How to hire a terminal operations manager

How to hire a terminal operations manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step terminal operations manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a terminal operations manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new terminal operations manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your terminal operations manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a terminal operations manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect terminal operations manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of terminal operations manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Terminal Operations Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Terminal Operations Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$14-28
   General Manager Of Operations	General managers of operations are employed to oversee the overall operations of businesses. Their responsibilities include the improvement of the efficiency of the operations and overall management... Show more	$23-79
   Operations Manager, District	A district operations manager is a managerial professional who manages the daily operations of stores within the assigned district as well as provides support to managers in ensuring quality and budget performance. The district operations manager must work with the store management to create and implement action plans to address deficiencies discovered during a store audit... Show more	$29-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Logistics
   • Hazardous Materials
   • FRA
   • Direct Supervision
   • Terminal Operations
   • On-Time Delivery
   • Owner Operators
   • Facility Operations
   • CDL
   • Payroll
   • Labor Relations
   • EPA
   • Safety Program
   • LTL

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage every facet of day to day operations in this $500K/month Canadian LTL transportation service center.
   • Manage team of database administrators, database technicians and systems administrators responsible for maintaining all production, development and QA systems.
   • Educate and mentor associates as work hand in hand with talent acquisition, discipline, termination, payroll and scheduling.
   • Resolve significant issues relate to residential deliveries, LTL or TL pick-ups and deliveries on evenings, weekends and holidays.
   • Maximize efficiency and safety of equipment, facilities, and personnel by coordinating fleet management, scheduling of employees and payroll.
   • Design company website, PowerPoint presentation, brochure, profile, machinery list & factory production capacity information for marketing purposes.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your terminal operations manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A terminal operations manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, terminal operations managers' average salary in oklahoma is 52% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level terminal operations managers 47% less than senior-level terminal operations managers.
   • Certifications. A terminal operations manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a terminal operations manager's salary.

   Average terminal operations manager salary

   $43,157yearly

   $20.75 hourly rate

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   Entry-level terminal operations manager salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

4. Writing a terminal operations manager job description

   A terminal operations manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a terminal operations manager job description:

   Terminal operations manager job description example

   At Constellation, a freshly independent and soon-to-be Fortune 200 company, we're providing the energy and services to transform our future. Combining next generation technologies and product offerings with the country's lowest carbon generating fleet, our company is purpose-built to meet the challenges of the climate crisis.
   
   Constellation has been the leader in clean energy production for more than a decade. Now we're speeding delivery of low-carbon or no-carbon power to help families, communities, governments, and businesses meet their sustainability and decarbonization goals. Constellation provides 10 percent of total clean power and 22 percent of clean baseload power in the United States and is the leading competitive retail supplier of energy products, services, and clean energy solutions. The race is on to confront climate change, and no company is more ready to meet that challenge.
   
   We are committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in attracting, retaining and advancing employees who will best serve and represent our customers, partners and communities. We provide a workplace that ensures mutual respect, where each individual has the opportunity to grow and contribute at their greatest potential. Constellation will provide you the tools and resources you need to design, build and power a successful career.
   
   Constellation offers a wide range of benefits, designed to help our employees thrive professionally and personally. In addition to highly competitive salaries, we offer a bonus program, 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase program; comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits, including a robust wellness program; paid time off for vacation, holidays and sick days; and much more.
   
   Join us as we accelerate the transition to a carbon-free future. Energize your career with Constellation.
   PRIMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION The Operations Manager is responsible for safe, reliable, and environmental compliant operation of the facility. Evaluates and manages plant performance and initiates improvement affecting reliability, availability and efficiency. Operates the plant in a manner that minimizes the cost of generation and maximizes profitability while maintaining the long-term viability of the station assets.
   PRIMARY DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES Direct, plan and coordinate the day-to-day activities of operating personnel to meet generation schedules including efficient utilization of fuel as it relates to unit operation and fuel handling. Manage HR, including personnel development, performance management, and labor relations in accordance with the CBA if applicable. Administer company and station policies/procedures. Participate in station strategic and business planning initiatives. Develop and manage the operating groups O&M budget and expenditures Ensure compliance with all federal, state and local regulatory requirements and maintain environmental stewardship. Provide communication and reporting of plant status and activities to support plant objectives Perform other duties and handle special projects as assigned.
   JOB SCOPE Position reports to Site General or Plant Manager Manage up to 7 direct reports, with supervisory responsibilities for represented and/or non-represented craft Direction of plant operations impacts directly on the safe, reliable and environmental compliant operation of the plant(s) Direction of plant operations complying with Federal and State regulations directly impacts on the company liability and public image and ultimately can affect the cost of product Direction and approval of operational or design changes affects the reliability, performance, and safety of personnel and/or equipment. Administration of the Company-Union labor Agreement (CBA) effects productivity and plant morale Responsible for managing department budget Annual Salary Starting from $124,000 Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BS in engineering OR Associates Degree with 8+ years experience OR H.S. Diploma with 10+ years experience Minimum 8 years power plant (or related) experience Minimum of 5 years supervisory/managerial experience Ability to acquire applicable State License in required time period Experience in one of the following: Engineering OR Maintenance OR Work Management Experience as one of the following: Operator OR Foreman OR Shift Manager Professional Certification or Recognition Function Executive Level App'l Demonstrated technical knowledge of fossil power plant. Knowledge of State, Local and Federal environment regulations as they apply to power plant operations. Leadership capabilities, able to engage others in the required process and hold people accountable. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including written and verbal. Strong computer skills, including knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products.
   PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Master's Degree in engineering, business, or related field Multi-site experience Staff Maintenance OR Operations OR Engineering experience Collective bargaining experience FLS experience Previous experience leading an operations team LNG and Cryogenic experience
   Constellation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and employees or applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to: age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
   
   VEVRAA Federal Contractor

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5. Post your job

   To find terminal operations managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any terminal operations managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level terminal operations managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your terminal operations manager job on Zippia to find and recruit terminal operations manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with terminal operations manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new terminal operations manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the terminal operations manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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