Director, AI Operations

Echo is seeking a highly experienced and operations-savvy Director, AI Operations to lead the development and execution of our agentic AI strategy. This role is accountable for delivering measurable productivity gains, service improvements, and margin expansion through the deployment of AI across core brokerage and managed transportation workflows. This is a highly cross-functional role that requires deep logistics expertise, strong strategic and analytical skills, and the ability to lead through influence. The Director of AI Operations will serve as the subject matter expert and execution lead for agentic AI across the company, working alongside product, engineering, operations, customer experience, and vendor partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the company’s agentic AI strategy, aligning tools, use cases, and execution plans to core business priorities.
• Redesign core operational workflows to fully leverage agentic AI, eliminating low-value manual tasks and redefining roles and handoffs where appropriate
• Drive adoption across Sales, Carrier Operations, and Customer Operations by influencing behavior change and embedding AI into daily workflows
• Serve as the internal SME on AI-driven process automation in logistics operations, including:
  • Load tracking and ETA updates
  • Rate and load negotiation
  • Document collection and management
  • Outbound carrier sourcing
  • LTL visibility and tracking
• Partner cross-functionally to scope, pilot, implement, and scale AI solutions that impact productivity KPIs (e.g., loads per day per FTE).
• Own relationships with AI solution providers; evaluate, coordinate, and oversee deployments across teams.
• Define success metrics, build business cases, and own realization of ROI for all AI deployments
• Implement test-and-learn frameworks to optimize performance
• Focus on agentic AI systems capable of executing multi-step workflows autonomously across systems, distinct from traditional RPA / Automation programs
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and digital innovation within the operational organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with and using third-party AI or agentic automation tools.
• Background in Sales, Operations, or Sourcing within a 3rd Party Logistics Provider
• Strong analytical and reporting skills; ability to convert data into actionable insight.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years of experience in logistics or freight brokerage operations, ideally within a high-volume 3PL environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading technology-driven process improvements with measurable impact on operational efficiency.
• Strong working knowledge of AI/ML applications in real-world logistics workflows.
• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives and influencing without authority.
• Deep understanding of transportation systems, load lifecycle management, and carrier/customer interaction models.

Echo Global Logistics is a leading provider of technology-enabled transportation management services. As a third-party logistics provider, we simplify transportation management for our clients and carriers, handling crucial tasks so they can focus on what they do best. From coast to coast, dock to dock, and across all major transportation modes, Echo connects businesses that need to ship their products with carriers who transport goods quickly, securely, and cost-effectively.

Work environment/physical demands summary:

This job operates in an office environment and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office with an open seating floor plan. The employee may encounter frequent interruptions throughout the work day. The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or Vietnam era or other protected veteran. 

Benefits

For more information about our benefit offerings, please visit our careers page at https://www.echo.com/company/careers.

Compensation

$175,000.00 per year

This role is eligible for a bonus that is based on a combination of personal and business performance.