General Manager, Ocean Freight

Our client is a small family-owned NVOCC that handles more than 800 import containers from China every month. They are seeking a conscientious and hands-on General Manager with extensive NVOCC / ocean freight operations experience, especially for the China - US trade lane. The current owner will be stepping away from the business to focus on other entrepreneurial ventures; hence a competitive salary + significant equity + revenue share will be granted to the GM.

You must be an owner-operator to succeed in this role. Candidates coming solely from leadership positions in very large companies will struggle greatly with day-to-day operations on minimal staff.
You must also already hold FMC QI status, or be eligible to obtain it. This aspect is critical for business continuity.
Fluency in Mandarin is almost certainly required. Professional working fluency in English is also required. Please note that this is a FULLY REMOTE position that can be offered to candidates anywhere in the world, provided they meet the requirements. However, there is a strong preference for candidates who are based in the Greater Los Angeles / Southern California area.

• Oversee daily NVOCC and ocean freight operations, personally handling key tasks when needed.
• Manage carrier bookings, rate negotiations, space allocation, and schedule coordination directly with shipping lines.
• Supervise import processes including documentation, HBL/MBL issuance, AMS/ISF filings, and customs coordination.
• Handle customer communications directly, providing quotes, solving operational issues, and ensuring service reliability.
• Work closely with trucking providers, warehouses, depots, and container yards to coordinate cargo movement.
• Monitor shipment status, troubleshoot delays, and resolve exceptions in real time.
• Maintain strong relationships with overseas agents and partners; coordinate routing, transshipments, and cost management.
• Oversee billing, invoicing, accounts receivable, and vendor payments to ensure healthy cash flow.
• Manage P&L at the company level, controlling costs and optimizing profitability.
• Develop new business opportunities through direct customer interaction and proactive lead generation.
• Ensure compliance with FMC regulations, international trade laws, safety requirements, and internal SOPs.
• Implement and maintain internal processes, systems, and documentation standards.
• Lead and mentor a small team (