The Principal Cargo Operations Manager is a senior Individual Contributor responsible for building and operating Amazon Air’s commercial air cargo capabilities across assigned territory.

This is a dual-phase leadership role: during Phase 1 (Build & SME Leadership), each manager leads one or more dedicated functional work streams, such as regulatory compliance, infrastructure, international operations, cargo enablement, industry parity, or KPIs/data/standards and designing foundational systems from zero. During Phase 2 (Regional Operations), each transitions to owning a geographic territory while retaining their build-phase specialization as a network-wide subject matter expert.

Key job responsibilities

Lead one or more of 6 functional workstreams (Industry Parity, Regulatory Compliance, Cargo Enablement, Infrastructure, International Operations, or KPIs/Data/Standards)
Develop SOPs, policies, and training materials for assigned domain
Conduct gap analyses and site assessments; build inspection/audit mechanisms and compliance frameworks
Partner with support resources to execute work stream deliverables
Produce documents (white papers, business reviews, COEs) with data-backed recommendations
Establish relationships with partner teams (ACAR, AvSec, FAST, GAO, Ops, Safety, SC&A)
Define baseline metrics and build KPI dashboard infrastructure in partnership with DABI
Support technology requirement definition and buy vs. build assessments
Cross-train with other Cargo Operations Managers for continuity
Own end-to-end cargo operations within assigned region
Ensure regulatory compliance (TSA, CBP, FAA, airport authority, carrier SOPs)
Drive quality metrics; serve as escalation point for complex cargo issues
Conduct site inspections/audits; hold teams accountable to standard work
Produce weekly/monthly business reviews with quantified performance data
Coordinate with partner teams on customer requirements
Maintain SOPs and KPI reporting; drive continuous improvement