Head of Ocean Freight

About the roleThe Head of Ocean Freight is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and development of the Ocean Freight product within the country. This role owns the country-level Ocean Freight strategy and Profit & Loss (P&L), ensures competitive and compliant carrier procurement, drives profitable growth, and delivers high-quality, customer-centric ocean freight solutions aligned with global and regional strategies.Key AccountabilitiesOwn the country Ocean Freight P&L, including revenue, gross profit, cost control, and productivity targets.Ensure disciplined pricing, yield management, and margin optimization.Monitor performance through KPIs, dashboards, and forecasts, taking corrective action where required.Lead carrier sourcing, negotiation, and allocation strategies to secure competitive rates, space, and service levels.Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with core shipping lines and vendors.Ensure effective contract utilization and compliance with global procurement frameworks.Oversee pricing governance, spot quote management, and tender execution to ensure speed, accuracy, and competitiveness.Ensure alignment between sales, pricing, and operations to deliver executable and profitable solutions.Act as escalation point for complex or strategic ocean freight solutions.Ensure operational excellence, service reliability, and adherence to internal SOPs and external regulatory requirements.Drive continuous improvement in processes, systems, and data quality.Ensure risk management, compliance, and audit readiness across all ocean freight activities.Lead, coach, and develop the country Ocean Freight team, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.Ensure clear roles, objectives, and succession planning within the team.Promote knowledge sharing, training, and alignment with global product standards.Act as the country interface to regional and global Ocean Freight leadership.Contribute to regional and global initiatives, pilots, and transformation programs.Ensure local execution of global standards while representing country-specific market needs.Qualities, Skills & ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.A postgraduate degree is an advantage but not mandatory.Professional certifications in logistics or supply chain are an advantage.Minimum 10–15 years of experience in freight forwarding, logistics, or ocean carrier-related roles.At least 5–7 years in a senior management or product leadership role within Ocean Freight.Proven experience with country-level or regional P&L ownership for an Ocean Freight or Product function.Strong background in carrier procurement, contract negotiations, and space management.Demonstrated experience leading pricing, tenders, and key account support in a competitive market.Hands-on exposure to import, export, and cross-trade operations across multiple trades.Deep understanding of ocean freight commercial models, including rate structures, surcharges, equipment management, and cost drivers.Strong knowledge of trade lanes, market dynamics, and carrier strategies relevant to the country and region.Solid grasp of end-to-end forwarding operations, SOPs, Incoterms, and regulatory compliance.Experience working with freight forwarding systems, pricing tools, and performance dashboards.Ability to interpret financial data and translate it into commercial and operational decisions.Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a matrix and multicultural environment.Strong stakeholder management skills, able to influence sales, operations, finance, and global product teams.Commercially driven with a customer-centric and solution-oriented mindset.Comfortable operating in volatile markets, making decisions under pressure and ambiguity.Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation skills at senior customer and carrier level.Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline.High level of integrity and compliance awareness.Resilient, adaptable, and results-oriented.Willingness to travel as required for customer, carrier, and internal engagementsEqual Employment Opportunity (EEO)DP World is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). We strongly believe that employing a diverse workforce is central to our success and we make recruiting decisions based on your experience and skills. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or belief.By submitting your resume and application information, you authorize DP World to transmit and store your information in the world-wide recruitment database, and to circulate that information as necessary for the purpose of evaluating your qualification for this or other job vacancies.About DP WorldDP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 115,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.In Asia Pacific, DP World employs over 15,000 people across 22 geographies. We operate 17 ports and terminals, complemented by a comprehensive suite of end-to-end supply chain solutions - to connect the region to the rest of the world.WE MAKE TRADE FLOWDisclaimer: There may be fraudulent job offers and recruitment schemes on social media and job boards or communicated by unsolicited emails. DP World will never request any payment or sensitive financial information from job applicants. To explore genuine career opportunities with DP World, please apply only through our official careers page or trusted platforms like LinkedIn, where we are a verified employer.