FCL Trade Manager (f/m/d)

Rhenus Logistics; Hilden; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dynamic work environment

Challenging projects

E-learning and career growth

Job summary

Rhenus Logistics is seeking an experienced Ocean Procurement Lead to drive global carrier strategies and manage regional accounts within a fast-paced logistics environment.

You will lead cross-functional teams, optimize rate structures, and build strategic supplier relationships while ensuring compliance and high service levels across regions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in ocean procurement or ocean carrier experience.
• 5+ years in people management and leadership.
• Strong commercial understanding and service mindset.
• Proven track record in trade lane management with shipping lines.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication and English proficiency.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Able to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to global core carrier policy and evaluate carrier performance.
• Align product, commercial and capacity management strategy with local procurement and trade head.
• Monitor KPIs and identify areas for improvement and strategic adjustments.
• Build relationships with regional decision makers of core carriers.
• Lead improvements of carrier relationships within regional offices.
• Enforce regional performance reviews and action plans for carriers (QBRs).
• Act as escalation point for core carrier issues in trade.
• Coordinate with sales to develop trade FCL tender strategy and negotiate rates.
• Support accountability within regional procurement teams and country managers.
• Negotiate rates for key/high-volume accounts and ensure competitive tariffs.
• Manage selling rates and tariffs to drive profitability and market share.
• Present trade performance to executives and target key accounts.
• Organize monthly broadcasts for trade lane information.

Skills

Ocean procurement

People management

Commercial understanding

Trade lane management

Cross-cultural communication

Analytical skills

Multi-tasking

Willingness to travel

Job description

Who we are

Have you worked out the logistics of your career yet? You will at Rhenus!

Who we are

Have you worked out the logistics of your career yet? You will at Rhenus!

The Rhenus Group is one of the leading logistics specialists with global business operations and annual turnover amounting to EUR 7.5 billion. 40,000 employees work at 1,320 business sites in more than 70 countries and develop innovative solutions along the complete supply chain. Whether providing transport, warehousing, customs clearance or value-added services, the family-owned business pools its operations in various business units where the needs of customers are the major focus at all times.

Join our team and thrive in a dynamic company culture rooted in the values of Entrepreneurship, where innovative thinking is celebrated, Integrity, where honesty and transparency drive our actions, Empowerment, where each team member is encouraged to take ownership and initiative, and Leadership, where we cultivate a collaborative environment that inspires growth and excellence. At our company, these core values aren't just words on paper - they guide our everyday decisions, foster a supportive community, and drive both individual and collective success.

Job Description

• Ensure adherence to the global core carrier policy within trade including evaluating the carriers' performance.
• Ensure alignment on product, commercial and capacity management strategy together with the local procurement teams and the commercial head for the trade.
• Monitor and assess the performance of the trade, regularly reviewing key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for improvement and strategic adjustments.
• Build and maintain relationships with global core carriers' regional decision makers.
• Lead the improvement of relationship within local offices between local procurement teams and core carriers within region,
• Monitor and control core carriers' performance in alignment between the other regions and the Regional Product Team; enforcing a methodology of local and regional performance reviews and Action Plans for Carriers, including QBRs.
• Act as an escalation point within region for any core carrier issues related to trade.

FCL Tariff, Rates and Contract Management

• Based on the trade FCL strategy, coordinate with sales management and other product heads or trade managers to ensure capturing and developing business. Must lead trade FCL tender strategy, including risk-taking decisions for regional accounts and tenders, and elevate to the trade head or the regional product head if needed.
• Support a high performing culture of accountability and ownership within the local and regional procurement teams in the region, by supporting and working together with the country procurement managers to deliver the best rates and services possible.
• Negotiate rates for Key Accounts or high-volume accounts with regional carriers.
• Responsible for ensuring the competitiveness of the product framework within the region for the trade, including freight rates, freight surcharges, carrier pick-up and drop-off tariffs, and detention and demurrage conditions.
• Manage the suggested selling rates and Cloud Ocean Line Tariffs within the trade to ensure a high degree of competitiveness that drives both profitability and market share growth.

Business Development

• Support the commercial teams by visiting customers that are strategic for the region or the product globally, with a focus on regional and Global Key Accounts.
• Present Rhenus trade performance to C-level Executives and target Key Accounts.
• Enable channeling market intelligence between local and regional offices to ensure exceptional trade understanding. The information must be actionable and insightful, always within the frameworks set by the Global and Regional Product Teams. This includes maintaining a working rapport with Country management by providing expertise and education in capacity, pricing, and product management.
• Organize a monthly Broadcast summarizing the key information for the trade lane to local procurement and key commercial stakeholders.
• Spearhead an analytical approach to assess the competitiveness of Rhenus' rate levels.

Candidate's Profile

• Minimum 5 years' experience in an ocean procurement role in freight forwarding company or ocean carrier experience.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in people management and leadership, including recruitment, training & development, coaching, conflict, and performance management.
• Service minded and with a high degree of ownership, excellent commercial understanding.
• Proven track record in the trade lane management with shipping lines
• Negotiation skills and confident manner
• Proactive and capable of handle responsibility without needing to be micromanaged.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication (both oral and written) and interpersonal skills.
• Outgoing personality, while able to communicate well in English both spoken and written.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Able to work under pressure and to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Result driven and persistent in meeting day to day challenges and goals.
• Ability to multi-task in an intense, fast-paced, high-energy, environment.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrate confidence as a performer and lead by example.
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Ability to maintain a focus on simplicity while dealing with complex challenges.

Job Offer

• A young and dynamic work environment.
• The possibility to participate in complex and stimulating projects within an exciting corporate context.
• E-Learning and career growth opportunities.