Route Manager

Think Specialist Recruitment; City Of London; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Think Specialist Recruitment is seeking a Route Manager for a leading global freight forwarder in Hemel Hempstead. You will lead airfreight procurement strategy, secure best pricing, and manage airline relationships while balancing cost, capacity and service across the UK network.

This fully office-based role offers a salary from £40k+ per year dependent on experience, with the potential to reach the high 40s and an annual bonus scheme.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial understanding of the airfreight industry, with around five years' experience preferred.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with a track record of securing results with carriers or suppliers.
• Excellent communication skills, internally and externally.
• Good operational understanding of how airfreight moves, and the confidence to challenge when needed.
• Able to build strong relationships with suppliers and colleagues.
• A strong problem solver and results driven, with a positive "can do" attitude.
• Customer focused, and a good team player.
• Good IT awareness, with confidence in analysing performance data and reports.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the airfreight procurement strategy, supporting the airline relationships that sit behind it.
• Secure the best pricing through contract and spot buying.
• Plan consolidations and protect capacity, working directly with operations and stations.
• Optimise consolidations and control volume paid.
• Take commercial ownership of gateway shipments, consolidations and some back-to-back shipments.
• Define and manage internal rates.
• Analyse the market and customer demand to balance supply and demand.
• Monitor carrier performance using internal reports and take corrective action locally or escape where needed.
• Provide market information, guidance and support to the wider UK network.
• Make sure all activity meets compliance and code-of-conduct requirements, including anti-corruption.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement programme.

Skills

Commercial understanding

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Operational understanding

Relationship building

Problem solving

Customer focused

IT awareness

Job description

Route Manager - Hemel Hempstead

Think Specialist Recruitment are working with a leading global freight forwarder to recruit a Route Manager for their UK airfreight team. You'll deliver procurement and carrier management strategies that balance cost, capacity and service, working closely with operations teams, stations, gateways and airline partners.

This is a commercial role rather than an operational one. You'll secure the best pricing, protect capacity, manage airline relationships and give the wider UK network the market insight it needs to win and deliver business.

This position is a fully office based role working in our clients Hayes site, on offer is a salary from £40k+ per annum dependent on experience which could see the successful candidate secure a salary in the late 40's, along with an annual bonus scheme.

The role

• Deliver the airfreight procurement strategy, supporting the airline relationships that sit behind it
• Secure the best pricing through contract and spot buying
• Plan consolidations and protect capacity, working directly with operations and stations
• Optimise consolidations and control volume paid
• Take commercial ownership of gateway shipments, consolidations and some back-to-back shipments
• Define and manage internal rates
• Analyse the market and customer demand to balance supply and demand
• Monitor carrier performance using internal reports and take corrective action locally or escape where needed
• Provide market information, guidance and support to the wider UK network
• Make sure all activity meets compliance and code-of-conduct requirements, including anti-corruption
• Contribute to the continuous improvement programme

About you

• Strong commercial understanding of the airfreight industry, with around five years' experience preferred
• Excellent negotiation skills, with a track record of securing results with carriers or suppliers
• Excellent communication skills, internally and externally
• Good operational understanding of how airfreight moves, and the confidence to challenge when needed
• Able to build strong relationships with suppliers and colleagues
• A strong problem solver and results driven, with a positive "can do" attitude
• Customer focused, and a good team player
• Good IT awareness, with confidence in analysing performance data and reports