Director Aerospace
ICAT Logistics, Inc.Description: The Aviation Director’s role is to lead the strategy, execution, and performance of all air transportation activities supporting ICAT’s global freight forwarding and 3PL operations. This role is responsible for ensuring reliable, complaint, and profitable air cargo capacity across scheduled carriers, charter operations, and strategic aviation partners. This role oversees the operational KPIs, hires and manages the team, and is responsible for client satisfaction and operational excellence. The Aviation Director serves as ICAT’s senior aviation authority, aligning airlift strategy with customer requirements, operational execution, financial performance, and long-term growth objectives. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Aviation Strategy & Network Leadership Develop and execute ICAT’s air transportation strategy in support of freight forwarding, expedited, project cargo, and time-critical logistics Align aviation capacity planning with customer SLAs, commercial demand, seasonality, and peak-volume events Optimize the mix of scheduled air cargo, passenger belly capacity, block space agreements (BSAs), ACMI, and charter lift Support new trade lanes, customer solutions, and go-to-market aviation capabilities Carrier, Charter & Vendor Management Lead executive relationships with airlines, charter operators, brokers, and aviation service providers Negotiate airfreight contracts, BSAs, charter agreements, and ad hoc lift solutions Monitor and manage carrier performance, including reliability, cost control, service quality, and compliance Serve as escalation point for aviation-related disruptions, recovery planning, and service failures Operations & Execution Oversight Partner with operations, gateway, and customer service teams to ensure smooth end-to-end air cargo execution Provide aviation expertise during IRROPS, weather events, embargoes, capacity shortages, and geopolitical disruptions Oversee charter planning and execution, including aircraft selection, routing, payload optimization, and ground handling coordination Ensure aviation decisions consistently support customer commitments, on-time performance, and cargo integrity Regulatory, Safety & Compliance Ensure compliance with applicable aviation and air cargo regulations, including TSA, FAA, IATA, ICAO, and international authorities Oversee air cargo security programs, dangerous goods compliance, and carrier operating standards Act as ICAT’s primary aviation liaison with regulators, carriers, and industry organizations Partner with internal compliance and security teams to identify and mitigate aviation-related risk Financial & Commercial Management Manage aviation cost structures, including linehaul rates, charters, accessorials, and fuel or security surcharges Support pricing, quoting, and margin strategy for air freight and charter solutions Identify opportunities to improve gross profit through network optimization, carrier negotiations, and modal alternatives Contribute aviation insight to budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning Cross-Functional Leadership Collaborate with Procurement, Operations, Sales, Security, Compliance, and Technology teams Support sales pursuits and key customer engagements requiring customized aviation solutions Translate complex aviation constraints into clear guidance for commercial and operations teams Educate internal stakeholders on air cargo market dynamics, capacity risks, and opportunities Team Leadership Manage staff, including training on SOP changes and new processes, monitoring productivity, handling performance management and disciplinary issues that may arise Optimize operations, with a strong emphasis on operational excellence focusing on continuous improvement Lead quarterly business reviews with staff: celebrate wins, address gaps, update SOPs Leverage technology (TMS, BI dashboards, RPA/BOT tools) to improve efficiency Capture lessons learned from service failures to update p…