Ocean Operations Manager

Responsibilities

• Establish and strengthen Flexport's relationships with key local vendors in Japan, including CFS, drayage providers, ocean carriers, and customs partners
• Lead the sourcing, screening, and hiring of the local Tokyo operations team, acting as the in-country hiring authority
• Design end-to-end operational processes for Japan, covering booking management, documentation, customs, and terminal handling
• Drive operational execution readiness by implementing SOPs, SLAs, and KPIs for all new shipment flows
• Lead the transition from external partners to in-house execution through knowledge transfer and system setup
• Act as the senior operational voice in client-facing meetings to provide local market credibility
• Collaborate cross-functionally with APAC operations, Procurement, and Pricing to align local practices with global standards
• Coach and mentor newly hired Japanese operations staff to develop future leaders

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in freight forwarding, NVOCC, or supply chain operations, with significant leadership exposure
• Deep, current knowledge of Japan's freight forwarding ecosystem (ports, terminals, CFS networks, and customs)
• An established professional network with Japanese carriers, CFS, drayage, and customs partners
• Demonstrated experience designing or improving freight forwarding SOPs and operational KPIs
• Proven ability to hire, build, and develop operations teams from the ground up
• Native or near-native Japanese (verbal and written) and professional working English
• Builder mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity and early-stage environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience leading a country launch, gateway opening, or insourcing transition in Japan or another mature APAC market
• Experience working with technology-enabled or platform-based freight forwarding operations

About the Company

At Flexport, we believe global trade can move the human race forward. We’re shaping the future of a $10T industry with solutions powered by innovative technology and exceptional people. Today, companies of all sizes—from emerging brands to Fortune 500s—use Flexport technology to move more than $19B of merchandise across 112 countries a year.