Business Development executive (ocean freight)

Direct Search Global; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Direct Search Global is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to drive ocean-freight and international logistics growth. You will identify new customers, develop strategic accounts and craft commercially competitive freight solutions.

The role requires strong knowledge of ocean freight forwarding, trade lanes, carrier management and customer supply chains, with travel as needed to meet clients and close deals.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, Maritime Studies or a related discipline.
• 5 to 8 years of business-development or sales experience within ocean freight, freight forwarding or international logistics.
• Proven track record of securing new business and managing strategic customer accounts.
• Strong understanding of FCL, LCL, carrier pricing, trade lanes and freight-forwarding operations.
• Established relationships with regional shippers, beneficial cargo owners or multinational customers would be advantageous.
• Experience managing tenders, RFQs and complex logistics proposals.
• Strong commercial judgement, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Able to analyse pricing, margins and customer profitability.
• Self-motivated, target-driven and comfortable managing a sales pipeline independently.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Willingness to travel for customer meetings and business-development activities when required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute business-development strategies for ocean-freight services.
• Identify and secure new customers across targeted industries and trade lanes.
• Build and maintain relationships with shippers, importers, exporters and regional decision-makers.
• Manage the full sales cycle, from prospecting and qualification to proposal submission and contract closure.
• Understand customers’ supply-chain requirements and develop suitable freight and logistics solutions.
• Prepare quotations, tenders, RFQs and commercial proposals in collaboration with pricing and operations teams.
• Negotiate freight rates, service agreements and other commercial terms.
• Develop opportunities across FCL, LCL, NVOCC and multimodal transportation services.
• Maintain an active sales pipeline and provide accurate revenue forecasts.
• Monitor ocean-freight markets, carrier capacity, rate movements and competitor activity.
• Work closely with shipping lines, overseas offices, agents and internal stakeholders to ensure competitive solutions.
• Coordinate the handover of new accounts to customer-service and operations teams.
• Monitor account performance, service quality, profitability and customer satisfaction.
• Identify cross-selling opportunities across air freight, warehousing, contract logistics and supply-chain solutions.
• Maintain accurate customer and sales information within the CRM system.
• Represent the organisation at customer meetings, industry events and networking activities.
• Achieve agreed revenue, gross-profit and new-business targets.

Skills

Ocean freight

Sales strategy

New business

CRM systems

Pricing analysis

Negotiation

Education

Degree in Logistics

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM systems

Job description

Role Overview

seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to drive the growth of its ocean-freight and international logistics business.

The successful candidate will identify new customers, develop strategic accounts and create commercially competitive freight solutions. This position requires strong knowledge of ocean freight forwarding, regional trade lanes, carrier management and customer supply chains.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute business-development strategies for ocean-freight services.

• Identify and secure new customers across targeted industries and trade lanes.

• Build and maintain relationships with shippers, importers, exporters and regional decision-makers.

• Manage the full sales cycle, from prospecting and qualification to proposal submission and contract closure.

• Understand customers’ supply-chain requirements and develop suitable freight and logistics solutions.

• Prepare quotations, tenders, RFQs and commercial proposals in collaboration with pricing and operations teams.

• Negotiate freight rates, service agreements and other commercial terms.

• Develop opportunities across FCL, LCL, NVOCC and multimodal transportation services.

• Maintain an active sales pipeline and provide accurate revenue forecasts.

• Monitor ocean-freight markets, carrier capacity, rate movements and competitor activity.

• Work closely with shipping lines, overseas offices, agents and internal stakeholders to ensure competitive solutions.

• Coordinate the handover of new accounts to customer-service and operations teams.

• Monitor account performance, service quality, profitability and customer satisfaction.

• Identify cross-selling opportunities across air freight, warehousing, contract logistics and supply-chain solutions.

• Maintain accurate customer and sales information within the CRM system.

• Represent the organisation at customer meetings, industry events and networking activities.

• Achieve agreed revenue, gross-profit and new-business targets.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree or diploma in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, Maritime Studies or a related discipline.

• 5 to 8 years of business-development or sales experience within ocean freight, freight forwarding or international logistics.

• Proven track record of securing new business and managing strategic customer accounts.

• Strong understanding of FCL, LCL, carrier pricing, trade lanes and freight-forwarding operations.

• Established relationships with regional shippers, beneficial cargo owners or multinational customers would be advantageous.

• Experience managing tenders, RFQs and complex logistics proposals.

• Strong commercial judgement, negotiation and presentation skills.

• Able to analyse pricing, margins and customer profitability.

• Self-motivated, target-driven and comfortable managing a sales pipeline independently.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM systems.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

• Willingness to travel for customer meetings and business-development activities when required.