Forward Air logo

Operations Supervisor

Forward Air

Minneapolis, MNJob$65–75K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$65–75K/yr
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Forklift Certification Or Ability To Obtain

Job overview

The Operations Supervisor leads day-to-day contract logistics activities and frontline associates, overseeing operational performance, safety, quality, and customer service. The role coordinates work, monitors resources, resolves operational issues, and supports standard work and continuous improvement. It also provides coaching and training while ensuring safe, accurate, and timely handling of freight, inventory, or equipment.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Team LeadershipPerformance ManagementEnglish CommunicationWarehouse Management SystemsTransportation Management SystemsEnterprise Resource PlanningReporting ToolsInventory ManagementOrder FulfillmentTransportation DispatchRoutingDock and Yard OperationsLeanSix Sigma5SKaizenQuality Management SystemsEnvironmental Management SystemsSafety Management SystemsMaterial Handling EquipmentForklift OperationWindowsMicrosoft O365Web ConferencingConfidentialityPhysical StaminaFreight Handling

Qualifications

High School Diploma or GEDAssociate's Degree or HigherForklift Certification or Ability to Obtain3+ Years Operations ExperienceFluent EnglishLift 50 Pounds UnassistedLift 75 Pounds With AssistanceWork on-Site

Full job description

Compensation: $65,000 - 75,000 Annually

The Operations Supervisor is responsible for leading day-to-day activities across contract logistics operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and accurate execution of core service processes. This role provides direct leadership to frontline associates and is accountable for operational performance, safety, quality, and customer service within the assigned function, area, or shift. They drive productivity, adherence to standard work, and continuous improvement while supporting customer commitments and operational excellence goals. They play a critical role in problem-solving, process optimization, and issue resolution in fast-paced operational environments.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise daily operational activities, which may include receiving, storage, picking, packing, shipping, dispatching, routing, yard management, or other logistics workflows.

  • Coordinate and prioritize work assignments for team members to meet service, quality, safety, and productivity targets.

  • Ensure inventory, freight, or equipment is handled, processed, transported, and dispatched safely, accurately, and on time based on operational needs.

  • Monitor workflow, resource utilization, labor allocation, and equipment usage to support efficient operational execution.

  • Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, regulatory, and operational policies and procedures.

  • Promote and enforce safe work practices, lead safety observations, and actively support facility and/or fleet safety initiatives.

  • Ensure adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and change control processes.

  • Support audits and compliance activities related to quality, safety, customer requirements, or regulatory standards (such as OSHA or DOT).

  • Lead and support problem-solving activities related to service issues, quality defects, operational delays, process gaps, or customer escalations.

  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, or similar methodologies.

  • Identify opportunities to enhance accuracy, efficiency, cost control, asset utilization, and service performance.

  • Respond to operational issues and service concerns in real time, making timely decisions to minimize disruption.

  • Escalate issues appropriately and collaborate with cross-functional teams such as transportation, planning, customer service, engineering, and quality.

  • Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and direction to frontline associates, supporting performance management and fostering a positive team environment.

  • Support training, onboarding, cross-training, and skill development for team members, including safe and compliant operation of equipment.

  • All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

  • Education: High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)/equivalent required; Associate’s degree (or higher) in Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics, Transportation, or a related field preferred.

  • Certification/Licensure: Valid forklift certification/licensure (or ability to obtain before operating equipment) required, including operation of applicable material handling equipment (MHE) such as sit-down/stand-up forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet riders, or other specialized MHE as required by the site. Additional equipment certifications may be required depending on facility needs.

  • Experience: 3+ years of experience in warehouse, distribution, transportation, or broader supply chain operations, including supervisory or team lead responsibilities.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise frontline teams in fast-paced operational environments with a focus on performance management, engagement, and development.

  • Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal and written).

  • Working knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and reporting tools.

  • Familiarity with operational processes such as inventory management, order fulfillment, transportation dispatch, routing, or dock/yard operations.

  • Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, or similar continuous improvement tools or methodologies.

  • Exposure to quality, environmental, regulatory, or safety management systems (e.g., ISO standards, OSHA or DOT requirements as applicable).

  • Equipment: Ability to safely operate material handling equipment (MHE) such as pallet jacks, dollies, hand trucks, order pickers, pallet riders, conveyors, dock plates, dock levelers, sit-down/stand-up forklifts and reach trucks (with company-assisted certification/training), and/or other specialized MHE as required by the site.

  • Physical Demands: Extensive standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and twisting for 8-12 hours per/shift, with the ability to lift, push, pull, and carry freight up to 50lbs without assistance, with occasional lifting of freight up to 75lbs with assistance or mechanical aids throughout each 8-12 hour shift, multiple times per/week.

  • Environment: Ability to work safely around moving equipment, vehicles, and freight in a non-climate-controlled environment, including frequent exposure to temperature extremes (both hot and cold), occasional outdoor work and/or exposure to precipitation (rain, sleet, snow, etc.), regular exposure to moving equipment, vehicle traffic, exhaust, dust, and moderate to loud noise.

  • Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.

  • Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)

  • Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with occasional travel for related meetings/events.

--

#LI-Onsite #LI-KB1

About Us

About the Team

How this job compares

Set against the 1,922 open Operations Supervisor jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$65–75K/yr
  • US median$71–86K/yr540 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $70K, is 13% below the US median midpoint ($80K) — in the middle half of Operations Supervisor salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 35 open Operations Supervisor jobs in Minnesota and 1,922 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Minnesota
Experience
This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Operations Supervisor postings that state a minimum ask for 3 years at the median (938 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a high school diploma; 569 of the 1,922 open Operations Supervisor jobs (30%) ask for a high school diploma or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.