Standard Operating Procedures.
- Manage, coach, motivate, and develop team members while ensuring compliance with company standards, conduct expectations, and legal requirements.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans
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For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.
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We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
Required Qualifications and Skills
- Lead freight forwarding operations for ocean and air import/export activity.
- Manage and develop a customer service team supporting freight and logistics operations.
- Improve operational workflows, department procedures, KPIs, and customer service performance.
- Partner with customers, internal departments, and overseas entities to support shipping solutions and business growth.
- Degree-level qualification required, preferably in freight, logistics, supply chain, transportation, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of relevant import/export, freight forwarding, or logistics operations experience.
- Strong knowledge of ocean freight and air freight import and export processes.
- Experience managing, coaching, motivating, and developing teams in a multicultural environment.
- Go Freight experience required.
- Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Strong customer service, escalation management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to prioritize, innovate, plan, and direct department activities in a fast-paced logistics environment.
- Ability to respond to customer emergency requests after hours as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bilingual Mandarin skills preferred.
- Experience supporting local freight business development, customer retention, and operational strategy.
- Background working with overseas entities, cross-functional logistics teams, and customer-specific SOPs.