National Air Logistics Operational Key Account Manager

It's more than a job

As a member of the Freight Forwarding team Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in transporting goods, optimising processes, and fulfilling our customers' promises. And by transporting medicines, toys and important machine parts, you are not only delivering goods, you are making small and big moments possible for people all around the world. At Kuehne+Nagel, our contribution counts in more ways than we imagine.

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Build Strong Customer Partnerships. Drive Operational Excellence.

Are you passionate about customer success, logistics, and creating solutions that make a real impact? Join Kuehne+Nagel as a National Air Logistics Operational Key Account Manager and become a trusted partner to some of our most strategic customers.

In this role, you'll serve as the primary operational contact for key accounts, ensuring exceptional service delivery, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and strengthening long-term customer relationships.

This position offers flexible placement within Kuehne+Nagel's Air Logistics network and can be based in Detroit, MI; Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA; or Dallas, TX. Candidates located in or willing to relocate to one of these strategic locations are encouraged to apply.

How you create impact

• Manage and grow relationships with strategic Air Logistics customers.
• Serve as the primary operational contact and escalation point for key accounts.
• Build trusted customer partnerships through regular communication and business reviews.
• Collaborate with Operations, Customer Care, Sales, and Management to deliver exceptional service.
• Drive KPI performance, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze operational performance and implement solutions to improve results.
• Lead customer business reviews and present key performance insights.
• Support customer onboarding, implementations, and new business transitions.
• Develop customized logistics solutions that meet customer needs.
• Ensure compliance with customer SOPs and operational requirements.
• Lead cross-functional projects that improve efficiency and service quality.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and operational optimization.
• Resolve operational issues and claims while maintaining customer confidence.
• Advocate for customer needs across the organization.
• Stay current on industry trends and logistics best practices.

What we would like you to bring

• 5+ years of experience in freight forwarding, transportation, supply chain, or logistics operations
• Strong knowledge of air import/export operations, freight forwarding processes, compliance requirements, and global supply chain best practices
• Proven experience managing strategic customer relationships and key accounts
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills with customers, leadership, and cross-functional teams
• Ability to influence stakeholders and collaborate effectively across multiple departments and organizational levels
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and drive actionable solutions
• Experience developing, monitoring, and presenting KPIs, service levels, and operational performance metrics
• Demonstrated success driving continuous improvement initiatives and operational excellence
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Experience supporting customer implementations, onboarding activities, and operational projects
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and business reporting tools
• Experience supporting multinational customers and complex global supply chains
• Ability to travel as needed
• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related field preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep understanding of airfreight operations, including carriers, gateways, routing, capacity management, transit times, security requirements, and international handoffs
• Experience working within Air Logistics, Freight Forwarding, or 3PL organizations
• Strong customer-facing experience managing escalations and delivering timely, professional communication
• Proven ability to coordinate across Operations, Pricing, Sales, Customer Care, Gateway teams, and international offices
• Ability to work effectively across multiple countries and time zones
• Strong attention to detail with experience maintaining SOPs, trackers, action logs, account plans, and operational playbooks
• Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with changing priorities and evolving customer requirements
• Passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences and building long-term customer partnerships
• High sense of urgency with strong follow-through and execution discipline

What's in it for you

At Kuehne+Nagel we strive daily to inspire, empower, and deliver not only to our customers, but also to our colleagues. We offer a dynamic global work environment with opportunities for excellent training programs and career mobility. Base wage is part of a competitive total rewards package that includes health and welfare benefits, a 401k retirement savings plan, tuition reimbursement, and incentive compensation for eligible roles. Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by a number of factors including experience, skills, job location, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. Kuehne+Nagel reviews pay ranges regularly to ensure competitive and fair pay based on industry market data. #LI-SB1

Kuehne+Nagel participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in specific process [e.g., screening applications, interview scheduling]. These tools analyze information to support decision-making, but final decisions are made by human reviewers.

Who we are

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world.

As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life-saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.

We kindly advise that placement agencies refrain from submitting unsolicited profiles. Any submissions of candidates without prior signed agreement will be considered our property and no fees will be paid.