Trade Lane Manager

Fracht Group - North America; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Fracht Group - North America is seeking a Trade Lane Manager to develop, manage, and optimize international trade lanes, especially focusing on the Australian market. In this role, you will leverage your expertise in freight forwarding and logistics to drive profitability and operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of experience in trade lane management, strong analytical skills, and proven negotiation capabilities. This position involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure excellent customer service and compliance with international trade regulations.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in international freight forwarding or trade lane management.
• Experience in project logistics and unique shipment pricing.
• Strong analytical skills with KPI tracking experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow designated trade lanes for profitability and service excellence.
• Collaborate with sales teams to generate new business.
• Build relationships with airlines, shipping lines, and 3PL partners.
• Develop pricing strategies for both standard and complex shipments.
• Coordinate with operations for seamless shipment execution.
• Analyze market trends and competitive dynamics.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Relationship management

Problem-solving

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Logistics or International Business

Job description

Position Overview

The Trade Lane Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and optimizing specific international trade lanes, with a focus on the Australian market. This role combines expertise in freight forwarding, project logistics, and supply chain management to drive profitability, operational efficiency, and superior customer service. The ideal candidate will possess in-depth knowledge of the Australian market, experience managing unique project pricing, and the ability to lead cross‑functional teams to deliver complex, high‑value supply chain solutions.

Core Competencies

• Integrity: Adhere to Fracht’s Core Values and Vision. Operate openly and honestly, building trust with team members, customers, and vendors. Accept mistakes and learn from them without blaming.
• Flexibility: Keep up to date with new developments, procedures, and regulations. Work efficiently in an environment with multiple shifting priorities.
• Communication: Effectively listen and communicate clearly with team members, customers, and vendors. Interpret and disseminate information promptly.
• Problem Solving: Measure effectiveness in understanding problems and making timely practical decisions. Work well in groups and/or individually to develop alternative solutions.
• Accountability: Justify responsible actions and decisions to management. Be a reliable team player who makes accurate decisions with a sense of urgency.

Key Responsibilities

• Trade Lane Development: Manage and grow designated trade lanes (e.g., Australia–North America, Australia–Central America, Australia Latin America), identifying opportunities to increase profitability, market share, and service excellence.
• Business Development & Sales Support: Collaborate with sales teams to generate new business, manage pipelines, and develop trade‑lane‑specific strategies to meet revenue and customer satisfaction targets.
• Carrier & Partner Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with airlines, shipping lines, and 3PL partners in Australia and other regions, negotiating competitive rates, securing capacity, and ensuring reliable service.
• Project & Pricing Management: Develop pricing strategies for standard and specialized shipments, including complex or unique projects, ensuring profitability while remaining competitive.
• Operational Excellence: Coordinate with operations, logistics, and customs teams to ensure seamless shipment execution, proactively resolving issues, and developing SOPs for continuous improvement.
• Strategic Planning: Analyze market trends, regulatory changes, and competitive dynamics in the Australian logistics space to inform long‑term strategies for growth, profitability, and service differentiation.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Track and evaluate trade lane performance, including cost, capacity utilization, service levels, and operational KPIs, and provide actionable insights for management.
• Customer & Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with internal teams, including sales, operations, pricing, and regional leaders, to deliver integrated solutions and a superior customer experience.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all freight operations comply with international trade laws, customs regulations, and security requirements, particularly within the Australian context.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to optimize costs, processes, and service quality across assigned trade lanes.
• Warehousing & Customer Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned warehousing customers, ensuring service levels, KPIs, and contractual requirements are met; oversee day‑to‑day warehousing operations in coordination with internal teams and third‑party warehouse providers; monitor inventory accuracy, inbound/outbound activity, storage utilization, and operational performance; proactively identify operational risks, capacity constraints, and improvement opportunities; support customer onboarding, implementation, and transition into steady‑state operations; address and resolve customer issues, escalations, and service concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Proposals & Business Support: Support the development of warehousing proposals, including scope definition, pricing inputs, and operational assumptions; collaborate with sales and solutions teams to design scalable warehousing solutions aligned with customer requirements; participate in customer meetings, site visits, and presentations as a subject matter expert; assist with onboarding planning for new customers to ensure operational readiness.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, International Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in international freight forwarding, trade lane management, or logistics operations, with demonstrable success in managing and growing trade lanes; work experience in warehousing and logistics within Australia.
• Experience in project logistics, including unique warehousing and/or complex shipment pricing, planning, and execution.
• Strong analytical skills, with experience in performance monitoring, market research, and KPI tracking.
• Proven negotiation and relationship management skills with carriers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multicultural, cross‑functional teams.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and adaptability in dynamic international environments.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform the essential job functions consistently, safely, and successfully in accordance with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance in accordance with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 20 lbs.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to talk, listen and speak clearly on telephone.

Diversity and Inclusion

We believe in creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels empowered and supported. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to apply. We are committed to diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.