Ocean Freight Manager

Deutsche Post; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 93,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Compensation: competitive base salary

401(k) Match

Stock Purchase Plan

Medical benefits

Vision benefits

Dental benefits

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Deutsche Post via DHL Global Forwarding seeks an Ocean Freight Manager in Houston, TX to lead a team of freight forwarding professionals and transform operations with a finance-first mindset. You will drive KPI outcomes, enhance customer experience, and ensure compliance with corporate policies.

Key responsibilities include developing staff, negotiating with suppliers, overseeing billing and documentation, and aligning P/L ownership with business goals.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience developing and coaching staff.
• Ability to drive customer-centricity while maintaining a finance-first mindset.
• Demonstrated strategic, transformational thinking and vision.
• Proactive in identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and profitability.
• Strong communication and leadership skills to drive KPIs and engage teams.
• Solid business acumen with focus on strategic growth opportunities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office tools for analysis and communication.
• Experience in ocean freight operations or freight forwarding is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a strong team of freight forwarding professionals.
• Transform the team from data entry to proactive, solution-oriented operations.
• Drive a finance-first mindset connecting P/L to performance.
• Align team goals to P/L excellence with clear ownership.
• Initiate initiatives to enhance customer experience and satisfaction.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Monitor service quality and coordinate with Field Sales and Key Account Management.
• Establish and enforce policies, procedures, and service standards per corporate guidelines.
• Lead negotiations with external suppliers to manage costs and drive efficiencies.
• Oversee buying rate quotations with shipping carriers and ensure accurate invoicing.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Customer focus

Finance mindset

Strategic thinking

Continuous improvement

KPI management

Communication

Business acumen

MS Office

CargoWise

Education

Bachelor's degree (BA/BS)

Tools

CargoWise

MS Office

Job description

Job Title: Ocean Freight Manager

Job Location: Houston, TX

Join our team as an Ocean Freight Manager and embark on an exciting journey as a transformational leader. In this role, you will motivate and inspire a team of freight forwarding professionals, fostering a culture of enthusiasm, innovation, and solutions-oriented thinking. With your visionary leadership, you will think outside the box and drive strategic initiatives, working closely with the National Operations team to achieve exceptional results.

As the Ocean Freight Manager, you will have full responsibility for all aspects of our logistics operation, customer service, customs clearance, and billing. Your strategic mindset will be crucial in ensuring the profitability of the logistics operation, while also positioning us as the Employer of Choice in the industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and develop a strong team of freight forwarding professionals, creating an environment that promotes employee engagement and growth
• Drive the transformation of the team from a data entry focus to a proactive and solution-oriented approach
• Foster a finance-first mindset, connecting the dots between P/L and file level performance
• Align team goals to P/L excellence, including clear P/L ownership
• Initiate and drive initiatives to enhance customer experience and satisfaction
• Cultivate a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
• Monitor service quality and customer satisfaction levels, collaborating with Field Sales and Key Account Management to visit clients and prospects
• Implement a process-oriented approach to ensure reliable and consistent customer service
• Establish, monitor, and revise policies, procedures, and service standards to ensure compliance with DHL corporate policies and government regulations
• Lead negotiations with external suppliers to effectively manage costs and drive efficiencies
• Oversee the negotiation and issuance of buying rate quotations with shipping carriers
• Manage business processes to ensure accuracy in invoices, bills of lading, shipping statements, and foreign currency conversions

Skills / Requirements

• Proven track record of developing, coaching, and mentoring staff to achieve exceptional results
• Success in leading teams through a transition to prioritize customer-centricity and adopt a finance-first mindset
• Demonstrated strategic, transformational, and visionary mindset
• Proactive drive to challenge existing practices and consistently identify opportunities for continuous improvement, aiming to optimize customer satisfaction and enhance profitability
• Strong leadership abilities, including driving KPIs, fostering employee engagement, team building, and inspiring a visionary culture
• Business acumen and commercial drive, with a keen eye for strategic opportunities and growth
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to deliver impactful presentations and effectively convey strategic vision
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, to facilitate strategic analysis and communication
• Preferred bachelor's degree (BA/BS) demonstrating a strong educational foundation
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the freight forwarding industry, including at least 4 years of leadership experience in Ocean Freight operations.
• Knowledge of the CargoWise system is advantageous, enabling strategic decision-making and operational efficiency

Pay Range: $93,142.50 - $124,190.00+ (Based on Experience)

Benefits (All Non-Union Employees)

• Compensation: Competitive base salary plus role dependent performance-based incentives.
• 401(k) Match: $1-for-$1 match up to 4% quarterly + 2% annual base contribution.
• Stock Purchase Plan: Ability to purchase Deutsche Post AG shares at a discounted rate.
• Medical: Comprehensive plans covering preventive care, inpatient/outpatient services, and prescriptions.
• Vision: Optional coverage for exams, frames, and contacts.
• Dental: Optional coverage for preventive, basic, and major services.
• Paid Time Off: 7 major holidays, 8 floating holidays, and accrued vacation/sick days.

Why Join DHL Global Forwarding?

At DHL Global Forwarding, we invest in our employees' growth, providing training, guidance, and career advancement opportunities. We believe in building careers, not just jobs, and empowering our team to develop skills and achieve long-term success.

Be part of DHL Group, the world’s leading logistics provider, operating in 220+ countries. DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) is a global leader in air and ocean freight, with 30,000+ employees ensuring seamless transport and supply chain solutions. Explore careers with us: DHL Careers.

Equal Opportunity Employer

DHL Global Forwarding is committed to equal employment opportunities, evaluating all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

#LI-RL2