Airfreight Operations Manager

We are Kevin Theobald Recruitment Ltd, a specialist recruitment agency established in 1987, dedicated to the commercial Shipping, Logistics, and Freight Forwarding sectors. With over 40 years of combined industry experience, we pride ourselves on connecting the right candidates with employers across a range of roles, from clerks to senior directors. Based in Ashford, Middlesex, we offer tailored and flexible commission schemes, ensuring we meet the needs of both small and large companies.

We are currently seeking an Airfreight Operations Manager to join a dynamic team within this fast-paced industry. If you are ready to take on a challenging and rewarding role in airfreight operations, we encourage you to apply and become a key part of a thriving logistics network.

All potential candidates should read through the following details of this job with care before making an application.

You'll take full ownership of the Heathrow operation: a small team of operators as well as a couple of general admin staff and drivers. This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll run the desk, set the standard and step in on live shipments whenever needed, not manage from a distance.

The immediate priority is the operation itself: raising service standards, building a proactive customer-first culture and making the business ready to grow. Once that foundation is in place, you'll play a central part in driving growth, and hitting agreed milestones earns you equity in the business.

• An independent Heathrow forwarder with over 30 years' trading history, its own warehouse and a small fleet of trucks. xwzovoh It built its reputation handling international shipments for a number of high value cargo clients, alongside a group of general import/export clients.

Duties Include:

• Lead day-to-day air export and import operations at Heathrow, working live shipments alongside the team
• Lift customer service standards and reset the culture of an established team — coaching, setting expectations and tackling under-performance
• Own service quality for high-value, time-critical and specialist cargo
• Manage airline, handling agent, customs and haulier relationships to secure capacity, rates and reliability
• Oversee the warehouse and small fleet, scheduling collections and deliveries efficiently
• Ensure compliance with security (RA/KC), customs and dangerous goods requirements
• Improve processes and systems so the operation can scale
• Help shape and deliver the growth plan once the operation is strengthened, including supporting client development