Air Cargo Manager

✈️ We're Hiring: Air Cargo Manager📍 Location: United Arab Emirates (Remote) 🕒 Employment Type: Full-Time 💼 Experience Level: Mid-Level to Senior 🌐 Work Arrangement: Fully RemoteAbout UsWe are an aviation and logistics-focused organization committed to delivering reliable, efficient, and commercially competitive air-cargo solutions through operational excellence, technology, compliance, customer service, and global supply-chain coordination.Our distributed teams collaborate across Cargo Operations, Airlines, Airports, Ground Handling, Warehousing, Freight Forwarding, Customs, Security, Sales, Revenue Management, Finance, Technology, Regulatory Affairs, and Executive Leadership to ensure cargo moves safely, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable aviation and logistics requirements.The RoleWe are seeking an experienced Air Cargo Manager to lead air-cargo operations, shipment planning, cargo handling, warehouse coordination, airline and freight-forwarding relationships, capacity utilization, customer service, compliance, and commercial performance.The ideal candidate will combine strong air-cargo and aviation knowledge with operational leadership, logistics expertise, commercial awareness, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder-management capabilities.The role will be responsible for managing the end-to-end cargo operation from booking and acceptance through handling, documentation, loading, transportation, delivery, claims, and performance reporting.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop and implement air-cargo strategies, operating procedures, service standards, and governance frameworks aligned with business and customer requirements.Manage end-to-end air-cargo operations covering booking, acceptance, documentation, handling, storage, build-up, loading, transportation, transfer, delivery, and shipment closure.Coordinate daily cargo activities with airlines, airports, ground-handling agents, freight forwarders, customs authorities, warehouses, transport providers, and customers.Monitor cargo bookings, capacity availability, shipment volumes, flight schedules, aircraft capacity, and operational constraints.Optimize cargo capacity utilization and work with Revenue Management and Commercial teams to maximize cargo revenue and profitability.Manage cargo allocation, space planning, booking priorities, weight and volume considerations, and shipment consolidation.Coordinate with airline and flight-operation teams to ensure cargo is planned and accepted in accordance with aircraft limitations and operational requirements.Ensure cargo is properly received, inspected, documented, weighed, labeled, stored, handled, and prepared for transportation.Monitor shipment acceptance and ensure cargo meets applicable airline, airport, security, customs, and regulatory requirements.Manage special cargo including dangerous goods, perishables, pharmaceuticals, live animals, valuable cargo, oversized shipments, temperature-sensitive goods, and other specialized products where applicable.Ensure appropriate procedures are followed for dangerous goods and other regulated cargo categories.Coordinate temperature-controlled and time-sensitive shipments to maintain required conditions throughout the cargo journey.Monitor warehouse operations, cargo storage, inventory control, security, handling equipment, and shipment movement.Ensure cargo warehouses and handling areas maintain appropriate safety, security, cleanliness, and operational standards.Coordinate cargo build-up and breakdown activities and ensure shipments are correctly prepared for loading and delivery.Monitor cargo loading plans, unit load devices, pallets, containers, and shipment configurations.Coordinate with ground-handling teams to minimize loading delays, mishandling, damage, and operational disruptions.Monitor shipment documentation including airway bills, manifests, customs documentation, security declarations, dangerous-goods documentation, certificates, and other required records.Ensure cargo documentation is complete, accurate, traceable, and submitted within required timelines.Coordinate with Customs and regulatory authorities on cargo clearance, inspections, holds, releases, and compliance matters.Monitor customs requirements and changes affecting cargo movements.Ensure compliance with applicable aviation, airport, cargo-security, customs, dangerous-goods, trade, and transportation requirements.Coordinate cargo-security procedures, screening requirements, access controls, chain-of-custody processes, and security incident management.Investigate cargo delays, damage, loss, shortages, misrouting, documentation errors, customs holds, and other operational incidents.Lead root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions to prevent recurring cargo issues.Manage cargo claims, customer complaints, service failures, damage claims, and operational disputes in coordination with relevant teams.Establish and monitor cargo service-level agreements