Ocean Freight Specialist

Job Title:

Freight Expert

Description:

The Freight Expert role is a critical position in securing optimal ocean freight rates and collaborating with sales teams to enhance pricing strategies. This involves developing and maintaining carrier relationships, analyzing market dynamics, and ensuring timely responses to tenders and RFQs, all while supporting the company's global ocean freight strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Negotiate with ocean carriers to secure favorable FAKs, bundled rates, and contract agreements, ensuring competitive pricing.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key carriers, focusing on rate procurement and collaborative partnerships.
• Monitor carrier performance to ensure compliance with Minimum Quantity Commitments (MQCs) and agreed terms.
• Support the implementation of the company's ocean procurement strategy, aligning it with business objectives.

Tender and RFQ Management:

• Oversee receipt, registration, and timely response to tenders and RFQs, maintaining a comprehensive repository of submissions.
• Ensure tender requirements are met, preparing clear and competitive proposals with the tender management team.
• Provide market insights and value-added information to support sales and improve win rates.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive pricing model aligned with market conditions and business goals.
• Manage Oceantariff templates, ensuring accuracy and timely updates.
• Analyze price sensitivity and profitability, making recommendations for revenue adjustments and margin improvements.
• Communicate pricing adjustments to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring transparency and clarity.
• Collect, analyze, and distribute market intelligence to relevant teams, providing updates on rate trends, carrier behaviors, and market dynamics.
• Act as a central point of contact for regional pricing inquiries, offering insights into local and global market conditions.
• Provide feedback on procurement performance, identifying areas for improvement and aligning with the global product strategy.

Product Development & Management:

• Contribute to the development of ocean freight products, aligning definitions with global standards.
• Support product training initiatives, ensuring the sales team is equipped with up-to-date knowledge.
• Align product offerings with customer requirements, collaborating with commercial teams to ensure competitive advantage.
• Maintain and enhance relationships with ocean carriers, driving long-term partnerships and improved procurement results.
• Coordinate negotiations for FCL and LCL services, focusing on competitive pricing and value-added solutions.
• Address operational issues with carriers, acting as an escalation point and ensuring timely resolution.

Process Optimization & Compliance:

• Ensure efficiency in procurement processes, supporting the creation of minimum selling rate guidelines and aligning with regional procurement strategies.
• Maintain data integrity within the rate management system, ensuring accurate information is accessible to relevant stakeholders.
• Provide regular reports on procurement performance, rate competitiveness, and carrier utilization.
• Communicate effectively with regional and global teams, ensuring alignment on procurement goals and strategies.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Rate Competitiveness: Secure competitive rates aligned with market benchmarks and tender requirements.
• Tender Success: Ensure accurate, timely, and competitive tender submissions with a focus on high win rates.
• Rate Management Accuracy: Maintain accuracy and timely updates in rate management systems.
• Carrier Utilization: Fulfil Minimum Quantity Commitments (MQCs) and strengthen key carrier relationships.
• Procurement Efficiency: Enhance rate negotiation processes, ensuring faster responses and continuous improvements.
• Margin Improvement: Drive margin improvements through effective rate negotiations and cost-saving measures.
• Sales Support: Ensure prompt and accurate responses to sales rate inquiries, supporting customer needs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Maintain effective communication with stakeholders, supporting procurement strategies and improvements.

Key Interactions:

External: Ocean Carriers and Vendors | Key Customers (as required) | Third-Party Logistics Providers

Internal: Global Head of Ocean Freight | Sales & BD | Managing Directors | Tender Management Team | Operations Team | WeFreight Branch offices

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related fields.

Minimum 3-5 years of experience in ocean freight rate procurement, carrier negotiation, or related roles in freight forwarding.

In-depth knowledge of ocean freight products, procurement strategies, and carrier dynamics.

Strong analytical skills, with experience in pricing models, rate trends, and market intelligence.