Trade Manager

Sallaum Lines; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sallaum Lines in Durban, South Africa, invites a Trade Manager to drive commercial growth across African markets. The role focuses on developing trade strategies, building partnerships with customers, distributors, and strategic partners, and optimizing profitability and market presence.

You will monitor market developments, analyze opportunities, support pricing strategies, and collaborate with internal teams to ensure successful trade execution. Travel across Africa is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, International Trade, Supply Chain, Logistics, Marketing, or related.
• Minimum 5 years in a similar commercial, trade, or business development role.
• Previous experience in logistics, shipping, automotive, or transportation is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of African markets and distribution networks.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Africa and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute trade and commercial strategies to drive revenue growth and market expansion across Africa.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities and strategic partnerships across key corridors.
• Conduct market research on opportunities, segments, trends, and competition.
• Monitor freight trends, trade developments, and pricing strategies for profitability.
• Build relationships with customers, distributors, agents and partners.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and contracts to secure favorable terms.
• Coordinate with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance and Legal teams for delivery.
• Maintain CRM records and prepare weekly market intelligence reports.

Skills

Fluency in English

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Analytical abilities

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related

Master’s degree is an advantage

Tools

ERP systems

CRM systems

Job description

Job Type:Full Time

Who are we looking for?

The Trade Manager will be responsible for driving Sallaum Lines’ commercial growth across African markets by developing and executing trade strategies aligned with the company’s objectives.

S/he will identify new business opportunities, develop strong relationships with customers, distributors, agents, and strategic partners, and support the expansion of the company’s presence across key African trade corridors.

The Trade Manager will monitor market developments, analyze commercial opportunities, support pricing strategies, and collaborate with internal teams to ensure the successful execution of trade activities.

The role focuses on building sustainable partnerships, increasing market share, optimizing commercial performance, and strengthening Sallaum Lines’ position within the African automotive and logistics markets.

What will you do?

• Develop and execute trade and commercial strategies aligned with company objectives to drive revenue growth and market expansion across Africa.
• Identify, evaluate, and pursue new business opportunities and strategic partnerships across key trade corridors, including EU–West Africa–South Africa, US–West Africa–South Africa, and intra-African markets.
• Conduct market research to identify emerging opportunities, customer segments, industry trends, and competitive developments.
• Monitor market conditions, competitor activity, freight trends, and trade developments to identify commercial risks and opportunities.
• Promote and expand Sallaum Lines’ services within the South African market, focusing on vehicle manufacturers, locally established entities, freight forwarders, and logistics partners.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective customers to ensure customer satisfaction and identify growth opportunities.
• Schedule and conduct business meetings with clients and partners to generate new opportunities and strengthen commercial relationships.
• Manage customer accounts through regular business reviews, performance monitoring, and identification of upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and contracts with customers, suppliers, distributors, and strategic partners to secure favorable business terms.
• Develop competitive shipping and pricing strategies based on market conditions, operational costs, and customer requirements, while ensuring profitability and competitiveness.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Legal teams to ensure effective business development and seamless service delivery.
• Coordinate cargo bookings and vessel space allocation to support efficient and timely loading and discharge operations.
• Ensure compliance with international trade regulations, shipping requirements, customs procedures, and applicable agreements.
• Monitor logistics and shipping performance indicators, including delivery performance, cargo integrity, service quality, and cost efficiency.
• Prepare and present commercial reports covering cargo volumes, revenue performance, customer pipeline, pricing activities, and market developments.
• Maintain accurate customer records, opportunities, and commercial activities within the company’s CRM system.
• Prepare weekly market intelligence reports covering competitor activity, freight rates, customer movements, and emerging trade opportunities.
• Identify and mitigate commercial, operational, and geopolitical risks impacting trade flows.
• Support process improvements, automation initiatives, and technology adoption to enhance commercial efficiency.
• Maintain accurate records of trade-related operational and financial activities.
• Represent Sallaum Lines at industry events, conferences, and trade exhibitions to strengthen brand visibility and expand professional networks.
• Develop and maintain relationships with shipping lines, agents, and logistics partners to identify cargo opportunities and potential commercial collaborations.

What do we expect of you?

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, International Trade, Supply Chain, Logistics, Marketing, or related discipline. A Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar commercial, trade, or business development role.
• Previous experience in the logistics, shipping, automotive, or transportation industry is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of African markets, regional trade structures, and distribution networks.
• Comprehensive knowledge of international trade, commercial strategy, and market expansion.
• Understanding of pricing strategy, margin optimization, and revenue growth drivers.
• Experience in developing business opportunities, managing key accounts, and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Knowledge of supply chain fundamentals and their impact on trade performance.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop and execute commercial strategies across multiple markets.
• Strong negotiation, decision-making, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Proficiency in ERP and CRM systems.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Fluency in English, written and spoken, is required. Knowledge of additional languages is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Africa and internationally as required.

What do we have to offer?

You are guaranteed an exciting position in a dynamic, growing, and fast‑paced environment and the opportunity to become part of a leading Ro‑Ro company with a strong presence in the industry.

Our desire is to see each employee achieve his/her highest potential. We will do our best to provide the opportunity and offer training, education, and guidance whenever possible.

We commit to providing a supportive, collaborative, and healthy working environment based on fairness and honesty with our employees.

We provide a fair, equitable, and competitive package in relation to responsibility and performance.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates whose qualifications closely match the requirements of the role will be contacted.