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CTPAT & Operations Security Specialist

Forward Air
Des Plaines, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 18 Jun 2026
💰 $80,000/yr($70,000/yr – $80,000/yr)

About the role

Position: CTPAT & Operations Security Specialist 

Compensation: $70,000 - 80,000 Annually

 

The CTPAT & Operations Security Specialist is responsible for administering, interpreting, and enforcing security, regulatory compliance, and related initiatives across the company’s enterprise operational network. They serve as the enterprise subject matter expert for Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) compliance, and supports Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), and customer security objectives. They play a critical role in safeguarding the organization against regulatory, operational, and reputational risk through proactive oversight and audit readiness. They partner closely with Operations, Security, Legal, and Quality teams to ensure consistent, compliant execution security programs across the enterprise. 

 

Responsibilities 

  • Serve as the enterprise owner and centralized authority for CTPAT compliance strategy, execution, and oversight. 

  • Assess operational practices for compliance risks, conduct gap analyses, and determine appropriate corrective action plans to mitigate regulatory exposure. 

  • Lead and support internal audits and regulatory reviews, providing expert interpretation of findings and required responses. 

  • Validate facility‑level compliance with CTPAT and TSA standards, including physical security controls, cargo handling procedures, and chain‑of‑custody requirements. 

  • Provide authoritative guidance to operations and leadership regarding compliant cargo handling, documentation, exceptions, and security incidents. 

  • Analyze compliance data, trends, and reports to inform leadership decisions related to audit readiness, training effectiveness, and risk exposure. 

  • Collaborate cross‑functionally with Legal, Security, Quality, and Operations to resolve complex compliance issues and implement sustainable solutions. 

  • Maintain enterprise‑level CTPAT documentation standards and retention practices to ensure continuous audit readiness. 

  • Participate in cross‑functional compliance, security, and regulatory initiatives, including TSA and TAPA alignment where applicable.