Head of Air Freight – North America
Job Description
What You Can Expect:
Air Product Strategy & Performance
- Define and execute the North America air freight strategy in line with global objectives and market conditions
- Driving volume growth, yield improvement, and overall profitability
- Lead capacity planning across gateways and trade lanes, including consolidations and airline agreements
- Build and develop a high-performing Air Product team with a strong focus on accountability and results.
Airline & Procurement Management
- Establish and manage strategic relationships with key airline partners at regional and global levels
- Drive competitive pricing, capacity agreements, and procurement strategies across the region
- Implement structured carrier performance management, including KPIs and regular reviews
- Act as the senior escalation point for airline-related operational and commercial issues.
Commercial Enablement & Growth
- Partner closely with Sales and Key Account teams to support strategic customers, tenders, and growth initiatives
- Contribute to commercial strategy through targeted trade lane focus, product positioning, and solution development
- Support customer engagement at senior levels to strengthen relationships and win new business.
Operations & Execution Support
- Align with country and regional leadership to ensure consistent execution across operations and product teams
- Support resolution of complex operational challenges impacting service, cost, or performance.
Leadership & Governance
- Serve as a key member of the regional leadership team, providing strategic direction and market insight
- Monitor performance across volume, yield, and service quality to ensure sustainable growth
- Ensure alignment with global air freight policies, standards, and best practices.
What You Bring:
- 15+ years of experience in air freight forwarding, including at least 8–10 years in an air product leadership role with exposure to both operations and commercial strategy
- Proven leadership track record, including building and developing high-performing teams, driving accountability, and managing across multiple locations
- Deep understanding of air freight market dynamics, including capacity constraints, airline networks, pricing volatility, and gateway operations
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance yield, volume, and service performance in a competitive market
- Customer-focused mindset with experience supporting strategic accounts and aligning product strategy to client needs
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, volatile environment, adapting quickly to market shifts and capacity changes
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, airline partners, and key customers
- Advanced analytical and negotiation skills, particularly in high-value and capacity-constrained environments
- Results-driven, with a track record of delivering growth, improving margins, and strengthening product performance
- Fluent in English, both written and verbal; additional languages are an asset
- Willingness to travel as required to support regional operations, customers, and airline partners.