Export Team Lead

Role Description

The Export Team Lead is a senior-level individual contributor who combines export shipment coordination with team leadership and development. This role manages a portfolio of export shipments while providing day-to-day guidance, training, coaching, and operational support to Export Coordinators and other team members. Acting as a trusted resource for customers, partners, and internal stakeholders, the Export Team Lead contributes directly to customer retention, revenue growth, team development, and process improvement while serving as a key resource for onboarding, training, and operational continuity. The position serves as a key step in the leadership path toward Export Supervisor.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Support customer onboarding, account implementation, and ongoing service excellence.
• Serve as a key resource for resolving complex client, carrier, and supplier issues.
• Support customer retention through responsive communication and operational expertise.
• Reinforce service standards and customer-focused execution across the team.
• Manage export shipments and maintain a high level of operational performance on assigned accounts.
• Support daily workflow coordination, workload balancing, and team productivity.
• Ensure adherence to CargoWise, GlobalLink, SOPs, and operational best practices.
• Assist with reporting, shipment monitoring, onboarding, and process improvement initiatives.
• Provide operational leadership and continuity during Supervisor or Manager absences.
• Lead resolution of complex shipment, customer, and operational issues.
• Identify workflow bottlenecks, process gaps, and service risks and implement corrective actions.
• Escalate significant operational, compliance, or customer concerns when appropriate.
• Drive continuous improvement in service quality, efficiency, and consistency.
• Partner with Supervisors, Managers, Sales, Compliance, carriers, agents, and branch teams to support customer and business objectives.
• Communicate priorities, procedural expectations, and operational updates effectively.
• Promote collaboration, cross-training, and knowledge sharing across the team.
• Support client, carrier, and partner relationships that strengthen operational performance.
• Support timely and accurate billing, file completion, and documentation standards.
• Assist with billing audits, prepayment reporting, collections support, and operational reporting.
• Monitor operational reports and performance metrics to support department goals.
• Maintain accurate shipment records and regulatory documentation.
• Coach, train, and mentor Export Coordinators and new team members.
• Support onboarding, retraining, and individual development planning.
• Conduct quality reviews, audits, and feedback sessions to improve team performance.
• Reinforce accountability, compliance, and operational excellence through day-to-day leadership.
• May oversee up to two direct reports, including one-on-ones and performance feedback.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benchmarks for Measuring Success

• Consistently meets productivity, workflow, and shipment execution expectations.
• Delivers timely, accurate, and competitive customer and agent quotations.
• Maintains strong documentation quality, data integrity, and file accuracy.
• Supports successful onboarding and development of new team members.
• Builds strong customer, carrier, and agent relationships that support retention and service excellence.
• Demonstrates active leadership through coaching, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Contributes to process improvements that strengthen operational efficiency and team performance.

Skills & Qualifications

• Technical Skills:
  • Strong knowledge of export operations, U.S. export regulations, TSA requirements, and compliance practices.
  • Proficiency with CargoWise, GlobalLink, and freight forwarding systems.
  • Export documentation, shipment processing, quoting, and onboarding expertise.
  • Reporting, operational analytics, and data management skills.
  • Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Excel (Pivot Tables and VLOOKUP) and PowerPoint.
• Business Skills:
  • Customer relationship management and service excellence.
  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Workload prioritization, delegation, and operational coordination.
  • Problem-solving and decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
  • Process improvement and continuous improvement mindset.
  • Strong attention to detail, organization, and accountability.
• Leadership Skills:
  • Coaching, mentoring, and employee development.
  • Informal team leadership and performance support.
  • Operational decision-making and issue resolution.
  • Cross-functional collaboration and positive influence.
  • Leadership through example, professionalism, and accountability.

Required Qualifications

• 4–6 years of export freight forwarding experience, or CES certification (or willingness to obtain) with a minimum of 2 years of export experience.
• Strong knowledge of export operations and freight forwarding processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical ability, and organizational skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively under pressure.
• Experience training, mentoring, or supporting team members.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, International Business, Business Administration, Accounting, or related field.
• Experience utilizing CargoWise.
• CES certification.
• Knowledge of logistics and supply chain management principles.
• Experience leading training, onboarding, or process improvement initiatives.

Office / Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position operates in a professional office environment (and/or remotely from a home office) with a quiet to moderate noise level and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, photocopying machines, and storage/filing cabinets. This is a largely sedentary role; however, lifting items under 25 pounds as well as the ability to bend, stand, and walk short distances may be required.

Travel Requirement

Less than 10%

Mohawk Global is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.