ULD Controller

Job Title: ULD Controller

Reports to: ULD Control Manager

Type of Position: Full-time, Exempt

About Company:

For more than 4 decades, ACL Airshop has been providing solutions for air cargo transportation and aviation customers around the world. ACL Airshop offers unique products and services to numerous leading passenger and air cargo carriers; operating on six continents at a majority of the world's Top 100 air cargo hub airports. ACL Airshop operates in five pillars of highly complementary business segments: ULD Leasing, ULD Sales, ULD Repair, ULD Control, and Cargo Control Products Manufacturing. ACL Airshop fosters a high-performance culture where employees can feel valued, empowered to excel beyond their roles, and engaged.

What Makes You a Great Fit:

We are looking for a highly organized and detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced operational environment. The ideal candidate is proactive, dependable, and able to effectively manage multiple priorities while maintaining strong communication with customers, vendors, and internal teams.

This role is well suited for someone who enjoys problem-solving, coordinating logistics, and working collaboratively to keep operations running smoothly. A successful ULD Controller will demonstrate accountability, adaptability, and a strong commitment to operational excellence and customer service.

Experience in aviation, cargo operations, logistics, or equipment control is highly valued, along with the ability to learn systems quickly and respond effectively to changing operational demands.

Job Summary:

The ULD Controller is primarily responsible for managing ULD steering for our customers, ensuring that a sufficient number of ULDs are always available to support safe and efficient cargo and baggage operations. This role includes overseeing the movement, tracking, inventories and timely return of ULDs for the next flight, as well as maintaining accurate data within the ULD Control Information System.

Working closely with customers, vendors, and internal teams, the ULD Controller optimizes ULD planning and logistics while also handling quality control, reporting, and ensuring compliance with operational standards.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

• Managing ULD fleet to ensure a safe ULD operation.
• Track and trace ULD loaded onto trucks departing from destination airport gates for last-mile delivery.
• Ensure the timely return of ULDs to ACL Airshop Regional Distribution Centers or the operator’s designated handling agents.
• Monitor, control, and prevent ULD damage.
• Communicate any issues or irregularities that may affect operations.
• In coordination with and upon approval from the User, notify relevant agencies about demurrage fees, equipment loss, damage, and beyond-economic-repair (BER) compensation.
• Coordinate with customers, vendors, and the operations team regarding ULD movements to ensure proper and timely planning.
• Monitor pallet inventory and stock levels.
• Ensure all required equipment is in the correct position/location.
• Maintain the accuracy of the ULD Control Information System (software) by managing message queues and systematically processing data.
• Responsible for quality control, report preparation, and follow-up.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Competencies/Abilities/Personal Attributes:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Prioritization: Capacity to multi-task and prioritize a variety of tasks.
• Customer Skills: Ability to establish, nurture, and maintain positive and productive relationships with customers and vendors.
• Teamwork and Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with employees across departments, at all levels of the organization, including various worldwide cultures.
• Adaptability: ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and adjusts quickly to changing priorities or requirements.
• Demonstrates the ability to proactively follow up on leads and naturally shows initiative.
• Must demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility.
• Fluent English skills. Additional language skills are considered an asset.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma. Bachelor’s degree in business, administration, management, or related field preferred.
• Proven experience in aviation.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Knowledge of ERP system is a plus.

Work Schedule/Location & Other Requirements: 

• Hybrid 
• Monday-Friday
• Travel Requirements: Occasional domestic or international travel as needed
• Location: Must be local to our office in Elk Grove Village, IL 
• Other US locations may be considered for remote work possibilities for the right candidate

Pay & Benefits: 

• Base Pay (Salary range is dependent upon candidate’s experience, qualifications, and cost of living in the local area.)
• Eligible for Annual Target Bonus, awarded based on company performance
• Eligible for Annual Merit Increase, awarded based on individual performance
• Company Paid Holidays
• Annual Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Up to 16 hours Volunteer Time Off (VTO) per year
• You will be eligible for benefits including medical, dental, vision, voluntary life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and other supplemental plans on the 1st day of the month, following sixty (60) days of employment. Eligibility for 401(k) begins after ninety (90) days of employment. Employee premiums for benefit plans is determined by the Plan provider(s).