Assistant Manager, Gate Operations Step into the engine room of global commerce. At APM Terminals Elizabeth, you'll be at the center of one of the busiest port complexes in North America. Every container you touch keeps freight moving through the Port of New York and New Jersey, supporting critical supply chains across the East Coast and beyond. This is a place where speed, scale, and precision come together. You'll collaborate with high-performing teams in a fast-paced, high-volume environment where safety and operational excellence are the top priorities. Here, your impact is immediate—and global.
Why you'll love it here:- Be part of a major gateway on the U.S. East Coast
- Experience high-volume, complex terminal operations
- Work with driven teams in a fast-moving environment
- Continuous improvement mindset – where curiosity is encouraged, root-cause problem solving is valued, and making things better every day is part of how we win
Appetizer: Based at APM Terminals Elizabeth, the Assistant Manager, Gate Operations plays a critical role in ensuring efficient gate operations within one of the world's most integrated port and terminal networks. In this position, you will support the management of all inbound and outbound gate activities while leading and coordinating the daily efforts of ILA labor to maintain safe, productive, and customer-focused operations.
What We Can Offer:
At APM Terminals, we foster a dynamic learning and training culture that empowers our employees to excel. Our commitment to improvement means every team member has the opportunity to develop their skills and advance their careers by continuously refining how we work. Experience a diverse, multinational workplace where your operational insights directly influence how we work.
- Opportunity to support gate modernization initiatives and the implementation of new operational technologies.
- Exposure to a complex terminal environment with collaboration across gate, yard, vessel, rail, planning, and support functions.
- Ongoing learning through participation in Lean, continuous improvement, and operational excellence initiatives.
- A dynamic operational role where data, customer service, safety, and workforce leadership directly impact business performance.
Key Responsibilities:- Direct Head Clerks and hourly union clerks in daily inbound and outbound gate operations, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with terminal procedures.
- Deploy labor and gate resources to maximize productivity, minimize turn-time, and support customer service objectives.
- Monitor labor attendance, authorize overtime and meal hours when required, and ensure payroll records and adjustments are completed accurately.
- Ensure the timely and accurate processing of gate transactions while maintaining data integrity within Navis N4/XPS, TERMPoint, and related operational systems.
- Make real-time operational decisions regarding labor allocation, lane assignments, workflow priorities, and gate performance management.
- Administer discipline, support grievance resolution processes, and work within applicable labor agreements to address workforce issues effectively.
- Monitor operational performance metrics, transaction throughput, and turn-time targets using reporting tools and dashboards to support continuous improvement initiatives.
What We Are Looking For:- Continuous improvement mindset: we are looking for someone who brings a thoughtful improvement mindset, curious about how work gets done and motivated to make meaningful, sustainable improvements over time.
- Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Minimum 1–3 years of experience within operations, logistics, transportation, supply chain, terminal, or related operational environments.
- Experience with Terminal Operating Systems such as Navis N4/XPS, appointment systems such as TERMPoint, and ORBITA is strongly preferred.
- Ability to interpret operational data, reports, and Power BI dashboards to support data-driven decision-making and operational improvements.
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills with the ability to supervise labor in a unionized environment.
- Experience working with labor relations, grievance processes, or unionized workforces is preferred.
- High attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy across gate transactions, payroll records, and operational system updates.
- Ability to balance customer service, operational priorities, and workforce needs in a fast-paced terminal environment.
- Must be able to obtain or renew a TWIC card and Port Access Card as required.
Salary: $80K - 90KLocation: Elizabeth, NJ (Rotating Shifts)
