Ocean & Air Logistics Supervisor

Located in the heart of Central Ohio, Illuminate USA is transforming solar panel manufacturing from our cutting-edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, we've rapidly grown to over 1,500 associates and are now fully operational in our 1.1 million-square-foot factory. Our vision is to establish one of the largest solar panel manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere.

This is an exciting time to join Illuminate USA as we continue to grow and innovate. We're not just building solar panels-we're building a team of dedicated, passionate associates eager to make a real impact. If you're looking to be part of a collaborative, people-focused, and forward-thinking workplace, we want to hear from you!

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and continuous opportunities for career growth. Come join us on this journey to create a brighter, more sustainable future in the Columbus area.

We are seeking an experienced logistics leader to manage our global Air & Ocean freight operations, with a particular focus on booking execution and supplier management in Asia. This role is accountable for ensuring timely and cost-effective movement of raw materials, managing carrier and forwarder relationships, and leading staff collaboration with teams in Asia to deliver service excellence. The ideal candidate will have strong operational expertise, experience in international freight operations and the ability to bridge regional execution with global strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Management

Oversee daily Air & Ocean freight operations, including booking management with raw material suppliers and freight partners across Asia.

Manage shipment planning, carrier space allocation, and coordination with suppliers to align bookings with production schedules and plant delivery requirements.

Monitor vessel sailings, air consolidations, and transshipment activities, proactively addressing delays, rolled bookings, and other exceptions.

Ensure timely and accurate entry of booking and shipment data into TMS/ERP systems, maintaining real-time visibility for global teams.

Lead root cause analysis on recurring operational issues and implement corrective action plans.

Partner with the Head of Logistics, Longi, and Procurement to transition operations management to Illuminate USA.

Assess and recommend the appropriate Asia operations support model, including staffing levels, agent partnerships, or hybrid solutions.

Supplier, Carrier & Compliance Management

Oversee local Asia-based logistics staff responsible for booking confirmations, shipment documentation, and execution.

Manage relationships with raw material suppliers, freight forwarders, NVOCCs, airlines, and carriers to ensure service quality, compliance, and reliability.

Support procurement and logistics leadership with RFP participation, freight rate benchmarking, and contract negotiations.

Collaborate with trade compliance teams to ensure adherence to import/export regulations, customs requirements, and corporate compliance standards.

Oversee accurate preparation and submission of commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, and other regulatory documentation.

Strategic & Cross-Functional Collaboration

Develop inbound logistics strategies aligned with business goals, sourcing priorities, and trade compliance requirements.

Partner with procurement, planning, production, finance, and sales teams to ensure supply chain visibility and accurate demand fulfillment.

Work closely with the U.S. logistics team to ensure seamless transition of shipments from Asia to U.S. ports, airports, and plants.

Provide proactive updates and issue resolution support to ensure customer service excellence.

Leadership

Lead, coach, and develop Asia-based logistics staff, fostering a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Establish clear goals, KPIs, and development plans for the team.

Drive alignment between Asia operations and global logistics strategy.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, International Business, Logistics, or related field.

7+ years of experience in international Air & Ocean freight operations, freight forwarding, or NVOCC management.

Proven experience managing bookings and supplier shipments in Asia, including direct staff leadership.

Strong knowledge of global trade regulations, customs procedures, and compliance requirements.

Hands-on experience supporting or leading RFPs, freight procurement, and contract negotiations.

Proficiency in TMS/ERP platforms and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Strong leadership, cross-cultural communication, and vendor management skills.

Analytical mindset with the ability to balance cost, service, and compliance priorities.

At Illuminate USA, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunity for all, ensuring that all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Your unique background and experiences are valued here, as we believe they strengthen our team and drive our mission forward.

Illuminate is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.