Manager, Global Freight Contracting

Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte Ltd seeks a Manager, Global Freight Contracting in Singapore to lead strategy, sourcing, negotiation, and governance of global ocean and air freight contracts across key trade lanes. The role ensures commercially competitive, operationally executable, and confidential handling of rate information.

The candidate will own annual RFQs, develop lane strategies, govern contracts with KPIs and QBRs, and provide market intelligence and contingency plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12 years' of relevant experience in global freight contracting, logistics procurement or carrier management.
• Minimum 5 years in a people management role.
• Proven experience leading regional or global freight portfolios, major RFQs and teams.
• Deep knowledge of container shipping markets, freight rate structures and contract terms.
• Strong commercial negotiation, analytical and decision-making capability.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across regions and cultures.
• Proven people leadership, coaching and succession-development capability.
• High integrity, resilience and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, sourcing, negotiation and governance of global ocean and air freight contracts.
• Oversee RFQs and ad-hoc negotiations with carriers and freight forwarders.
• Develop trade-lane sourcing, carrier portfolios and allocation strategies.
• Own contract governance, confidentiality and supplier performance via KPIs and QBRs.
• Provide market intelligence, rate outlooks and disruption contingency plans.
• Drive cost optimization with regional teams, Manufacturing, Sales and Finance.
• Act as People Manager for direct reports and succession planning.

Skills

People leadership

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business or related

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

The Manager, Global Freight Contracting, will have 4 direct reports in Singapore, with regional functional leadership across Hong Kong and China freight teams.

The candidate will lead the strategy, sourcing, negotiation and governance of global ocean and air freight contracts across key trade lanes. The role is accountable for securing commercially competitive, operationally executable and resilient freight solutions for Panasonic group businesses, while safeguarding confidential rate and contracting information.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading annual RFQs and ad-hoc negotiations with carriers and freight forwarders.
• Developing trade-lane sourcing, carrier portfolio and allocation strategies balancing cost, capacity, service and risk.
• Owning contract governance, confidentiality and supplier performance through KPIs and QBRs.
• Providing market intelligence, rate outlooks and disruption contingency plans.
• Driving sustainable cost optimization and alignment with regional teams, Manufacturing, Sales and Finance.
• People Manager role to lead and develop direct reports, strengthen succession capability and act as deputy to the Head of Contracting when required.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12 years' of relevant experience in global freight contracting, logistics procurement or carrier management and minimum 5 years in a people management role.
• Proven experience leading regional or global freight portfolios, major RFQs and teams.
• Deep knowledge of container shipping markets, freight rate structures and contract terms.
• Strong commercial negotiation, analytical and decision-making capability.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across regions and cultures.
• Proven people leadership, coaching and succession-development capability.
• High integrity, resilience and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Willing to travel and work across time zones.