Head of Logistics & Operations (Founding Hire) — KAARO

Job type: Full-time

Location: Remote (Miami, FL preferred)

DESCRIPTION

KAARO is seeking a founding Head of Logistics & Operations to own the end-to-end physical movement of premium, time-critical shipments — from courier pickup through airline cargo, customs and compliance, to final-mile handoff. We move for clients who pay for certainty: high-net-worth individuals, VIP concierge desks, high-end retailers, and critical-parts suppliers. We run on airline cargo infrastructure with full chain-of-custody, and the bar is luxury-grade reliability — nothing untracked, nothing late, every shipment accountable end to end.

This isn't running a piece of the operation; it's owning the whole thing. You will advise on where we start, build the shipping model out end-to-end, and own how it scales. You operate at the intersection of operations, compliance, and carrier strategy, designing the operational engine that makes premium reliability repeatable as we grow across cities, corridors, and eventually continents. You're not waiting for a playbook — you're writing it.

Key job responsibilities

Courier Network & Service Delivery

Build and own the courier network: sourcing, onboarding, vetting, standards, accountability, and performance
Stand up and run service tiers — same-day, overnight, next-flight-out (NFO), and time-definite — and decide which to build, when
Own chain-of-custody SOPs and accountability for high-value, sensitive, and time-critical goods
Manage multi-modal land-to-air handoffs and final-mile execution under deadline pressure

Carrier Coordination & Air Freight Operations

Own airline cargo relationships and day-to-day execution: space, booking, cut-offs, and service levels
Manage master and house air waybill (MAWB/HAWB) and eAWB workflows
Drive shipment visibility, track-and-trace, and exception management
Build contingency and surge-capacity plans for peak demand and new-market launches

Compliance, Regulatory & Chain-of-Custody

Own KAARO's regulatory backbone end to end: TSA Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) filings, Known Shipper and cargo-screening status, and customs relationships
Design compliant operations from the ground up and advise the best path forward as we scale
Maintain documentation and accountability standards across every shipment

Strategic Leadership & Operational Model

Advise on where we start: the smartest first lane, first service tier, first operational footprint
Build the operational model itself — design it, run it, scale it
Establish operational partnerships (insurance, payments, last-mile providers)
Define and report on KPIs: on-time performance, custody integrity, transit time, and cost per shipment
Know when and how to expand before you're asked

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

At least 10 years of experience in air freight, logistics, and operations
Proven track record designing and building logistics systems and operational workflows from scratch
Deep, hands-on command of air freight end to end, including express, same-day/overnight, NFO, multi-modal, and last-mile operations
Working knowledge of the regulatory terrain — TSA Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) / IACSSP (49 CFR 1548), Known Shipper, CCSP/CCSF, and IATA Dangerous Goods (DGR)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Customs broker license (U.S. Customs and Border Protection–licensed)
Familiarity with carrier and cargo platforms such as CargoWise, and with eAWB / e-freight workflows
Experience launching courier or logistics services in new markets
Experience managing courier/driver networks and 3PL relationships at scale
Exposure to marketplace business models or mobile-first logistics platforms
Comfort building structure in ambiguity, with a builder's mindset and a bias for ownership

What we offer

Founding-level ownership of the entire logistics and operations function
Meaningful equity and a true seat at the table
A live, operating business — real shipments, real clients, real airline relationships, not a deck