Freight Forwarder Partnership Manager - EMEA

SkyCell AG; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid work

Remote-friendly culture

SkyWeek onboarding

Generous leave

Job summary

SkyCell AG is seeking a Freight Forwarder Partnership Manager - EMEA to lead relationships with forwarders at HQ and regional levels, turning transactional shipping into strategic partnerships.

You will own senior-level engagements across clinical trial forwarders and global cold-chain forwarders, building a reusable partnership model from scratch.

Qualifications

• Extensive freight forwarding or logistics partnerships experience.
• Experience engaging with HQ and regional executives.
• Ability to develop joint business plans and drive adoption.

Responsibilities

• Own key forwarder relationships end-to-end with commercial ownership.
• Build strategic partnerships and co-develop joint business plans.
• Drive adoption across the forwarder network.
• Lead cross-functional deals with CX, Container Solutions, and Airline teams.
• Maintain account maps, stakeholder landscapes, and forecasts.

Skills

Freight forwarding

Logistics partnerships

B2B partnerships

Executive engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

We’re looking for a Freight Forwarder Partnership Manager - EMEA to build and lead SkyCell’s relationships with freight forwarders at the HQ and regional level, turning transactional shipping relationships into strategic, long-term partnerships. You’ll work across two types of accounts: specialized Clinical Trial forwarders, where you’ll take direct commercial ownership and global forwarders specialised in Cold Chain, where you’ll build joint business plans and drive adoption from the top down. This is a high-visibility, cross-functional role at the intersection of sales, partnership management and pharma logistics.

You’re a key person shaping how the world’s most important medicines move, working with major logistics players on something that genuinely matters. It’s a role with real ownership, a seat at the table with senior stakeholders inside and outside SkyCell, and the chance to build a partnership model from the ground up rather than inherit someone else’s playbook.

Why SkyCell?

Purpose-Driven Work: Make a real difference by contributing to a more sustainable future in global logistics and healthcare.

Innovation at Heart: Work with cutting-edge technology and be at the forefront of supply chain innovation.

Stronger together: Join a supportive team of talented individuals from over 40 countries, where we work together every step of the way.

Growth Opportunities: We believe in investing in our people – continuous learning and development are key pillars of SkyCell.

Award-Winning Culture: Join a workplace recognized for its commitment to excellence with a ‘Great Place to work’ award, as well as a Platinum Ecovadis rating highlighting our sustainability and employee well-being.

What You’ll Do:

• Own key forwarder relationships end-to-end: take full commercial ownership: win new logos, defend and grow existing accounts and build the C-suite relationships that unlock deployment at scale
• Build strategic partnerships with major global forwarders: align with leadership on joint business plans, co-develop continuous improvement initiatives around cost and reliability and turn SkyCell into a co-innovation partner rather than just another supplier
• Drive adoption, not just contracts: run the programs that deepen engagement across the forwarder network and help shift forwarder sentiment from indifferent to genuinely advocating for SkyCell
• Lead deals cross-functionally: act as the functional lead when a forwarder relationship surfaces a commercial opportunity, pulling in Container Solutions, CX and Airline teams to shape and close it
• Keep the pipeline and account intelligence sharp: maintain clear account maps, stakeholder landscapes, and forecasts across your regions and feed market and competitive intelligence back into the business

What success looks like:

• Forwarder-driven revenue is growing, both directly (new partnerships, new lanes) and indirectly (container adoption, execution excellence)
• Forwarders proactively position SkyCell and advocate for it internally - you’ve won on value, not on price
• You can point to forwarder relationships that have measurably shifted from indifferent to genuinely supportive
• Your programs and product suite are seeing real, expanding adoption across your accounts
• Your pipeline is healthy, your account plans are current and nothing falls through the cracks

What You’ll Bring:

• Experience in freight forwarding, logistics, or supply chain partnerships, ideally with exposure to pharma or another regulated, high-value cargo segment
• A track record of managing B2B partnerships or key accounts at the HQ/executive level, not just operationally
• Comfort working both strategically (joint business plans, executive alignment) and hands-on (chasing a deal, coordinating a cross-functional team to close it)
• Strong stakeholder management skills: you can build trust with a global directors just as easily as with a station manager
• A collaborative mindset: this role only works if you’re genuinely good at pulling in other sales colleagues and specialists rather than trying to do it all yourself

What’s In It For You?

Flexibility & Balance: Flexible working hours and work-life balance allow you to tailor work to fit your life.

Recognition & Growth: Opportunities for career advancement in a company that values your contributions.

Hybrid Workplace: Modern workspaces (in Zurich, Zug and Hyderabad as well as our Skyhub in Basel) and a remote-friendly culture to inspire collaboration amongst a globally diverse team.

Company-wide Events: Join us for company events to celebrate successes, build teams, and share our vision. Plus, new joiners experience SkyWeek, our immersive onboarding program.

Generous Maternity & Paternity Leave: Support for new parents with competitive maternity and paternity leave.

Annual Leave & Bank Holidays: Enjoy a generous annual leave package, plus local bank holidays to recharge and unwind.

Ready to Make an Impact?

We’re not just offering a job; we’re offering a chance to be part of something bigger. At SkyCell, you’ll help build a future where pharmaceutical delivery is efficient, sustainable, and transformative.

Stay Connected with SkyCell

Visit http://www.skycell.ch and explore #WeAreSkyCell on LinkedIn

SkyCell AG is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

For this position, if you are not located in, or able to relocate (without sponsorship) to one of the advertised locations, your application cannot be considered.