Sr Manager, Carrier Relations

Join the team as our new Sr. Manager, Carrier Management!

Who We Are & Why We’re Hiring

Odyssey Alaska, a division of Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation ("Odyssey"), is your trusted and reliable transportation and logistics company, providing a wide range of ocean freight consolidating and freight forwarding, trucking, project logistics and warehousing-distribution services. Our diverse customer base ships a wide variety of products across a variety of modes. AFF operates food grade facilities (FSMA compliant and AIB approved) in dry, hazmat and 100% true temperature protected settings to fit your shipping requirements.

Based in vibrant Fullerton, CA or Fife, WA, Odyssey is on a journey to constantly innovate logistics. We’re actively recruiting for this key, high profile role in the company because we have experienced tremendous growth and would love for you to join us!

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About the Job:

The position of Sr. Manager, Carrier Management will have primary responsibility to oversee our partnerships with water carriers (Jones Act trade lanes - Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam), ocean carriers (NVOCC) and drive performance across our Jones Act and international ocean freight operations. This role is responsible for negotiating carrier contracts, managing commercial relationships, ensuring operational compliance, and supporting cross-functional needs across operations, sales, and pricing. This is a critical role that bridges long-term strategy with day-to-day execution — ideal for a transportation professional who understands both the commercial and operational dynamics of the freight market.

In This Role, You Will:

Carrier & Contract Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact with Jones Act water carriers (Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam) and barge operators servicing U.S. domestic ocean lanes and ocean carriers.
• Lead annual contract negotiations (including FAK, named account, and fixed-rate contracts).
• Monitor and track adherence to space and volume commitments.
• Manage dispute resolution and ensure service level compliance with all maritime providers.
• Organize and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with carriers to review KPIs, performance, partnership opportunities, and upcoming demand forecasts.
• All other duties and projects as assigned.

Drayage Carrier Procurement & Management

• Source, vet, and manage relationships with drayage providers across key port and inland locations.
• Negotiate rates, terms, and service-level agreements with dray carriers to ensure reliable first-mile and last-mile service.
• Collaborate with operations to align drayage capacity with ocean schedules and equipment availability.
• Monitor drayage performance metrics (e.g., turn time, dwell, on-time pickups) and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and port requirements (e.g., chassis use, clean truck programs, TWIC access).

Operational Enablement

• Provide guidance to internal operations teams on routing, capacity planning, and carrier policies.
• Monitor performance metrics (on-time delivery, roll rates, etc.) and implement corrective action plans as needed.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure smooth execution of contracted services.

Sales & Pricing Support

• Act as a strategic resource for the sales and pricing teams on ocean freight spot rate requests and customer-specific routing options.
• Support RFQ responses, RFP strategies, and pricing guidance on strategic opportunities.
• Provide market insights (e.g., GRI trends, port congestion, equipment availability) to improve pricing accuracy and service design.

Strategic Partnership Development

• Build and maintain long-term, collaborative relationships with key carriers and industry contacts.
• Identify opportunities for strategic alignment with carrier partners (e.g., sustainability initiatives, premium services, technology integrations).

Qualifications and Key Skills:

We recognize not all applicants have every skill or qualification to match a job description exactly. Odyssey values diverse experiences in other industries, and we encourage everyone who meets most required qualifications to apply. While having “desired” qualifications make for a strong candidate, we encourage applicants with alternative experiences to also apply. We are always looking for people who will bring something new to the table!

• 7+ years experience preferably with Jones Act water carriers (Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam), ocean freight, carrier relations, or international logistics (3PL or NVOCC).
• Strong background in contract negotiation, commercial management, and performance monitoring.
• Excellent understanding of Logistics industry trends, including trade lanes, INCOTERMS, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to communicate and collaborate across functions — operations, sales, and executive leadership.
• High proficiency with TMS, freight rate management tools, and Excel/analytics platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field (MBA or professional certifications a plus).

Location:

This is an in-office role based in Fullerton, CA or Fife, WA

Hybrid: Work from home on Fridays

As required by applicable Pay Transparency laws, Odyssey provides a range of minimum compensation for roles that may be hired in locations under these requirements. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include a wide array of factors, including: your specific skills and experience, geographic location, or other relevant factors. The salary range for this position may be lower or higher in different markets.

The base pay range for this position is: $105,000.00 to $152,250.00 yearly plus Bonus.