Scope: The Operations Labor Manager is responsible for managing, overseeing and directing longshore labor to efficiently discharge and load cargo from vessels while maximizing productivity, ensuring regulatory compliance, promoting safety awareness, and controlling operational costs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Labor Management & Productivity
- Management of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) labor to achieve maximum efficiency while optimizing operational costs.
- Monitor labor arrival times, authorize necessary overtime, and ensure payroll accuracy, including adjustments based on actual hours worked.
- Oversee hiring, ordering, scheduling, and disciplinary actions, firing for longshore labor.
- Communicate operational requirements clearly and resolve workforce-related issues proactively.
- Ensure adherence to cargo handling standards to minimize injuries and damages
- Attend Labor Relations Committee arbitrations when required to do so.
Safety & Compliance
- Enforce compliance with company policies, state and federal regulations, and the Pacific Coast Marine Safety Code (PCMSC) regarding safety equipment and procedures.
- Actively monitor work areas to maintain a safe working environment and ensure all safety protocols are followed.
- Investigate accidents, incidents, damage, and injuries; respond to emergencies and generate detailed reports.
Operational Oversight & Coordination
- Determine and coordinate appropriate labor requirements based on business needs, including adjustments for additional labor.
- Manage terminal equipment needs in coordination with other operational departments.
- Direct labor within the operation to maximize yard space utilization and enhance productivity.
- Independently make critical operational decisions, such as reallocating labor across different tasks (e.g., transitioning labor between vessel gangs, yard and gate functions, and other key operations).
- Direct union foremen to take necessary actions to maintain efficient and safe terminal operations, including labor discipline when required.
Union Relations & Contract Compliance
- Maintain a strong working knowledge of longshore contracts and protect company interests in labor-related matters.
- Resolve on-the-job labor disputes directly with Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), union business agents, and officials.
- Enforce contractual regulations with union labor per PCMSC and Pacific Coast Longshore Contract Document (PCLCD) requirements.
- Actively participate in Labor Relations Committee (LRC) meetings to address grievances and implement resolutions.
Reporting & Communication
- Keep management colleagues informed of any operational issues that may impact productivity, safety, or customer service.
- Prepare and submit reports related to shift production, safety incidents, and labor performance.
- Ability to hire, discipline or fire labor employees
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Requirements:Leadership & Operational Skills- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and direct a diverse workforce. Ability to make quick, sound decisions and adapt to a dynamic operational environment
- Strong planning, organizational, and time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks efficiently.
- Excellent conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities, especially in labor relations.
- Proficiency in union contract interpretation and labor management best practices.
Technical & Industry Knowledge- In-depth knowledge of container terminal operations, including vessel cargo planning and sequencing.
- Strong understanding of safety regulations and compliance standards.
