Airfreight Export Manager – Gateway & Carrier Strategy
Location: Miami, FL
Employment: Full-Time | Onsite
Industry: International Freight Forwarding / Airfreight
Lead the Operation. Build the Gateway. Drive Profitable Growth.
A growing international logistics organization is seeking an experienced Airfreight Export Manager to lead its Miami air export operation while helping expand Miami as a strategic gateway for its broader branch network.
The successful candidate will combine strong airfreight operations leadership with airline procurement, carrier strategy, business development, pricing, and commercial expertise.
You'll negotiate directly with airline partners, secure competitive rates and capacity, develop new trade lanes and gateway opportunities, support new business development, and lead the Miami air export team.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Miami air export operations and oversee export team performance.
- Negotiate airline contract rates, spot rates, allotments, block-space agreements, surcharges, and commercial terms.
- Develop and manage airline carrier and capacity strategies.
- Build and maintain senior relationships with airline cargo partners.
- Evaluate alternative carriers and routings to improve capacity, service, and profitability.
- Consolidate branch forecasts and volumes to strengthen airline purchasing terms.
- Monitor allotment utilization, capacity commitments, and commercial exposure.
- Develop Miami as a gateway supporting the broader branch network.
- Identify consolidation opportunities, new trade lanes, and airfreight products.
- Partner with sales and branch leaders to identify and pursue new business.
- Participate in customer meetings, proposals, tenders, and commercial negotiations.
- Analyze pricing, margins, and gross profit by customer, lane, and carrier.
- Monitor airfreight rates, airline schedules, market capacity, and demand.
- Coordinate with airlines, ground handlers, warehouse teams, and internal branches.
- Oversee shipment milestones, documentation, cargo security, temperature control, and service exceptions.
- Drive service quality, productivity, and operational improvement.
The scope combines strategic commercial responsibility with direct oversight of air export execution.
- 7+ years of airfreight experience.
- Strong background in airline procurement, commercial development, or gateway management.
- Proven experience negotiating airline rates, allotments, capacity, and carrier agreements.
- Demonstrated success developing accounts, winning business, or expanding airfreight markets.
- Strong understanding of pricing, gross profit, capacity commitments, and commercial risk.
- Experience working across a branch network.
- Established ability to build relationships with airlines, customers, and internal commercial teams.
- Experience leading air export operations and team performance.
- Strong knowledge of export documentation and service-exception management.
- Fluent English and Spanish – written and spoken.
- Ability to travel for airline meetings, customer visits, branch coordination, and industry events.
Preferred Experience
- Perishable or temperature-sensitive airfreight
- Established airline cargo relationships in Miami and international markets
- CargoWise
- CRM and commercial reporting platforms
What Success Looks Like
Success in this position will be measured by more than operational execution. The organization is looking for a leader who can positively influence:
Profitable Revenue Growth | New Business Wins | Airline Purchasing Terms | Secured Capacity | Allotment Utilization | Gross Profit | Miami Gateway Volume | On-Time Departures | Documentation Accuracy | Service Quality
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This role provides an opportunity to take ownership beyond the export desk.
You'll have the ability to influence airline strategy, capacity procurement, pricing, profitability, gateway development, customer growth, and operational performance while helping strengthen Miami's role within a broader international freight network.
If you're an experienced Airfreight Manager, Air Export Manager, Gateway Manager, Air Product Manager, or airfreight commercial leader who understands both how to operate the freight and how to grow the business, we'd like to hear from you.
Apply today for confidential consideration.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
