Ocean Freight Operations Manager

DHL Global Forwarding; Southampton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Pension scheme with life assurance

Employee wellbeing programme

Discounts and benefits package

Internal promotion opportunities

Job summary

DHL Global Forwarding is seeking an Ocean Freight Operations Manager in the UK to lead a dedicated team and optimise end-to-end ocean freight activities. You will drive performance, ensure profitability, and partner with customers and carriers to secure best rates.

Reporting to the Head of Reefer and Bulk, you will implement strategic initiatives, manage KPIs, and foster continuous improvement across the department in a fast-paced logistics environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team in global forwarding operations.
• Strong understanding of supply chain and logistics principals.
• Ability to achieve KPI targets and drive performance.
• Commercial awareness and financial understanding.
• Experience in managing Ocean Freight operations.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the division and its departments, including full OFR responsibility and P&L.
• Lead and coach the OFR teams to deliver key results and customer service excellence.
• Drive culture change through DGF commitments and branch strategy.
• Ensure end-to-end profitability and optimization of import/export processes.
• Negotiate with customers on rates, volume trends, and logistics terms.
• Develop relationships with customers and service providers to secure best rates.

Skills

Team leadership

Supply chain knowledge

KPI management

Commercial awareness

Management experience

People development

P&L understanding

Stakeholder management

Change management

Communication

Job description

Who is DHL Global Forwarding?

DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) is part of the DHL Group. While the DHL Group employs more than 580,000 people globally, DGF has around 31,000 freight forwarding experts in more than 190 countries around the world, with around 1,000 of us based in the UK across 15 Sites. As the experts in Freight Forwarding since 1815, we are the global specialists in Air, Ocean and Rail Freight. You name it, we’ve shipped it - from brown bears to aircraft engines, to lifesaving medicines and luxury cars! We are also proud to partner with some of the well-known global sporting series, movie franchises and music tours. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we’re committed to helping our Forwarders to realise their full potential, supported by our own development journey - Certified International Forwarder (CIF).

Our Values

Every day we are guided by our values: Passion, Entrepreneurship, Excellence and Teamwork. We are extremely passionate about our people and what we do, which is why DHL Global Forwarding is recognised as a Top Employer and a Great Place to Work, because we are specialists in providing Excellence, Simply Delivered. In addition to our values, we promote an open and honest feedback culture based on Respect & Results, whereby our employees embrace diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while ensuring that we never compromise our integrity and compliance.

Role

As an Ocean Freight Operations Manager, you’ll manage, coach and drive performance of a team to achieve KPIs and a high level of customer service as well as being directly responsible for the management of the department ensuring a consistently excellent delivery of our Ocean Freight forwarding services including the core operations and full service management for our customers.

Key Responsibilities

• To take ownership and responsibility of the division and its departments including full responsibility for the Ocean Freight team and P&L
• Implement DGF UK people processes in a consistent manner to ensure development and retention of talent (Performance Reviews, IDPs, EOS, MTW, Succession Planning)
• Manages and drives performance of OFR teams, providing leadership across areas of responsibility inspiring people to engage with the business to deliver key results
• Drive the implementation and culture change through DGF’s 10 Commitments
• Support, drive and commit to the Company’s overall Strategy
• Directs and controls activities performed to effectively manage end-to-end for OFR
• Ensures optimisation of end-to-end process in the Import and Export Department
• Responsibility for file level GP, cost allocation and operations control delivered through empowerment of your teams
• Review key trade lanes based on recent MBL/HBL level data to identify improvements, opportunities (e.g. improved spot rates, sell rates new business …)
• Re-negotiation with customers (rates, volume trends, BAF, surcharges logic, rate validity)
• Administration and management control of the operational data i.e. Ocean review file, work flow review and door-to-door global profit share to ensure compliance and the maximisation of profitability
• Set and monitor objectives in terms of profitability maximisation and volume growth
• Creates, develops and maintains good relationships with customers and service providers, while facilitating negotiations of best rates (carriers and internal product teams)
• Support Sales in interaction with key customers
• Ensure the team understand and comply to the DGF 10 Ground Rules
• Drives implementation of OFR strategy in branch (translates requirements, implements, ensures realisation of strategy and monitors)
• Escalates carrier performance issues when required to Carrier directly/OFR Product
• Fully ensures compliance with varying countries requirements
• Takes an active role in the development and coaching of all staff members in scope
• Ensures that all interactions are compliant with DPDHL Code of Conduct and other compliance requirements e.g. anti-corruption
• Contribute to the First Choice continuous improvement program

Skills and Experience

• Has the ability to lead a team, inspire and motivate people with good sense of business acumen to deliver the DGF Strategy, Commitments and Ground Rules
• Clear understanding of the principals of supply chain and logistics
• Ability to lead and motivate all staff within scope to achieve KPI’s
• Good commercial awareness and attitude
• Experience within a management position within global forwarding
• Commercial awareness
• Able to prioritise and perform under pressureInter-personal skills - Influencing, communication, relationship management, cultural awareness and ability to work across teams
• Self-directed working style
• Ability to support a culture of continuous improvement and change management
• Customs and related processes
• Results driven and good attention to detail
• Good financial understanding including P&L and decision making impacts

Benefits

• A competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Pension scheme which includes life assurance
• Access to professional employee assistance and wellbeing programme
• A competitive package of voluntary benefits including retail, entertainment, gym membership, cycle to work scheme, contribution to eye care costs, and many more discounts
• Training and Development opportunities with a strong focus on internal promotion

HOURS/SHIFT PATTERN

37.5 hours per week

REPORTS TO

Head of Reefer and Bulk

PLEASE NOTE

Due to the nature of our business we are regulated by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), therefore it is compulsory for all applicants once offered employment to provide a full 5 year employment history. Additional to this we are required to carry out a Criminal Record Check.

What’s Next?

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. Our culture is focused on personal commitment – to our customers, to each other, to our communities and to the environment. We reward excellent work and we nurture the talents of our employees. This enables you as an employee to develop your expertise and your career in different areas or divisions – and even in other countries. We are committed to creating a workplace that ensures mutual respect and is focused on results. We hire talented people from all backgrounds – irrespective of gender, disability, nationality, ethnicity, social background, religion and beliefs, age or sexual orientation and identity. Diversity enriches our workplace, drives our success, and helps us deliver excellence.

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