Head of Air Freight, Malaysia

DHL Global Forwarding; Subang Jaya; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading logistics company based in Selangor is looking for an Air Freight Manager to own the profit and loss for Air Freight operations. The role involves driving business growth, enhancing customer satisfaction, ensuring operational excellence, and leading a high-performing team. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of relevant experience and possess a Master's degree. Strong skills in logistics management, customer relationships, and team leadership are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• More than 8 years of experience required.

Responsibilities

• Own the full profit and loss (PnL) of Air Freight in the country.
• Drive business growth in the local Air freight market.
• Enhance customer satisfaction and retention through proactive engagement.
• Ensure operational excellence and compliance with industry regulations.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing team.
• Manage supplier relationships to optimize service delivery.

Skills

Routing

Shipping

Carrier Management

Third Party Logistics

Ground Transportation

Cold Chain

Tracking

Regulations

Import Export

Customs Regulations

Telecommunications

Budgets

Microsoft Excel

Technology Trends

Business Knowledge

Business Processes

Business Strategy

Influencing

Feedback

Presentation & Storytelling

Facilitation

Negotiation

People Management

Resourcing

Customer Management

Education

Master's degree or equivalent experience/qualification

Job description

Job Purpose

Own the full profit and loss (PnL) of Air Freight in the country. Drive business growth in the local Air freight market in alignment with global trade initiatives. Enhance customer satisfaction and retention through proactive engagement and relationship building. Ensure operational excellence and compliance with industry regulations. Lead and develop a high‑performing team while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Manage supplier relationships to optimize service delivery and profitability.

Key Tasks

• Develop and execute plans to drive business growth in the country's Air freight market in line with the direction of the global trade strategies and focus tradelanes and in active collaboration with overseas tradelane partners.
• Drive the controlled SME growth in the country in close collaboration with field sales, levering the Route Development Managers.
• Meet regularly with current and prospect customers, building relationships with key stakeholders to expand market share and increase GP.
• Engage proactively in globally led RFQs which impact the country (new and retention).
• Drive customer satisfaction and retention and GP improvement by ensuring day to day customers’ needs and concerns are addressed and driving upselling and cross‑selling.
• Oversee implementation of new businesses to ensure smooth customer onboarding.
• Drive operational excellence and exceptional customer service – oversee the country's Air freight service delivery teams, manage performance, drive continuous improvement in quality and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and applicable laws and adherence to global standards and processes.
• Own the full PnL for Air in the country – including budgeting, monitoring of volume, costs, and profitability, implementing cost‑saving initiatives, pricing strategies, and financial controls to achieve financial targets and maximize profitability. Billing on time and in full to avoid revenue leakage.
• Strong team leadership in line with the DHL leadership attributes – coach and support the team, conduct performance reviews, foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, and ensure individual and team success. Drive talent management, recruitment and team development in close collaboration with HR.
• Manage relationships with carriers, truckers, depots, and other service providers. This includes negotiating contracts, rates, and service level agreements, monitoring supplier performance, resolving issues, and identifying opportunities for improvement. Focus on optimizing local charges and credit terms.

Stakeholders

• Extensive contact and negotiating with other departments and 3rd parties with conflicting objectives.
• Influence and challenge key stakeholders effectively.
• Develop strong, trusting cross‑functional relationships with senior DHL business leaders.
• Influence others across DHL and externally as an internally and externally recognized thought leader representing the Group.
• Champion cooperation and partnership to provide integrated solutions to problems.

Management Responsibility

• Lead multiple teams of lower‑level executives, directors/senior managers, and managers.
• Develop short to long‑term (1‑5 years) plans for optimizing the organization, function, or job‑family and the talent required to execute strategies.

Qualifications and Key Requirements

Education Level

Master's degree or equivalent experience/qualification

Experience Level

More than 8 Years

Skills

• Routing
• Shipping
• Carrier Management
• Third Party Logistics
• Ground Transportation
• Cold Chain
• Tracking
• Regulations
• Import Export
• Customs Regulations
• Telecommunications
• Budgets
• Microsoft Excel
• Technology Trends
• Business Knowledge
• Business Processes
• Business Strategy
• Influencing
• Feedback
• Presentation & Storytelling
• Facilitation
• Negotiation
• People Management
• Resourcing
• Customer Management