Executive Operations Lead

Serve Freight | Asheville, NC (on-site or hybrid) Type: Full-time (W-2) Compensation: $85,000 to $110,000 annually, depending on experience Start: 1-3 weeks About Serve Freight Serve Freight is a high-reliability logistics operator specializing in complex freight execution for mid-market shippers and project-driven industries. We manage transportation, warehousing, and value-added logistics programs for companies that cannot afford missed delivery windows, broken communication, or unreliable carriers. We are scaling fast in 2026 and building the operational infrastructure to support it. This role is part of that buildout. The Role We are hiring an Executive Operations Lead to serve as the CEO's operational right hand, owning the day-to-day rhythm of the business so the CEO can focus on the things only he can do. This is not a traditional Executive Assistant or operations management position. It is a hybrid role that combines structured operational ownership with cross-functional coordination, process ownership, and real decision-making authority. You are the person who keeps the CEO out of the weeds. You own the recurring operational cadence, drive accountability on tactical priorities, and make the calls that would otherwise sit in a queue waiting for approval. 50% of your time will be structured operational ownership. 50% will be dedicated to cross-functional problem-solving, process improvement, and team coordination. What You Will Do Executive & Calendar Management Manage the CEO's calendar: scheduling, rescheduling, conflict resolution Triage and prioritize the CEO's inbox Prepare meeting agendas, pre-reads, and follow-up action items Data, Dashboards & Financial Support Pull and format weekly operational dashboards from Turvo, QuickBooks, and HubSpot Run down accounts receivable discrepancies and flag issues Prepare financial summaries and talking points for leadership meetings Support the company's strategic advisor with slide deck preparation and data pulls Process & SOP Ownership Draft and maintain internal SOPs for recurring operational processes Document workflows across departments as they are formalized Research and recommend operational tools within defined budget parameters Integrate approved tools into existing workflows Operational Problem-Solving Investigate and resolve operational issues across departments before they reach the CEO Triage which priorities you can own directly vs. what needs to be escalated Reschedule initiative timelines when circumstances change Coordinate with internal team members across operations, accounting, and brokerage Decision-Making Authority This role carries real decision-making responsibility within defined boundaries. You will not be waiting for approval on every task. You will decide: which tools to investigate, which software to select within budget, how to reschedule internal timelines, how to triage and route requests, and how to resolve calendar conflicts. You will escalates: any commitments to external parties, expenditures above threshold, changes to sales or pricing, and strategic or partnership decisions. Who You Are 3-6 years in operations, chief of staff, or executive support roles at a growing company (under 50 employees preferred) Comfortable wearing multiple hats and operating across departments without waiting for a playbook Can make decisions without perfect information; does not freeze with ambiguous direction Strong written communicator: SOPs, slide decks, and emails without heavy editing Data-literate: can pull and present operational and financial data without being an analyst You think like an owner, not a task-taker Tools You Will Use Turvo (TMS), QuickBooks Online, HubSpot (CRM), Front.com, Google Workspace, Slack, Notion, Excel/Sheets. You do not need to be an expert in all of these on day one, but you should be comfortable learning quickly. What Success Looks Like At 30 days: The CEO has measurably more free time. Recurring tasks are transferred and running on schedule. At 60 days: You are proactively resolving issues before they reach the CEO. You have recommended or implemented at least one process improvement. At 90 days: The CEO feels like you are an extension of himself. Internal stakeholders engage with you directly. Minimal oversight needed. What This Role Is Not Not a calendar-only EA role Not a system administrator or IT role Not a sales or business development role Not a strategic advisory role, though your judgment and recommendations will directly shape how we operate #J-18808-Ljbffr