Head of Ocean Freight Growth

Joinimagine; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Global company

Job summary

DHL Global Forwarding seeks a Head of Ocean Freight Growth in Johannesburg, South Africa, to drive volume growth and pricing strategy across all OFR products. You will lead tender management, RFQ processes, and profitability initiatives, collaborating with OCC, M&S, and regional teams.

The role requires a strong commercial mindset, senior stakeholder engagement, and travel about 20%. Expect to manage a growth-focused team, optimize local buying conditions, and align country strategy with global

Qualifications

• More than 6 years of experience in ocean freight forwarding.
• Bachelor’s degree or trained forwarding merchant.
• Fluent in English and local language; able to travel ~20%.
• Experience with RFQ, pricing, tenders, and senior stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Drive volume growth and tender management for Ocean Freight products.
• Set competitive pricing and manage rate setting at country and regional levels.
• Lead local contract negotiations and supplier performance.
• Engage as senior commercial product lead in large tenders.
• Mentor and develop the growth team to ensure operational excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

RFQ Management

Pricing Strategy

Stakeholder Management

Tender Management

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Head of Ocean Freight Growth

Would you like to be part of the most international company in the world? A company operating in more than 220 countries worldwide and has been pioneering cross-border express shipping since 1969. Would you like to be part of a business that connects people across the globe and want to make a difference? Then waste no time and join our amazing team at DHL Group. DHL Global Forwarding, Freight (DGFF) is the Group's air, ocean, and road freight specialist. We offer standardized transport as well as highly specialized end-to-end solutions to customers in a wide range of industries globally.

Job Purpose:

To ensure the overall OFR growth initiatives in their country/cluster. The individual guides the country pricing strategy required to achieve the growth ambition and drives execution of this into the stations, including the implementation of relevant value propositions and solution design to support the growth. Furthermore, the role is responsible for aligning and setting a clear direction for growth in collaboration with the M&S organization. This includes all sales channels – CSI/MNC/SBC, BC, and digital. Managing the product commercial organization around OCC and RDM structures. DHL Global Forwarding has an opening Head of Ocean Freight Growth, Johannesburg, South Africa. Join us in connecting people and improving lives!

In this Head of Ocean Freight Growth position

Volume Growth & Tender Management

• Drive volume growth across all Ocean freight products in close coordination with station management and Country/Regional Product Heads. Together with Trade Management, drive the focus on trade lanes and countries as per the Trade Lane Plan.Manage the country OCC team.
• Oversee all tenders run through the country / cluster OCC as part of the global and country RFQ process,and ensure efficient execution with all stakeholders.
• Set competitive pricing and manage rate setting across global, regional, and country-level business.
• Manage the feed into the automation for tender management setup.
• Spearhead RFQ analytics to improve win ratios from a country / cluster perspective.
• Drive risk-taking analysis and proposals to deliver strategic growth targets.
• Drive country-led RFQs to increase growth.
• Drive ship-to-profile on tender business.
• Drive demand planning and routing guide input for the country.
• Ensure complete, timely, and accurate loading and maintenance of selling rates across MTS, CW1, and RMS
• Proactively identify and eliminate gaps in auto rating
• Ensure local quotations are in line with global charge code guidance
• Support service delivery in the timely resolution of rate disputes
• Ensure FMC compliance through timely and accurate NRA issuance and acceptance
• Ensure customer agreement is accurately documented and effectively handed over to operations (incl. special agreements on non-standard services, surcharge methodologies etc.)

Cost Management

• Lead local contract negotiations and manager supplier performance
• Support the country Head of Ocean Freight in maintaining local carrier and other supplier relationships.
• Ensure complete, timely and accurate maintenance of a buying rates repository for all local charges incl. but not limited to origin/destination handling charges, pick up and delivery fees as well as demurrage, detention and storage
• Ensure complete, timely and accurate loading and maintenance of buying rates across systems such as CW1, RMS and CW1 DDS Module/DDH
• Drive cost of sales reductions by optimizing buying conditions of all local charges incl. but not limited to origin/destination handling charges, pick up and delivery fees as well as demurrage, detention and storage in collaboration with trade management, procurement and ICC (if applicable)
• Proactively identify and eliminate gaps in auto costing
• Ensure local buying conditions are mapped in line with the global charge code guidance
• Support service delivery in the timely resolution of cost disputes

GP Maximization

• Identify low yielding customers and develop turnaround plans in place to maximize profitability
• Proactively identify and eliminate revenue leakage on customer and charge code level
• Maximize cashflow by negating favorable credit and payment terms with vendors and customers

Senior Commercial Product Engagement

• Engage as senior commercial product person in large tenders during the pre-RFQ period through Tender managers.
• Act as focal point for country product development.
• Coordinate and align the commercial approach for all OFR products together with Marketing & Sales.
• Align Marketing & Sales activities within the region as relevant to OFR products for the Country / Cluster.
• Execute the regional pricing strategy within the Country / Cluster.
• Sponsor various large OFR customers in the Country / Cluster.

Small/Business Customer Growth

• Own and steer the country growth framework and the structure of Route Development Managers (RDMs).
• Enhance the local value proposition from a product and/or trade perspective.
• Execute local focus trade lane plans via RDMs across all OFR products.
• Define target customers from a product and/or trade perspective together with OFR Head,Trade Management, and Marketing & Sales.
• Drive ship-to-profile with stations within the BC segment.
• Enable fast and prompt spot quotations.

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the growth team, fostering a high-performance culture
• Providing coaching and career development support to ensure team growth and operational excellence

Stakeholders

• OFR Station Management
• Country/Regional Ocean Freight Heads
• Country/cluster/regional Ocean Commercial Center (OCC)
• Route Development ManagementMarketing & Sales
• Trade Management

Now, here is what we need from you!

• Manage experienced professionals who exercise latitude and independence in assignments
• Good negotiator, always having the aspired goal in mind
• Needs to be able to manage teams virtually
• Excellent networking abilities and impeccable interpersonal approach
• Able to lead larger internal and external meetings
• Readiness to coach people and like to work across cultures
• Fluent in local language and English language
• Must be able to travel ca. 20%
• Used to work in a multinational environment and in a large corporation
• Leader with successful track record
• Good customer contacts
• Experience: More than 6 years of experience in the OFR forwarding industry
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or trained forwarding merchant

We offer:

• Opportunities in a global company where you can contribute your ideas and skills to move towards our shared goals.
• Possible further career development
• Competitive salary

Why join DHL Global Forwarding?

Visit our career site on the web at https://www.logistics.dhl/us-en/home/careers.html

Our TOP EMPLOYER prestigious certification attests to our best-in-class efforts to attract and retain talent by fostering a positive work environment and encouraging personal and professional development among employees. The development of talented women in our organization will be a focus for us and an important part of our DGF Strategy 2025.

We aspire to become the undisputed leader in our industry, when people think of forwarding; we want them to think DGF because we have:

• largest global network with more than 30,000 passionate employees
• efficient processes and fastest response times
• best solutions and best customer service

Our Vision:

The Logistics Company for the World.

Our Mission:

Excellence. Simply Delivered.

Our Purpose:

Connecting People, improving lives.

Our Values:

Respect & Results

Our Goals:

Employer, Provider, and Investment of Choice, Living Responsibility

DHL Global Forwarding is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.