Managing Director - Freight Forwarding

JR United Kingdom; Watford; On-site; GBP 200,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading US-based freight forwarding client is seeking a strategic Managing Director to establish and lead their first UK office, focusing on ocean freight imports. This role offers the chance to build a high-performing team, establish market presence, and contribute to the company's global expansion efforts.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in freight forwarding, especially ocean freight.
• Proven commercial success in market development and revenue growth.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with autonomous work approach.

Responsibilities

• Launch and lead the UK office with full P&L responsibility.
• Develop and execute the UK market entry strategy focusing on ocean freight.
• Build strong relationships with shipping lines and clients.

Skills

Leadership

Business Development

Compliance Knowledge

Strategic Thinking

Job description

This job description provides a detailed overview of the Managing Director role in freight forwarding with a focus on ocean freight. It covers the job responsibilities, requirements, and key details effectively. However, some formatting improvements can enhance readability and structure, such as consistent use of HTML tags for headings and lists, and clearer separation of sections. Additionally, minor grammatical adjustments could improve clarity. Here is a refined version:

Managing Director - Freight Forwarding, Watford, Hertfordshire

Client: [Client details not provided]

Location: Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Job Category: Other

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Views:

1

Posted:

06.06.2025

Expiry Date:

21.07.2025

Job Description:

Important: This is a commercial role. You will be expected to sell while establishing the branch. A proven track record of achieving at least £500K in annual gross profit is required. The focus is on ocean imports from Asia.

Job Title: Managing Director (Freight Forwarding with a focus on Ocean Freight)

Location: UK – Flexible (Major logistics hubs such as London, Felixstowe, Southampton, Manchester, Birmingham, etc.)

Salary: Up to £200K + commission and potential shares in the UK business

About the Role

A US-based freight forwarding client seeks a commercially driven and strategic Managing Director to establish and lead their first UK office. You may join as an individual or with a team of operators to support your business.

The company has established offices in the US, Asia, and Germany, with plans to open additional offices in Belgium and the Netherlands. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the UK presence during a key phase of global expansion.

The focus will be on ocean freight, with the freedom to build a team and operations that meet local and global market needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Launch and lead the UK office with full P&L responsibility
• Lead business development and build a high-performing commercial and operational team
• Develop and execute the UK market entry strategy, focusing on ocean freight growth
• Build strong relationships with shipping lines, clients, and supply chain partners
• Ensure compliance with UK and international logistics regulations
• Contribute to broader European growth and integration as a strategic partner

Requirements

• Senior leadership experience in freight forwarding, especially ocean freight
• Contacts with SMEs and a plan to build profit quickly
• Proven commercial success in market development and revenue growth
• Experience launching or scaling regional offices is highly desirable
• Deep knowledge of UK logistics sector and trade corridors
• Entrepreneurial mindset, autonomous work approach
• Willingness to travel and collaborate internationally across Europe, Asia, and the US