Senior Business Development Manager

WR Logistics; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Commission

Job summary

WR Logistics in London Heathrow seeks a Senior Business Development Manager to drive growth in ocean and air freight forwarding. You will develop relationships with new customers, manage a robust sales pipeline and secure profitable freight business through tailored solutions.

The role demands securing long-term partnerships, negotiating commercial terms, and expanding trade lanes while supporting cross-functional teams and maintaining high-profit margins. Travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in senior business development within freight forwarding or international logistics.
• Strong commercial experience across ocean and air freight.
• Experience building and managing a profitable sales pipeline and closing deals.

Responsibilities

• Identify, target and win new business across ocean and air freight forwarding.
• Develop new customer relationships through proactive prospecting and referrals.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline, converting opportunities into long-term accounts.
• Understand client supply chain needs and propose tailored international freight solutions.
• Prepare quotations, proposals and commercial agreements with competitive pricing.
• Manage full sales cycle from initial contact to onboarding and handover to operations.
• Engage with decision-makers to drive growth and cross-sell services.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts across trade lanes.

Skills

Business development

Freight forwarding

Ocean freight

Air freight

Sales negotiations

Client relationships

Pipeline management

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Senior Business Development Manager - Ocean & Air Freight

We are seeking an experienced Senior Business Development Manager to drive new business growth across ocean and air freight forwarding services. This is a commercially focused role suited to a proven sales professional with an established understanding of international logistics, the ability to develop new customer relationships and a track record of winning profitable freight business.

The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying new opportunities, developing a strong pipeline of prospective customers and securing long-term partnerships across a range of industries. You will be supported by an established international logistics group with a global network and a broad service offering, enabling you to deliver tailored solutions to customers with complex supply chain requirements.

Trade lane experience would be advantageous, particularly where you can demonstrate existing market knowledge, relevant customer relationships or opportunities to develop business across key international routes.

Location: London Heathrow
Salary: Up to £80,000 basic + car allowance + commission

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, target and win new business opportunities across ocean and air freight forwarding.
• Develop new customer relationships through proactive prospecting, networking, referrals and targeted sales activity.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of prospects, converting opportunities into profitable, long-term accounts.
• Understand customer supply chain requirements and develop tailored international freight solutions.
• Prepare and negotiate quotations, proposals and commercial agreements, ensuring competitive pricing and healthy profit margins.
• Manage the full sales cycle, from initial contact and customer meetings through to negotiation, on-boarding and handover to operations.
• Build relationships with key decision-makers, including logistics managers, supply chain directors, procurement teams and business owners.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts through additional trade lanes, increased freight volumes and wider logistics services.
• Work closely with internal operations, pricing and overseas partners to ensure proposed solutions are commercially viable and deliverable.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and customer requirements to identify new opportunities for growth.
• Achieve agreed sales targets, revenue objectives and gross profit budgets.

Skills and Experience

• Proven track record in a senior business development role within freight forwarding or international logistics.
• Strong commercial experience across both ocean and air freight.
• Demonstrable success in winning new business and generating profitable freight volumes.
• Established network of industry contacts and the ability to build relationships with senior decision-makers.
• Experience managing the full sales process, including prospecting, quotations, tenders and commercial negotiations.
• Strong understanding of freight forwarding pricing, margins and international supply chain requirements.
• Experience developing new accounts across multiple sectors, with the ability to identify and pursue new market opportunities.
• Trade lane expertise would be advantageous, particularly where supported by existing customer relationships or knowledge of key international markets.
• Commercially driven, self-motivated and comfortable working towards sales and gross profit targets.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel for customer meetings, where required.