Business Development Manager – Ocean Freight

Our long-term client, a leading multinational logistics and IT solutions provider is expanding its commercial footprint across Southeast Asia and Oceania. They are seeking an accomplished Business Development Manager – Ocean Freight to spearhead growth across the Singapore and Malaysia markets. The company operates regionally across Southeast Asia and Oceania, offering integrated freight forwarding services to a diverse portfolio of global clients.

This role presents a unique opportunity for a seasoned sales leader to shape the commercial trajectory of the ocean freight vertical. With direct reporting to the regional leadership, the incumbent will manage a multi-country team while driving strategic sales performance. The position is Singapore-based and offers significant regional exposure, high-level stakeholder engagement, and growth potential within a globally recognised logistics environment.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Sales Growth

• Drive new business acquisition in ocean freight across Singapore and Malaysia
• Identify, qualify, and convert high-potential leads into long-term clients
• Achieve revenue and profitability targets through strategic account development

Team Leadership & Regional Oversight

• Lead and mentor sales personnel across SEA (Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia)
• Establish regional sales strategies aligned with corporate objectives
• Coordinate cross-border collaboration to maximise regional synergies

Client & Market Engagement

• Retain and grow key accounts through cross-selling and upselling initiatives
• Leverage market intelligence to secure competitive rates and space with carriers
• Strengthen customer relationships through customised freight solutions

Reporting & Internal Alignment

• Deliver structured sales performance updates during leadership meetings
• Collaborate with pricing, operations, and commercial teams to align execution
• Monitor and adapt to regional market dynamics and ocean freight trends

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 10 years experience in logistics, with core expertise in ocean freight forwarding
• Proven success in new business generation and account management in SEA
• Strong leadership experience managing regional sales teams
• Prior background in top-tier global freight forwarding companies preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, long-term client contracts
• Established customer network across Southeast Asia and Australia is advantageous
• Bachelors degree in Business, Logistics, Supply Chain, or related discipline
• High proficiency in English (additional language skills are a plus)
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office and sales performance tools
• Sound understanding of multimodal logistics (air, ocean, warehousing, local transport)
• Strong commercial acumen, problem-solving, and negotiation skills