Forward Air Corp logo

Vice President, Sales - Hi-Tech, North America

Forward Air Corp

  • San Francisco, CA
  • 2 days ago
  • Remote

    Highlights

    Experience: 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in sales, business development, logistics, supply chain, forwarding, transportation, or related industries, with significant experience leading large-scale commercial organizations. Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) CRMs (Salesforce), and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.).

    Numbers & Facts

    LocationSan Francisco, CA (
    Remote
    )
    IndustryTransport and Storage - Materials
    Company Size2,500 to 4,999 employees
    Year Founded1981
    Websitehttps://www.forwardair.com/content/careers-0

    Description

    The Vice President, Sales - Direct (Hi-Tech) is responsible for leading business development, revenue growth, and profitability across the regional Hi-Tech vertical. They partner closely with senior leadership to execute global vertical strategies while driving regional commercial performance, market expansion, and customer retention. They own the end-to-end commercial strategy for the region, including pipeline generation, account growth, forecasting, operational alignment, and talent leadership. They serve as a trusted advisor to key Hi-Tech customers, ensuring differentiated supply chain solutions that strengthen customer partnerships and market share. Working cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Finance, Marketing, and Enablement teams, this leader drives sustainable growth and operational excellence across the portfolio.

    Responsibilities

    • Ensure full alignment of the region with the global Hi-Tech strategy
    • Support and drive regional projects to capture additional sales and market share
    • Drive profitability and stickiness of existing accounts together with the Areas
    • Map and identify short, mid, and long-term strategic targets for the Region, and translate them into an actionable account and territory plan
    • Participate in establishing and implementing the global business plan for the vertical in close cooperation with the Global Hi-Tech leader.
    • Own the regional revenue, margin and pipeline forecast; report progress against target on a recurring cadence and course-correct early when off track
    • Track competitor activity, market shifts and technology trends in the Hi-Tech space, and adjust the regional plan accordingly
    • Develop existing and new customers within the vertical, building a qualified pipeline of new logos alongside expansion within the current base
    • Utilize industry knowledge to diagnose supply chain needs; develop and prepare strategic proposals, and participate in customer-generated RFI, RFQ and RFP processes
    • Develop, build rapport with and nurture long-term partnerships with Global Accounts and Global Target accounts, translating global capabilities into customer value to maintain and expand account share and penetration
    • Organize and participate in regular business reviews with accounts to ensure customer satisfaction and a sustainable business relationship
    • Ensure pricing and services offered to global and sponsored accounts remain in line with best-in-class market offers
    • Participate in building order management for the organization from a commercial perspective, engaging both SME and CKA/SKA-scale accounts
    • Support sales representatives on active Hi-Tech pursuits - coaching deal strategy, joining key customer calls and visits, and helping shape proposals to close
    • Manage and lead regional and area Hi-Tech heads, ensuring customer targets - existing and new - are fully covered
    • Establish guidelines and standards, and drive implementation of customer SOPs, reporting frequency and formats, and KPIs for new accounts
    • Supervise the maintenance and continuous improvement of the quality standard required for the Hi-Tech vertical; propose, justify and implement necessary investments in IT tools, hardware, software and assets
    • Partner with Finance and Operations to keep account profitability, working capital and service levels on target
    • Enhance the organization''s position and personal expertise in the Hi-Tech vertical through contacts with prospects, and presence at fairs, exhibitions, workshops and seminars
    • Identify and develop talent to satisfy the continuous demand for efficiency and professionalism across the regional team
    • Act as an internal and external spokesperson for the vertical, representing the Region in cross-functional and global forums
    • Align and collaborate closely with Sales Enablement and Marketing on sales tools, training and vertical-specific campaigns that support the regional Hi-Tech pipeline
    • All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

    Qualifications

    • Education: Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Economics, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
    • Certification/Licensure: Relevant industry certifications in logistics, supply chain, or sales leadership are preferred.
    • Experience: 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in sales, business development, logistics, supply chain, forwarding, transportation, or related industries, with significant experience leading large-scale commercial organizations.
    • Demonstrated success driving revenue growth, profitability improvement, strategic account development, and market expansion within the Hi-Tech industry vertical.
    • Deep knowledge of supply chain solutions, including air freight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, forwarding, and contract logistics services.
    • Proven ability to develop and execute strategic business plans while translating enterprise objectives into measurable regional results.
    • Strong executive presence with exceptional negotiation, relationship management, and consultative selling skills across C-suite customer environments.
    • Experience leading, coaching, developing, and retaining high-performing, geographically dispersed teams.
    • International business experience and the ability to collaborate effectively across cultures, regions, and global matrix organizations preferred.
    • Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to evaluate business performance, identify opportunities, and make data-driven decisions.
    • 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.) CRMs (Salesforce), 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 significant travel for related meetings/events.
    • -

    #LI-Remote #LI-BT1

    About Company

    Since 1990, Forward Air has been a leading provider of ground transportation and related logistics services to the North American air freight and expedited LTL market. We offer surface shipping on an accelerated “time-definite” basis, delivering cargo at a specific time, but under less time-sensitive situations – supplying you with a cost effective, reliable alternative to air transportation. We work with companies of all sizes to develop tangible advantages and build the best products to meet your specific needs. Forward Air presents to the wholesale transportation community (logistics companies, freight forwarders, integrated air cargo carriers, passenger/ cargo airlines, and non-traditional shippers), a single-source provider that can deliver more supply chain services and a superior menu of choices. Throughout the years we have added supplementary lines to our linehaul service, such as full truckload operations (Truckload Services), final-mile coverage (Complete® Cartage), and an Airline Logistics program, and we will continue to expand our services to meet the changing needs and growth of our customer base.

    Forward Air is structured to optimize both savings and service to our customers. Direct partnerships with owner-operators and other surface transportation providers, enable us to remain cost-competitive. The Forward Air network is designed with over 90 facilities located at or near major U.S. and Canadian airports, 12 regional sort centers and over 300 beyond points (secondary airports provided through our Complete Cartage service), creating one of the most comprehensive linehaul networks in the industry.

    The foundation product for Forward Air is our expedited linehaul service, offering consistent and reliable transit and on-time, damage-free deliveries. By locating terminals on or near airports and maintaining a scheduled transportation network, we are able to arrange for convenient and consistent service with broad geographic coverage. Shipments of varying sizes (TL/LTL) are received at our terminals and transported by contracted service providers either (1) on a direct truck to the destination terminal, (2) through our Columbus, Ohio central sorting hub, or (3) through one of our 12 regional hubs, where they are unloaded, sorted, and reloaded in rapid fashion. After reloading the shipments, our contracted service providers deliver them to the destination city for early morning recovery. Through our Forward Air Complete® cartage service, customers also can have shipments picked up from the shipper, delivered to the final consignee, or transferred at the airport, simplifying the freight management processes. These options allow us to maximize handling efficiency of each shipment while minimizing freight loss and damage, improving transit times over traditional ground transportation.

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