Director Operations - Defense

Description: The Director Operations - Defense oversees and leads operational execution, customer experience, compliance, and process efficiency for ICAT’s Defense Contracting business subvertical. This role collaborates closely with the subvertical commercial lead and vertical leadership team to identify and drive strategic growth initiatives. The Director serves as the operational leader for defense-related logistics activities executed by a Control Tower team, ensuring mission-critical freight moves are executed efficiently and profitably while supporting long-term customer growth through vertical-specific solutions. The Director of Operations, Defense serves as ICAT’s senior operational authority within the defense vertical, aligning execution strategy with customer requirements, compliance standards, financial performance, and long-term growth objectives. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Operational Strategy & Execution Leadership Lead the team managing daily operational activities supporting ICAT’s defense contracting and government logistics business vertical Oversee execution of domestic and international defense-related shipments across all transportation modes Develop and implement operational strategies, workflows, and SOPs to support scalable growth within the defense vertical Collaborate with leadership to establish short-term and long-term operational objectives aligned with company growth initiatives Support operational readiness for expedited project cargo, hazardous materials, and specialized government freight requirements Customer & Commercial Engagement Partner with sales and vertical leadership teams to support customer retention, business development, and account expansion efforts Participate in customer calls, operational reviews, and strategic meetings with defense contractors and government-related customers Assist with development of pricing strategies, carrier selections, and operational solutions supporting government and defense opportunities Support preparation and review of RFQs, RFPs, tenders, and operational capability responses related to defense logistics opportunities Serve as a primary operational escalation point for high-priority, sensitive, or mission-critical shipments Carrier, Vendor & Partner Engagement Maintain strong working relationships with carriers, overseas agents, cartage providers, airlines, and strategic service partners Work closely with vendors and service providers to resolve service issues, negotiate solutions, and maintain operational continuity Support negotiation of rates and vendor relationships to drive service quality and cost efficiency Monitor carrier and vendor performance, including reliability, cost control, service quality, and compliance Regulatory, Safety & Compliance Maintain awareness of government transportation requirements, defense industry expectations, and compliance considerations Ensure compliance with applicable transportation regulations, dangerous goods/hazmat requirements, and carrier operating standards Act as ICAT’s subject matter expert for defense-related operational processes and provide support to internal stakeholders as needed Financial & Performance Management Drive operational efficiencies and identify opportunities to improve profitability, service quality, and execution consistency Monitor operational KPIs and report metrics related to service performance, customer satisfaction, profitability, and compliance Contribute operational insight to budgeting, forecasting, and cost management within the defense vertical Identify creative solutions for cost savings and margin improvement across the subvertical Cross-Functional Leadership Collaborate with Procurement, Operations, Sales, Security, Compliance, and Technology teams Support sales pursuits and key customer engagements requiring customized defense logistics solutions Translate complex operational constraints into clear guidance for commercial and custom…

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