Operations Manager

Yusen Terminals LLC (“YTI”, based in Terminal Island (Los Angeles), CA, is wholly owned by Ocean Network Express (ONE), with office headquarters in Singapore. 

YTI operates a state-of-the-art marine container terminal in the Port of Los Angeles. YTI was established in 1991 at the Port’s Berths 212-218. The services we provide are stevedoring and terminal operations for The Alliance (ONE, Hapag Lloyd, HMM and Yang Ming) as well as slot chartering from Evergreen, CMA-CGM, APL, COSCO and OOCL. As a full-service marine terminal, YTI provides modern technology, equipment, on-dock rail, storage facilities and Alternative Maritime Power (AMP®). YTI’s highly experienced management team are devoted to efficient cargo handling with a focus on service delivery and customer satisfaction. We currently operate eleven, Post Panamax Gantry cranes including six, state-of-the-art Super Post Panamax Gantry cranes. YTI is focused on giving all our customers a reliable “Best-in-Class” service delivery as well as a complete suite of marine terminal services to the shipping and transportation community. 

Do you dream of working in a job where you can be valued from Day One by your contribution? Yusen Terminals LLC is a place where our people are encouraged to grow and be successful in a thriving industry. If you are someone who likes working in a high energy environment, then Yusen Terminals LLC is the place for you!  

According to a 2023 report from the HEA Group, a higher education research and consulting agency, Marine Transportation is #4 in the top 10 of the highest paying majors in 2023!  

If you excel in a role where you can find a solution to problems, adapt while taking care of obstacles in stride and seek to join an amazing team then consider this opportunity.    

We are currently seeking an Operations Manager (OM) to join our team. You will be accountable for ensuring safe and efficient overall operations for vessel, rail and terminal-gate through productive employment and direction of the ILWU labor. 

Overview:

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with the knowledge of how to direct a team using drive and experience and someone who works well under pressure. The OM must possess strong written and verbal communication and a leadership/management style conducive to directing and encouraging the results of others with opportunistic drive. Strong solution-making credentials are required of the OM, who must also possess the aptitude to direct others credibly and respectfully while adapting to opposing priorities and changing conditions, all with a sense of urgency! You must be detail oriented, organized, and able to multi-task and collaborate well with others to drive results. A participative influence style will help you maintain success in the role and assist with achieving tasks in a timely manner. To be successful in this role you must demonstrate self-assuredness, take pride in quality results and deliver consistent performance in a job that has a broad scope, a wide variety of activities and rapidly changing shifts and priorities. 

 What you will do: 

• Managing/supervising the daily work assignments for direct ILWU supervisory clerks and foremen
• Assessing daily labor requirements for each shift; directing YTI dispatchers in ordering hall labor and carrying out disciplinary procedures through the ILWU contractual agreements
• Hiring, firing, and scheduling ILWU labor and direct labor in the performance of work assignments; directing ILWU supervisors of operational requirements, performance, and productivity
• Forecasting weekly total costs for department and tracking performance against created budgeted amount.
• Monitoring the attendance (arrival time) of all labor, authorizing any necessary overtime, ensuring that labor is properly identified on all payroll records and all appropriate payroll adjustments are made for labor based on their actual hours of work.
• Using your proactive judgment and discretion to make important operational outcomes, such as shifting an operating unit from task to task (examples – moving from flip line to break bulk, moving transtainers from delivering imports to grounding exports, shifting an operating vessel gang from one vessel to another, shifting an operating rail unit from discharge to load back and assigning or reassigning gate clerks between functions; your judgements should be guided by business needs with the goal of improving overall terminal operations by maximizing labor efficiency and minimizing terminal turn-time
• Promoting safety awareness and regulatory compliance by training and enforcing on the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), Pacific Coast Longshore Contract Document (PCLCD), Pacific Coast Maritime Safety Code ((PCMSC), OSHA, Port working rules, stowage and hazardous materials, and proper manning and ordering
• Overseeing the coordination with customs regarding gate hours and/or x-ray appointments; Overseeing daily yard/gate/turn time/container/chassis/manning reporting as needed.
• Carrying out discipline of the labor you oversee, including Foremen/Supervisory Clerks and hourly-paid union labor; you have the authority and are expected to warn, cite, replace, or fire labor that is not carrying out assigned work as instructed or in a proper or safe manner. Any on- the-job union labor relations (grievances, disciplinary actions, on-site meetings, and arbitrations)
• Becoming familiar with and utilizing the applicable labor agreements and grievance adjustment procedures
• Handling any grievances that are brought to your attention in an expeditious manner and obtaining all relevant facts while using your judgment and discretion in adjusting any grievance.

 What you will bring:

• Undergraduate degree preferred or equivalent years of professional working experience. Experience in transportation or the maritime industry is preferred.
• Managerial and/or supervisory experience or leadership experience
• Excellent written and oral communication experience.
• Knowledge of stevedoring equipment and maintenance
• Knowledge of labor relations, labor staff oversight, report preparation and budgetary development.
• Leadership: Guide and inspire others to achieve goals; encourage high standards of performance.  Command attention and respect.
• People Management: Delegate and follow up on special assignments so as to increase team’s productivity and know-how.  Give timely feedback (positive and negative); encourages teamwork and positive morale.
• Team Building:  Guide and inspire others to achieve goals; clearly define expectations and encourage people to meet those requirements; encourage empowerment of all team members.
• Communication: Tactful with customer-oriented attitude and proactive in consulting with the vessel, terminal/gate and rail operation managers on matters; share information regularly and consistently.
• Decision-making:  Resolute; make timely results; exhibit sound judgment.  Create contingency plans and alternative solutions to problems.
• Problem Solving:  Identify and comprehend elements of a problem, assess and evaluate all alternatives, and weigh the optimal solution against the probable outcome, exercising discretion and independent judgment throughout.
• Relationship-building Experience:  Propensity to develop a rapport internally and externally with diverse groups of people and Labor Relations.

  Financial Ownership and Authority:

• Oversee and monitor the performance of labor, including but not limited to their productivity and efficiency, for the purpose of, among other things, changes in their status, planning the work, directing the work, apportioning the work, adjusting the work among the workers, assessing the techniques to be used in carrying out the work, assessing the type of materials, supplies, machinery or tools to be used, controlling the flow and distribution of materials and supplies, and providing for the safety of the workers and property.
• Partner with finance team to review and articulate major cost drivers that contribute to the operation of the vessel, yard and rail operations.  
• Decisions made at this level directly impact terminal operating costs and the quality of services supplied to YTI customers.

 Salary Range: $110,000 - $130,000

 Our Benefits:

We have built a team who love what they do and share a passion for the terminal business. We encourage continuous learning and improvement, share knowledge and ideas freely, and have a dynamic and open culture.

And, if that is not enough, how about this list:

• Work for a company in one of the coolest industries in the world
• Great leadership team that truly believes in people and treating them well
• Paid-Time-Off – 21 days to start as a new hire
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision for staff and family
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• STD/LTD
• Life Insurance
• 401k with company match
• Pension Plan
• Group Legal
• EAP services