Freight Forwarding Commercial Manager

Role Highlights:

• Location: Heathrow Area (Onsite)
• Compensation: Competitive Salary and Benefits Package (to be discussed during first contact).
• Benefits: private healthcare, annual incentive bonus scheme, DCAS car allowance.
• Travel: Regular international travel, with the opportunity to further strengthen a market-leading presence within Africa export air & sea freight, and expand growth across wider global trade lanes
• A highly visible and influential leadership role with clear long-term career progression opportunities.
• Our Client: a privately owned, well-established and highly respected international shipping & logistics business.
• Rare position developing existing strategic customer relationships with a direct impact on business & revenue growth. Role Overview: The successful candidate will join the management team of a thriving international freight forwarding operation, working closely with the Branch Director and Branch Manager to drive commercial performance & profitable growth across air & sea freight and associated logistics services. With a strong reputation in the African trade lane, the branch is well placed to build on this specialist position alongside identifying new opportunities across customers, sectors and trade lanes. Key Responsibilities:
• Commercial Strategy & Insights:
• Work closely with the Branch Director and Branch Manager to develop and implement the branch commercial strategy to drive performance and further strengthen market position.
• Identify emerging market opportunities, customer needs and trade lane developments to support future growth.
• Contribute commercial insight, market intelligence and strategic recommendations to support business growth.
• Work collaboratively with operational teams to ensure pricing, service delivery and growth objectives are aligned.
• Strengthen, expand, and support the evolution of the branch's specialist Africa export air & sea freight offering.
• Customer Development & Business Growth:
• Build, maintain and develop strong relationships with established key customers, becoming the primary commercial contact for strategic accounts.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue through cross-selling and upselling across air & sea freight, alongside wider logistics solutions.
• Generate new business opportunities and manage the entire sales cycle from prospecting through to implementation.
• Develop customer-specific solutions that deliver long-term value and sustainable profitability.
• Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events and partner engagements.
• Commercials & Pricing:
• Take ownership of customer pricing structures and ensure commercial agreements support long-term profitability.
• Monitor account performance, identifying opportunities for growth whilst protecting margins.
• Prepare competitive and commercially robust pricing proposals.
• Support and contribute to tender submissions and commercial negotiations.
• Negotiate agreements that deliver value for both customers and the business. Experience & Qualifications:
• Substantial experience within freight forwarding, international logistics or a comparable commercial supply chain environment is essential.
• Excellent understanding of air & sea freight forwarding and freight operations, services and commercial practices.
• Proven track record of winning new business whilst retaining, developing and growing existing customer accounts.
• Experience developing pricing strategies, commercial models and customer-specific solutions.
• Demonstrable success negotiating commercial agreements and delivering profitable growth.
• Strong IT proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications and freight management systems.
• Knowledge of African trade lanes is preferred. Skills & Attributes:
• Energetic, confident, and resilient character.
• Highly commercially astute, results driven & customer-focused.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate plans into practical commercial outcomes.
• Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence key stakeholders and build long-lasting commercial relationships.
• Collaborative leadership style with an analytical approach with the ability to interpret commercial data and make informed decisions.
• Proactive, self-starting and comfortable operating in a fast-paced commercial environment. If you feel you are suitable, please apply today by submitting your CV. If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Alice McGlaughlin. For more on Marmion, check out our 5★ reviews on Trustpilot & Google.