Trade Manager Benelux

CMA CGM; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global shipping company is seeking a Trade Manager Benelux in Rotterdam or Antwerp. This role involves managing the trade team, allocating budgets, and aligning strategies to enhance commercial performance. The ideal candidate has a solid background in shipping and international trade, strong analytical and people management skills, and fluency in English, Dutch, and French. Opportunities for travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in shipping and international trade required.
• Analytical approach to market information.
• Excellent people‑management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Guide and manage the agency trade team.
• Monitor cluster performance overall and per trade.
• Provide quality market intelligence.
• Align short- and long-term strategy.
• Drive action plans with trade managers/analysts.

Skills

Ability to bring markets and people together

High problem‑solving skills

High quality decision-making

Ambitious and results‑driven

Motivating and influencing

Relationship builder and team player

Agile, able to switch quickly between priorities

Strong analytical skills

Fluency in English, Dutch and French

Job description

CMA CGM Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands

Trade Manager Benelux

As part of its growth and development, CMA CGM Benelux is recruiting a Cluster Trade Manager Benelux to join its Commercial team. We are looking for an experienced leader with solid knowledge of shipping and international trade, an analytical approach to market information, excellent people‑management capabilities and ambition to grow.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Cluster Commercial organization is responsible for delivering CMA‑CGM’s growth strategy in the Benelux market. The Commercial team consists of Sales and Business Development teams in the Netherlands and Belgium and the Cluster Trade team. The Cluster Trade team connects Line Management in Head Office and the Benelux Sales organization. The Cluster Trade Manager leads CMA‑CGM’s Benelux trade team, responsible for implementing the overall trade objectives set by Head Office and the Benelux Commercial Strategy. The manager guides local trade managers and analysts in managing maritime volume for all trades, which includes more than 20 lines in each port – Antwerp and Rotterdam – for both import and export. The team monitors performance and provides local sales and line management with enabling market intelligence.

This role is Benelux‑responsible and can be based in Rotterdam (Rhoon) or Antwerp with willingness to work from the other location 20‑40% of the week.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for cluster trade volume and allocation budget on a geographical basis (NL & BE, Import and Export).
• Guide, coach and manage the agency trade team to provide necessary input to local sales and Head Office to optimise commercial performance.
• Coordinate Head Office, regional office, lines & sales on maritime and pricing policy for the market.
• Monitor and report cluster performance overall and per trade.
• Provide quality market intelligence—including general market information and competitor data—to the sales organization and line management in Head Office.
• Align short‑ and long‑term strategy between agency, Cluster CCO, and line management in Head Office.
• Drive weekly and monthly direction‑setting to the sales organisations and report to Head Office.
• Drive daily and weekly action plans with trade managers/analysts to improve performance.
• Set up team structure, reporting and meetings aligned with company requirements.
• Review vessel allocations and performance.
• Manage local roll pools and create transparency.
• Coordinate equipment needs with ILS and Head Office according to expected bookings.
• Forecast future performance per trade/vessels and initiate necessary action timely.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Ability to bring markets and people together.
• High problem‑solving skills.
• High quality decision-making.
• Ambitious and results‑driven.
• Motivating and influencing.
• Relationship builder and team player.
• Agile, able to switch quickly between priorities.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into information.
• Fluency in English, Dutch and French is a preference.
• Domestic / international travelling may be required.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Screening is a standard part of our internal application process; by applying you acknowledge having taken note of this policy. Applying for this role is only possible if you are a Dutch or Belgian resident living and working in the Netherlands or Belgium, or if you have a valid working permit for the Netherlands or Belgium that is not linked to the status of ‘knowledge migrant’.