Our client
Our client is one of the world’s largest third-party logistics (3PL) providers, headquartered in the United States. Founded as a produce brokerage business, the company has evolved into a global leader in transportation, logistics, and supply chain management. With an extensive worldwide network, it delivers integrated freight, logistics, and supply chain solutions that help businesses optimize operations and navigate increasingly complex global trade.
The Role
Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Oceanfreight Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing the company’s global forwarding operations, ensuring operational excellence, service quality, and customer satisfaction. This role oversees the Ocean Export Operations team, manages ocean freight procurement and trucking vendors, and drives operational performance while fostering strong relationships with customers, carriers, and key stakeholders.
This is an excellent opportunity for a results-oriented logistics professional with proven leadership experience and a strong background in ocean freight operations.
Key Responsibilities
Operations
- Lead resource planning and allocation to ensure the successful onboarding of new business.
- Optimize operational costs by aligning workforce planning with forecasted business volumes.
- Utilize operational and financial reporting tools to monitor daily activities, prioritize workloads, and measure team performance.
- Resolve operational issues promptly by coordinating with carriers, shipping lines, ports, freight forwarders, and customs brokers.
- Monitor and maintain effective control of accounts receivable (AR) and accounts payable (AP).
- Develop, review, and continuously improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and operational best practices.
- Ensure supervisors and operations staff have the necessary tools, resources, and support to deliver exceptional customer service.
- Identify opportunities to leverage global operations teams to improve efficiency and enhance customer experience.
- Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned to support business and country-specific requirements.
Leadership
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing work environment that supports employee engagement, development, and customer satisfaction.
- Promote professionalism and operational excellence by ensuring compliance with company policies, procedures, and standardized processes.
- Identify training and development opportunities, provide regular coaching and constructive feedback, and support continuous learning.
- Lead recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.
- Conduct regular coaching sessions and semi-annual performance reviews for direct reports.
Communication
- Keep the team informed of industry trends, operational updates, process improvements, and organizational changes.
- Prepare and communicate customer advisories on trade developments, market conditions, and regulatory updates.
- Provide guidance and support to employees in managing complex customer situations and escalations.
Strategy
- Monitor departmental KPIs and maintain the monthly performance scorecard.
- Lead pricing discussions and support commercial negotiations.
- Collaborate with branch leadership to resolve operational challenges and drive continuous process improvements.
- Establish clear performance objectives and measurable targets for department supervisors.
- Develop, implement, and maintain processes that ensure consistent, efficient, and high-quality service delivery.
Customer Service
- Ensure full compliance with customer Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, origin offices, destination partners, and key service providers.
- Ensure accurate execution of operational processes and timely, accurate customer billing.
- Coach and mentor team members in delivering effective customer business reviews.
- Conduct Monthly and Quarterly Business Reviews (MBRs/QBRs) and support commercial and sales initiatives.
- Proactively troubleshoot operational challenges and develop effective customer-focused solutions.
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience in Global Forwarding, with a strong preference for Ocean Export operations.
- At least 3 years of people management experience, leading and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong experience in ocean freight pricing, procurement, and commercial support.
- Proven track record in driving operational excellence within the freight forwarding industry.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and people development skills, with the ability to build high-performing teams.
- Solid understanding of financial reporting, operational metrics, budgeting, and performance management.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while effectively managing changing customer and operational requirements.
- Established relationships with shipping lines, co-loaders, trucking companies, and logistics partners within Malaysia would be an advantage.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Strong presentation and communication skills, with experience delivering customer MBRs/QBRs and presenting to internal stakeholders.
- Experience supporting RFQs, pricing activities, and cross-functional commercial initiatives.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and stakeholder management skills.
- Demonstrates a collaborative approach and values diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.