and performance standards.Manage relationships with freight forwarders, airlines, ground handlers, warehouse operators, customs brokers, trucking companies, cargo agents, and other logistics partners.Negotiate and monitor operational and commercial agreements with external cargo-service providers.Evaluate partner performance, capacity availability, service quality, cost efficiency, and compliance.Work closely with Sales and Commercial teams to develop cargo products, pricing strategies, customer solutions, and new business opportunities.Analyze market trends, cargo demand, trade flows, competitor activity, airline capacity, and customer requirements.Identify opportunities to increase cargo volumes, improve route profitability, expand customer relationships, and optimize network performance.Monitor cargo revenue, yields, margins, operating costs, handling charges, storage costs, and other commercial indicators.Develop cargo forecasts and capacity plans based on historical trends, seasonal demand, market conditions, and operational schedules.Use cargo-management systems, airline systems, warehouse systems, ERP platforms, and analytics tools to monitor operational performance.Identify opportunities to automate cargo processes, improve shipment visibility, enhance digital documentation, and reduce manual processing.Establish business-continuity and contingency procedures for flight disruptions, warehouse outages, weather events, customs delays, security incidents, and other operational disruptions.Maintain comprehensive cargo records including shipment registers, manifests, operational reports, incident logs, claims, customer records, partner performance, compliance documentation, and financial reconciliations.Develop and monitor cargo KPIs, operational dashboards, performance reports, and management reviews.Prepare daily, weekly, monthly, and executive-level cargo performance reports and strategic recommendations.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Performance will be measured through a combination of operational, commercial, customer, safety, and compliance KPIs, including:Cargo volumeCargo revenueCargo yieldAircraft cargo-capacity utilizationBooking conversionOn-time cargo acceptanceOn-time cargo deliveryShipment processing timeWarehouse throughputCargo dwell timeCargo damage rateCargo loss and shortage rateMishandling rateShipment documentation accuracyCustoms-clearance performanceDangerous-goods complianceCargo-security complianceCustomer satisfactionCargo claims frequencyClaims resolution timePartner SLA performanceOperating-cost efficiencyCargo profitabilityCandidate ProfileThe successful candidate should have strong experience in air cargo, aviation logistics, freight forwarding, airport operations, airline cargo, ground handling, or a related supply-chain environment.Experience managing high-volume cargo operations within an international airport, airline, cargo terminal, freight-forwarding organization, or logistics provider would be advantageous.The candidate should have strong operational, commercial, regulatory, and customer-management capabilities.Experience with specialized cargo such as pharmaceuticals, perishables, dangerous goods, valuable cargo, or temperature-controlled shipments is highly desirable.What You'll BringProven experience in air cargo, airline cargo operations, airport logistics, freight forwarding, or aviation supply chain.Strong understanding of the end-to-end air-cargo lifecycle.Experience managing cargo booking, acceptance, handling, warehousing, loading, documentation, and delivery.Strong knowledge of airway bills, cargo manifests, shipment documentation, and cargo-handling procedures.Understanding of dangerous-goods, cargo-security, customs, and aviation requirements.Experience managing ground handlers, freight forwarders, airlines, warehouses, and logistics partners.Strong cargo-capacity and operational-planning capabilities.Experience managing cargo revenue, costs, pricing, yields, and profitability is advantageous.Strong customer-service and claims-management capabilities.Experience with cargo-management systems, warehouse systems, ERP platforms, and operational analytics tools.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.Excellent communication, negotiation, leadership, and stakeholder-management capabilities.Strong understanding of international trade and global logistics flows.Highly organized, commercially minded, operationally focused, and results-oriented.Ability to manage high-volume operations and respond effectively to time-critical issues.Ability to work independently and effectively within a fully remote environment, with coordination of airport and field operations where required.Relevant degree in Aviation, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business, Transportation, or a related discipline.IATA, cargo, dangerous-goods, or aviation-related certification is advantageous.Experience working within the UAE or wider GCC aviation and logistics market is highly desirable.