Global Head of Freight Strategy & Development

ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd.; Pully; On-site; CHF 400,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd. in Switzerland seeks a Global Head of Freight Strategy & Development to shape freight, warehousing and risk management across Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton.

You will lead cross-functional efforts with trading, commercial and logistics teams to improve capacity access and competitiveness. The role requires deep ocean-shipping expertise, established industry relationships, and a strategic mindset to scale freight operations globally, drive efficiency, and deliver

Qualifications

• Significant experience in ocean container shipping in a senior role.
• Strong network with major ocean carriers and key decisionmakers.
• Deep understanding of carrier economics, capacity management, equipment flows and pricing dynamics.
• Proven ability to read freight-market developments and translate them into commercial actions.
• Experience across multiple geographies, trade lanes and commodity supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Build ECOM’s Global Freight Strategy across Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton.
• Identify opportunities for cross-commodity coordination to add value.
• Develop a global view of container markets and provide actionable freight intelligence.
• Strengthen relationships with major ocean carriers and regional/global logistics providers.
• Identify warehousing opportunities to enhance competitiveness and service.
• Provide guidance on charter-party negotiations, freight hedging, and demurrage/detention exposure.
• Leverage centralized capabilities to improve coordination and market intelligence across the Group.

Skills

Ocean shipping experience

Carrier network

Pricing & capacity

Market analytics

Warehousing networks

Commercial mindset

Global experience

Cross-commodity coordination

Stakeholder management

Entrepreneurial mindset

Job description

The Role

Working for the Commodity COOs and working cross functionally with trading, commercial and logistics teams, the Global Head of Freight Strategy & Development (GHFS) will work to develop ECOM’s global freight and warehousing strategy across Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton, encompassing container shipping, bulk shipping and vessel chartering. The role will be responsible for leveraging the Group’s volumes, market knowledge and industry relationships to improve competitiveness, reliability, access to capacity and freight risk management.

We are looking for a senior freight professional who combines deep ocean-shipping expertise, strong commercial capabilities, market intelligence and established industry relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Build ECOM’s Global Freight Strategy by developing a clear view of ECOM’s major freight flows across Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton
• Identify where coordination across commodities and regions can strengthen ECOM’s position and create value
• Build a strong understanding of global container markets and provide ECOM with actionable and forward-looking freight intelligence
• Using ECOM’s combined commodities footprint to build and strengthen relationships with major ocean carriers and key logistics providers at regional and global levels
• Identify opportunities where Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton can work together to create greater scale and leverage to work towards a One ECOM approach
• Analysis of overlapping trade lanes, carriers, origins and destinations and determine where greater coordination can improve purchasing power, service or access to capacity.
• Develop Freight as a Commercial Capability
• Develop a global view of ECOM’s warehousing footprint and identify where storage can improve competitiveness, flexibility and customer service
• Develop a strategic view of bulk and breakbulk shipping opportunities across ECOM’s commodities, identifying where vessel chartering can improve freight competitiveness and create commercial value.
• Provide expertise and guidance on charter-party negotiations, freight hedging strategies, and demurrage and detention exposure, ensuring ECOM effectively manages freight-related costs and risks.
• Leverage existing in-house capabilities while identifying opportunities for greater coordination, market intelligence and commercial leverage across the Group, particularly if these activities become more centralized.

Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in the ocean container shipping industry within a similar role, ideally including experience within a major shipping line or in a senior freight commercial role.
• A strong network and established relationships with major ocean carriers and key decisionmakers across relevant trade lanes.
• Deep understanding of carrier economics, capacity management, equipment flows, service networks and freight pricing dynamics.
• A proven ability to read and anticipate freight-market developments and translate them into commercial and strategic actions
• Understanding of global warehousing and distribution networks and how inventory positioning can support freight and commercial strategy.
• A commercial mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities beyond traditional freight procurement and create measurable value for the business.
• Experience working across multiple geographies, trade lanes and, ideally, commodity or agricultural supply chains.
• Ability to connect Group-wide volumes and requirements across Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton and identify opportunities that may not be visible within individual businesses.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence and negotiate with both internal teams and external partners
• An entrepreneurial and pragmatic mindset, comfortable building a capability that can evolve

As an equal opportunities’ employer, the ECOM Group is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.