Weekend Operations Lead in Chicago, Illinois at Edge Logistics

At Edge Logistics, we deliver transportation management solutions through operational excellence, proactive communication, and customer-focused execution. Our success is built on responsiveness, accountability, and the ability to solve problems in real time across an evolving transportation environment.

The Weekend Operations Lead serves as the primary operational leader responsible for company-wide weekend execution, escalation management, and service continuity. This role combines hands-on shipment execution with real-time operational leadership, ensuring freight moves efficiently while protecting customer experience and business performance during weekend operations.

This individual will operate as both an escalation owner and active execution partner — coordinating cross-functional teams, driving carrier and customer communication, resolving service failures, prioritizing critical freight, and maintaining operational visibility across the network.

The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced transportation environments, demonstrates strong operational judgment under pressure, and takes ownership of outcomes from initial issue identification through final resolution.

Schedule

• Permanent Thursday–Monday or Friday-Tuesday schedule
• 0700-1600cst to ensure company execution alignment
• Availability for urgent customer and operational needs outside standard business hours as necessary
• No more than 50% of allocated PTO may be used on Weekend dates

Key Responsibilities

Weekend Leadership

• Lead companywide weekend operational execution and prep with a specific focus on customer operations and support
• Serve as the primary escalation owner for weekend service failures, shipment disruptions, coverage concerns, and critical customer issues
• Drive prioritization and decision-making during time-sensitive operational events while maintaining alignment across departments
• Coordinate weekend execution with weekend support reps to ensure shipment visibility, communication consistency, and service continuity
• Work with cross-department leaders to assign focus and urgency to specific needs

Weekend Execution

• Actively manage and support live shipment execution, including tracking, escalation response, recovery coordination, and customer communication
• Partner with carrier operations teams to prioritize and drive coverage efforts on remaining open loads and resolve service risks proactively
• Identify developing operational risks early and implement corrective action plans before customer impact escalates
• Support business growth through consistent quote response and ad-hoc customer coverage requests and after-hours reach-outs
• Manage high-priority customer situations requiring urgent problem-solving, communication management, and operational recovery

Customer & Carrier Coordination

• Maintain proactive communication with customers, carriers, and internal stakeholders throughout weekend operations
• Support customer-facing teams in maintaining service expectations, operational transparency, and account-specific execution strategies
• Assist in carrier selection, load prioritization, and freight routing decisions based on market conditions, service expectations, and operational urgency
• Ensure scheduling, appointment management, and shipment activation processes are completed accurately and efficiently

Process Improvement & Accountability

• Support the development and refinement of weekend operational SOPs, escalation workflows, and weekend execution standards.
• Analyze recurring operational breakdowns and identify opportunities for process improvement, communication enhancement, and execution efficiency
• Help drive and communicate weekend preparation focus through established KPI and refinement
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing service failures and improving weekend operational performance

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in freight brokerage, transportation operations, customer operations, or carrier management
• Strong understanding of live load execution, service recovery, and transportation escalation management
• Proven ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure logistics environments
• Strong communication and cross-functional coordination skills
• Highly organized with exceptional prioritization and time management abilities
• Experience navigating TMS platforms and transportation technology systems
• Ability to make sound operational decisions with limited oversight
• Strong customer service mindset with a solutions-oriented approach
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and operational reporting tools preferred

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) matching program
• Career advancement and leadership growth opportunities

Edge is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation. All applicants will be considered solely based on their qualifications.

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