Freight Rate Procurement Specialist

Product Specialists oversee ocean freight procurement strategies to secure competitive rates from carriers and support sales teams in pricing services. They develop and manage carrier relationships, analyze market dynamics, and respond to RFQs and tenders while aligning with global ocean freight strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Negotiate FAKs, bundled rates, and contract agreements with carriers to ensure competitive pricing.
2. Establish strategic approaches to rate procurement and secure both core and non-core carrier relationships.
3. Monitor carrier performance, ensuring compliance with Minimum Quantity Commitments (MQCs) and agreed terms.
4. Support the implementation of ocean procurement strategies that align with business objectives.

Tender and RFQ Management

1. Oversee tender receipt, registration, and timely responses, maintaining comprehensive repositories of submissions.
2. Ensure compliance with tender requirements, preparing clear and competitive proposals with the tender management team.
3. Provide market insights and value-added information to support sales and improve win rates.
4. Develop and maintain comprehensive pricing models that align with market conditions and business goals.
5. Manage Oceantariff templates, ensuring accuracy and timely updates.
6. Analyze price sensitivity and profitability, making recommendations for revenue adjustments and margin improvements.
7. Communicate pricing adjustments to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring transparency and clarity.
8. Collect, analyze, and distribute market intelligence to relevant teams, providing updates on rate trends, carrier behaviors, and market dynamics.
9. Act as a central point of contact for regional pricing inquiries, offering insights into local and global market conditions.
10. Provide feedback on procurement performance, identifying areas for improvement and aligning with the global product strategy.

Product Development & Management

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

Process Optimization & Compliance

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

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

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

Education Requirements:

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

Background and Experience:

• Experience in freight forwarding or logistics with carrier relationships or experience negotiating with carriers is an advantage.

Competencies and Skills:

• Minimum of 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.
• Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of ocean freight procurement, rate structures, and market trends.
• Proficiency in using rate management tools and software, with a focus on accuracy and efficiency.

Communication Skills:

• Excellent negotiation and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with fluency in English and a local language.

Core Competencies:

• Customer Focus: Committed to meeting customer needs through competitive rate solutions.
• Commercial Acumen: Understands market dynamics, driving profitability through smart procurement.
• Analytical Thinking: Analyzes trends and performance to enhance rate competitiveness.
• Negotiation Skills: Strong negotiator, maintaining strategic carrier partnerships.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with internal teams to achieve objectives.
• Adaptability: Responds swiftly to changing market conditions and requirements.
• Result Orientation: Focused on achieving targets and improving procurement performance.

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