Director – Trade & Carrier Management (Global)

KLN Logistics Centre (Tampines) Pte Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

KLN Logistics Centre (Tampines) Pte Ltd is seeking a strategic leader to drive growth in global ocean trades, optimize yields, and govern pricing across regions. The role partners with country teams, commercial units, strategic customers and carriers to strengthen KLN's market position and deliver profitable expansion.

The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of ocean freight markets, proven leadership of regional or international teams, and strong negotiation skills to win major RFQs and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in logistics, supply chain, business or related discipline.
• 10+ years in trade, carrier management, freight or commercial leadership.
• Strong knowledge of global ocean freight markets.
• Proven track record in growth and profitability.
• Experience leading regional or international teams.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management.
• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities.
• Results-oriented in a global matrix organisation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel overseas.

Responsibilities

• Own the commercial performance of assigned global ocean trades and develop and execute trade strategies aligned with the Global Ocean growth agenda
• Drive sustainable volume growth across assigned trade lanes and support countries in developing and executing local trade development plans
• Identify market opportunities, emerging trade flows and high-growth customer segments
• Develop and execute carrier procurement strategies across assigned trades and lead commercial negotiations with global and regional carriers
• Establish and maintain strategic carrier partnerships and secure competitive freight agreements, service commitments and capacity allocations
• Drive yield enhancement initiatives across assigned trades and monitor trade profitability, GP performance and margin trends
• Provide strategic pricing guidance for key opportunities and bids and support country teams during major RFQs and tenders
• Monitor freight markets, carrier developments, capacity trends and competitive activity and produce regular trade and market intelligence reports
• Lead, coach and develop assigned Trade Managers and Procurement Managers and establish clear objectives, accountability and performance expectations
• Drive collaboration across regions, countries and functions and champion continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives

Skills

Ocean freight markets

Carrier management

Pricing strategy

Negotiation

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Analytical thinking

Team leadership

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in logistics or related field

Job description

About the role

This strategic leadership role is responsible for driving volume growth, yield optimization, carrier strategy, pricing governance, market intelligence and team leadership while supporting country organizations in achieving their growth and profitability objectives. The successful candidate will work closely with country management teams, commercial teams, strategic customers and ocean carriers to strengthen KLN market position and deliver sustainable, profitable growth across the assigned trade portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Own the commercial performance of assigned global ocean trades and develop and execute trade strategies aligned with the Global Ocean growth agenda
• Drive sustainable volume growth across assigned trade lanes and support countries in developing and executing local trade development plans
• Identify market opportunities, emerging trade flows and high-growth customer segments
• Develop and execute carrier procurement strategies across assigned trades and lead commercial negotiations with global and regional carriers
• Establish and maintain strategic carrier partnerships and secure competitive freight agreements, service commitments and capacity allocations
• Drive yield enhancement initiatives across assigned trades and monitor trade profitability, GP performance and margin trends
• Provide strategic pricing guidance for key opportunities and bids and support country teams during major RFQs and tenders
• Monitor freight markets, carrier developments, capacity trends and competitive activity and produce regular trade and market intelligence reports
• Lead, coach and develop assigned Trade Managers and Procurement Managers and establish clear objectives, accountability and performance expectations
• Drive collaboration across regions, countries and functions and champion continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives

About you

• Bachelor's Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business, Aviation Management, or a related discipline
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in trade and carrier management, freight forwarding, pricing, or commercial leadership
• Strong knowledge of global ocean freight markets, carrier dynamics, and pricing
• Proven track record in driving business growth, profitability, and commercial performance
• Experience in leading regional or international teams
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
• Results-oriented, self-driven, and able to work effectively in a global matrix organisation
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to travel overseas as required