Trade Manager

About the Company

We are a leading logistics company dedicated to providing innovative solutions in the shipping and transportation industry. Our mission is to enhance global trade by ensuring efficient and reliable services while fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.

About the Role

The role involves overseeing the planning and allocation of container space, managing procurement and optimization of deadfreight slots, and leading a team to ensure operational efficiency and profitability across various trade lanes.

Responsibilities

• Capacity & Slot Chartering Management
• Oversee end-to-end planning and allocation of container space on vessels and feeders across Middle East & East Africa (East Bound) & Intra Middle East.
• Manage procurement and allocation of Deadfreight (DF) and SOC slots through strategic negotiations and long-term contracts with vessel operators and MLOs.
• Drive model ship planning and DF target alignment across locations and agency networks to ensure profitability and efficient capacity utilization.
• Ensure optimal container inventory balance by recommending and managing empty repositioning as per trade forecasts.

Deadfreight Procurement & Optimization

• Lead strategic and cost-effective procurement of deadfreight slots by working closely with carriers, agencies, and DF teams.
• Drive profitability through proactive planning of DF utilization and building feasible DF routes.
• Monitor divisional DF targets and address issues across locations to align efforts with company strategy and market dynamics.

SOC Slot & Vendor Management

• Validate slot rates from procurement teams across ports and provide inputs on prevailing feeder market trends.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships with feeder and mainline operators to secure favorable rates and ensure space support.
• Review and audit vendors on service levels, space reliability, and alignment with operational needs.
• Train, supervise, and develop team members on vendor engagement, regulatory compliance, and slot optimization.

Trade Lane Management & Market Strategy

• Monitor and evaluate trade lane performance through analysis of volumes, pricing structures, space constraints, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and implement lane-specific strategies to drive market share and profitability.
• Conduct cost-benefit assessments for new trade route opportunities and transshipment operations.

Commercial Acumen & Pricing Strategy

• Formulate pricing strategies aligned with capacity, cost structures, and competitive intelligence.
• Work with Trade and Pricing teams to ensure DF/SOC rate structures support profitability goals.
• Collaborate with accounts team to analyze cost components and identify optimization areas in liner business.

MIS, Reporting & Strategic Planning

• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting mechanisms for monitoring capacity utilization, DF/SOC procurement, cost control, and vendor performance.
• Present weekly/monthly MIS reports and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Support strategic business planning through trade analysis, performance benchmarking, and forecasting.

Leadership & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Lead and mentor a team of executives and support staff involved in capacity management and procurement.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders—Trade, Sales, Operations, Accounts, and Agency Network—to align capacity with commercial objectives.
• Foster a high-performance team culture focused on accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Education details: Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

Required Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent negotiation and communication abilities.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools.
• Experience in capacity management and procurement.

Preferred Skills

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in the shipping and logistics industry.
• Familiarity with market trends and pricing strategies.

Pay range and compensation package

Competitive salary based on experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package.