Senior Dock Master

Job Title

Senior Dock Master

Job Description Summary

The Senior Dockmaster is responsible for the overall leadership, operational excellence, and strategic coordination of all dock, shipping, receiving, transportation, and freight movement activities within a high-volume commercial logistics environment. Serving as the central authority for dock operations, the Senior Dockmaster drives safety, efficiency, carrier performance, inventory accuracy, workforce productivity, and customer service while ensuring seamless movement of goods throughout the facility.
This position functions as the operational liaison between operations, transportation providers, tenants/customers, vendors, building management, and senior leadership. The Senior Dockmaster proactively identifies operational risks, implements process improvements, manages dock capacity, and ensures compliance with all applicable safety and transportation regulations

Job Description

Strategic Dock Operations Leadership

• Direct and oversee all shipping, receiving, dock scheduling, freight handling and transportation activities.
• Establish operational priorities to ensure efficient dock utilization and uninterrupted workflow.
• Manage dock capacity planning and throughput optimization for a high-volume operation.
• Serve as the primary operational authority for dock related decision making and issue resolution
• Develop and implement strategies that improve productivity, reduce congestion, and enhance client experience.
• Monitor operational trends to anticipate volume fluctuations and resource requirements.

Transportation & Carrier Management

• Manage relationships with carriers, freight brokers, transportation providers, and logistics partners
• Coordinate scheduling protocols to maximize delivery turn times and dock efficiency.
• Escalate and resolve complex freight claims, service failures, and shipment discrepancies.
• Participate in carrier reviews and recommend operational improvements.

Operational Planning & Workflow Optimization

• Develop daily, weekly, and seasonal dock operating plans based on forecasted volume and business requirements.
• Analyze workflow data and operational metrics to identify bottlenecks and process inefficiencies.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, or similar methodologies.
• Implement best practices that improve labor productivity, dock cycle times, and freight flow.
• Coordinate staffing requirements and labor allocation based on business demands.

Team leadership & Workforce Development

• Lead, coach, and develop dock personnel and support teams who utilize the dock.
• Establish performance expectations and operational accountability standards.
• Conduct training programs focused on safety, compliance, equipment operation, and process excellence.
• Mentor team members to develop advanced operational competencies and leadership capabilities.
• Foster a culture of safety, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Assist with workforce planning, scheduling, and succession development.

Safety, Security & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain full compliance with OSHA, DOT, company safety requirements, and operational standards.
• Align dock operations with institutional property safety frameworks and risk management programs.
• Lead dock safety initiatives, audits, inspections, and incident investigations.
• Develop corrective action plans to mitigate operational and safety risks.
• Ensure adherence to cargo security procedures, trailer seal controls, and chain-of-custody requirements.
• Monitor hazardous material handling processes where applicable.
• Partner with leadership to maintain a best-in-class safety culture.

Documentation, Systems & Inventory Controls

• Oversee the accuracy and integrity of all transportation and shipping documentation.
• Ensure timely processing and maintenance of Bills of Lading, shipping manifests, delivery receipts, packing lists, and freight records.
• Maintain accurate transaction records within company and DOT guidelines.
• Monitor inventory movement accuracy and investigate discrepancies.
• Support audits, inventory reconciliations, and compliance reviews.

Facility & Dock Infrastructure Oversight

• Monitor the condition and operational readiness of all dock equipment and infrastructure.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance activities for loading docks, dock levelers, overhead doors, scales, conveyors, forklifts, and material-handling equipment.
• Utilize property management software or Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) (e.g., iOffice) to log equipment work orders.
• Partner with facilities and engineering teams to address operational deficiencies.
• Recommend infrastructure enhancements that improve efficiency, safety, and throughput.

Customer, Tenant & Stakeholder Relations

• Serve as the primary point of contact for dock-related inquiries, escalations, and operational concerns.
• Collaborate with internal departments, customers, clients, and external logistics partners to ensure service excellence.
• Communicate proactively regarding shipment status, operational constraints, and service expectations.
• Develop strong working relationships that support business continuity and operational success.

Performance Management & Operational Reporting

• Develop and maintain operational dashboards and reporting tracking:
  • Dock utilization rates
  • Carrier performance
  • Trailer turn times
  • Productivity metrics
  • Safety performance indicators
  • Freight claim trends and damage rates
• Present operational findings and recommendations to management and property stakeholders.
• Utilize data to drive decision-making and continuous operational improvement.

Qualifications

              Required

• 5+ years of progressive experience in shipping, receiving, transportation, warehouse, logistics, or dock operations.
• 3+ years of leadership responsibility within a high-volume distribution, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, industrial, or commercial facility environment.
• Extensive knowledge of freight operations, carrier management, DOT regulations, and OSHA standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and resolve complex operational issues.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Certified Logistics Associate (CLA), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), or similar certification.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or process improvement experience.
• Experience operating within a multi-tenant commercial property, industrial real estate development, or large-scale logistics campus.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Operations Leadership
• Transportation & Logistics Management
• Carrier Relationship Management
• Operational Excellence
• Data Analysis & KPI Management
• Process Improvement
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance
• Workforce Leadership
• Customer Service Excellence
• Inventory Control
• Risk Management
• Problem Solving & Decision Making

Physical Work Requirements
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions:

• Must be able to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods
• Frequent reaching, bending, and movement between buildings or outdoor areas
• Regular use of office equipment including phones, computers, scanners, and copy machines
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds and support event or office setup tasks
• Visual and auditory acuity sufficient to read documents and communicate clearly

Scheduling

• Standard business hours coverage required; must ensure reception is staffed at all times
• May be required to work extended hours, weekends, or respond to after-hours building-related activity
• Must be available for emergency callbacks or priority situations as needed

Other Duties
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Conditions of employment
All offers of employment are contingent upon: Legal Documentation establishing identity and eligibility to be legally employed in the US/United States Citizenship, Drug Testing, Criminal background check, Clean DMV record (for related driving roles), Education verification, and Reference checks.

Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.

The compensation for the position is: $29.42 - $34.61

Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email [email protected]. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”