Ocean Route Development Lead – North East US

DHL Global Forwarding; Edison (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock Purchase Plan

401(k) Match

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

DHL Global Forwarding is seeking a Route Development Manager for the North East region, Edison, NJ. You will lead ocean freight initiatives, develop trade lane strategies, and drive growth by collaborating with sales, product, and operations teams.

The role requires deep US ocean freight market knowledge, strong analytical and presentation skills, and the ability to sponsor accounts at the national level. Travel up to 50% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a business discipline and 4+ years of related experience.
• Strong ocean freight product and pricing knowledge.
• Thorough understanding of business development strategy and the sales process.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills including conflict management and negotiation.
• Cross-cultural competence and cultural sensitivity.
• Self-starter with excellent planning and organizing skills who is willing to share knowledge and expertise.
• Understanding of continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Fluent in English; knowledge of other languages is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Ocean Freight product champion and subject matter expert for assigned trade lanes and liaison between product, marketing/sales, key customers and station operations.
• Drives growth across all ocean products within the appointed trade(s), and together with local OFR management drives Field Sales to focus on those trade(s) as per country growth plan.
• Provides local guidance for local sales on where and what to sell, and personally engages in customer opportunities, including target customer characteristics.
• Engage with US and overseas Ocean Freight pricing teams (OCCs) to review and finalize OFR rates for opportunities.
• Develop Ocean Freight product priorities/targets (volume/price/campaigns) and the business plan for assigned routes.
• Conduct market profiling, competitor research and analysis to understand and identify market opportunities and challenges; provides feedback on competitiveness of Ocean Freight solutions based on hit ratios and stakeholder input.
• Drives engagement with overseas RDMs as per the trade plan and focus countries.
• Engages locally with carriers and procures as per Trade Management guidance.
• Builds and executes an annual program of activities to support the growth required, e.g. sales campaigns (in alignment with Sales), must win RFQs, suggested investments required, etc.

Skills

Ocean freight knowledge

Pricing expertise

Business development strategy

Written and verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Cross-cultural competence

Planning and organizing

Continuous improvement

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Fluent English

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

DHL Global Forwarding is seeking a Route Development Manager for the North East region, Edison, NJ. You will lead ocean freight initiatives, develop trade lane strategies, and drive growth by collaborating with sales, product, and operations teams.

The role requires deep US ocean freight market knowledge, strong analytical and presentation skills, and the ability to sponsor accounts at the national level. Travel up to 50% may be required.