Transportation Manager

Job Title: Transportation Manager
Job Location: Des Plaines-USA-60016
Work Location Type: On-Site
Salary Range: $87,731.91 - 113,830.61

About us

Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to new heights. As a trusted partner to the nation’s leading airlines and retailers, we proudly deliver millions of meals and exceptional service experiences every year across 43 sites throughout the United States. Built on a legacy of operational excellence, culinary expertise, and continuous innovation, we are committed to setting the industry standard in aviation culinary, airline services, last-mile logistics, and retail commerce. From the kitchen to the runway, our teams work together to deliver quality, reliability, and service at every altitude. Our people are the heart of everything we do. At SkyChefs, a career is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to grow, lead, and make an impact in a fast-paced, team-driven environment. Join America’s first, foremost, and finest and take your career to new heights.

Role Purpose Statement

The Transportation Manager is responsible for leading all transportation and fleet operations within the Dallas/Ft Worth facility, ensuring the safe, compliant, and efficient movement of freight while consistently exceeding customer service expectations. This leader oversees transportation supervisors, dispatch teams, drivers, and support staff, with accountability for operational performance across route execution, on-time delivery, safety, productivity, regulatory compliance, and cost management.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, results-driven leader with a strong background in transportation, logistics, and distribution operations. They thrive in fast-paced, high-volume environments and excel at developing frontline leaders, optimizing transportation networks, managing fleet resources, and driving operational excellence. This individual fosters a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement while leveraging data and performance metrics to identify opportunities, solve complex operational challenges, and improve service levels.

Main Accountabilities

• Manage catering deliveries to aircraft by coordinating high-lift trucks, transport vehicles, and support equipment to ensure accurate and timely meal deliveries to outbound flights.
• Drive on-time performance and schedule compliance by ensuring catering services are delivered within required aircraft turnaround times and operational deadlines.
• Coordinate with airline and airport operations teams, including flight crews, gate agents, ramp personnel, and catering production staff, to support seamless flight departures.
• Manage last-minute operational changes such as flight delays, gate reassignments, aircraft swaps, special meal requests, equipment shortages, and other evolving customer requirements.
• Maintain safety and regulatory compliance by ensuring drivers, vehicles, and operations adhere to airport security protocols, airside driving regulations, food safety standards, and company policies.
• Oversee fleet and equipment management, monitoring the condition and availability of catering trucks and support vehicles, reporting defects, and coordinating maintenance activities.
• Track and analyze operational performance metrics, including on-time delivery rates, service failures, delays, vehicle utilization, labor productivity, and overall service quality.
• Support operational efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives by identifying process gaps, resolving service disruptions, and implementing solutions to enhance performance and customer satisfaction.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent leadership experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, food production, logistics, warehouse, distribution, aviation catering, or other high-volume operational environments.
• Experience leading multiple departments or business functions through frontline supervisors.
• Demonstrated success managing large teams, including indirect oversight of 100+ hourly employees.
• Proven ability to coach, develop, and hold leaders accountable for performance and results.
• Strong understanding of labor management, workforce planning, scheduling, and productivity improvement.
• Experience managing operational metrics related to safety, quality, service, labor, and cost.
• Proven track record of driving continuous improvement initiatives and operational efficiencies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and operational reporting systems.

Preferred

• Experience in food manufacturing, airline catering, production, distribution, or highly regulated operational environments.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement certification.
• Experience working in FDA, HACCP, GMP, or other regulated environments.
• Knowledge of labor relations and unionized work environments.
• Experience leading organizational change and large-scale operational improvement initiatives.

SkyChefs is an EEO and Affirmative Action Employer of Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.