At least 5 years of experience in international freight forwarding, with meaningful time in import operations specifically.
Prior supervisory or team-lead experience involving direct people management, not just operational ownership.
Experience with performance reviews.
Strong working knowledge of import and Incoterms.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Responsibilities
Directly manage, schedule, and balance workload across a team of import operators, adjusting for seasonal and account-driven volume swings.
Hire, onboard, and train new operators; build a structured ramp-up process for new team members.
Conduct regular performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching; manage corrective action when needed.
Serve as the escalation point for operators on complex files, difficult customers, or carrier/agent disputes.
Build team morale and a culture of accountability and ownership within the import department.
Oversee the team’s end-to-end execution of air and ocean import shipments, from file opening through final delivery.
Review and approve high-risk, high-value, or non-routine import files before they move.
Monitor shipment milestones across the team and drive resolution on exceptions and delays.
Ensure documentation accuracy across the department, including entries, bills of lading, delivery orders, and invoicing.
Maintain and improve department standard operating procedures for consistency across operators.
Keep the team current on regulatory changes affecting import processes.
Complete audits to ensure compliance with company standards.
Own profitability of the client import book by monitoring file-level margins and department profit and loss.
Manage timely and accurate accounts receivable and accounts payable billing for the import desk.
Identify and act on opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce cost without compromising service.
Manage cost procurement and markup strategy with sales input.
Act as the senior point of contact for key accounts on import-related issues.
Maintain strong working relationships with overseas agents, carriers, and customs brokers.
Ensure the team delivers consistent, proactive communication to clients on shipment status.
Work with the Director of Compliance to enhance the Import department’s use of CargoWise and assist with implementation of information technology solutions.
Support implementation of new systems and continuous process improvement.
Identify new products.
Develop new product offerings.
Implement and oversee new products.
Desired Qualifications
Experience with CargoWise.
Experience managing departmental profit and loss or profitability reporting.
Background in both air and ocean import modes, particularly full container load.
Experience with cost, vendor, and carrier sourcing.
Experience with rate management and quoting.
Experience with ocean contracts.
Experience with client-routed freight and agent-routed freight.
Bachelor’s degree.
Import Division Manager
Clutch Global Logistics, Inc. · Lombard, United States (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-09-14
Salary: USD 80,000–120,000
Workplace: hybrid
Department: Operations - Import
Description
Job Type: Full-Time (No Travel Required)
Company: Clutch Global Logistics, Inc.
Work Location: Blended (Office and Remote) - Lombard, IL
Basic Overview of Role and Responsibilities:
Clutch Global is seeking an experienced Import Division Manager to lead our import operations team. This role owns the performance, development, and day-to-day management of the import team; ensuring every shipment moves compliantly and profitably from origin to final delivery while building a team that operates at a high standard.
This is a hands-on leadership role. The ideal candidate has come up through freight forwarding operations, knows what "good" looks like on an import file, and is equally comfortable coaching an operator through difficult issues, developing strategies, or reporting departmental performance.
The successful candidate will assume responsibility for the below function.
Team Leadership
Directly manage, schedule, and balance workload across a team of import operators, adjusting for seasonal and account-driven volume swings
Hire, onboard, and train new operators; build a structured ramp-up process for new team members
Conduct regular performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching; manage corrective action when needed
Serve as the escalation point for operators on complex files, difficult customers, or carrier/agent disputes
Build team morale and a culture of accountability and ownership within the import department
Operational Oversight
Oversee the team’s end-to-end execution of the air and ocean import shipments — from file open through to final delivery
Review and approve high-risk, high-value, or non-routine import files before they move
Monitor shipment milestones across the team and drive resolution on exceptions and delays
Ensure documentation accuracy across the department (entries, bills of lading, delivery orders, invoicing)
Maintain and improve department SOPs for consistency across operators
Keep the team current on regulatory changes affecting import processes
Complete audits to ensure compliance with company standards.
Financial & Commercial Oversight
Own profitability of the client import book — monitor file-level margins and department P&L
Manage timely and accurate A/R and A/P billing for the import desk
Identify and act on opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce cost without compromising service
Responsible for costs procurement and markup strategy (with sales input)
Client, Sales, & Vendor Relations
Act as the senior point of contact for key accounts on import-related issues
Maintain strong working relationships with overseas agents, carriers, and customs brokers
Ensure the team delivers consistent, proactive communication to clients on shipment status
Technology & Systems
Work with Director of Compliance to enhance the Import department’s use of CargoWise and assist with implementation of IT solutions
Continued support of implementation of new systems and continuous process improvement
New Product Development
Identification of new products
Development of new product offerings
Implementation and oversight of new products
Requirements
Required
At least 5 years of experience in international freight forwarding, with meaningful time in import operations specifically
Prior supervisory or team-lead experience — direct people management, not just operational ownership
Experience with performance reviews
Strong working knowledge of import and INCOTERMS
Strong written and verbal communication skills
It is preferred, but not required, that candidates have the following:
Experience with CargoWise
Experience managing departmental P&L or profitability reporting
Background in both air and ocean import modes, particularly FCL
Experience with cost, vendor, and carrier sourcing
Experience with rate management and quoting
Experience with Ocean Contracts
Experience with Client routed freight and Agent routed freight
Bachelor's degree
Benefits
Compensation:
Salary based upon experience
Potential for Performance Bonus
Annual Corporate Sponsored 401k Contributions
Benefits:
Paid Time Off (PTO)
401k Savings Plan (Traditional & Roth Plans)
Health Insurance - employee and dependents PPO & HMO offered (Majority Funded by Employer)
Dental Insurance - employee and dependents (Fully Funded by Employer)
Vision Insurance - employee and dependents (Fully Funded by Employer)
Short-term & Long-term Disability Insurance (Fully Funded by Employer)