Business Development Manager - Air & Ocean
Business Development Manager - Air Freight
An international and market-leading logistics organisation is seeking a Business Development Manager - Air Freight to support the continued expansion of its commercial operations in the Netherlands. This role is focused exclusively on new business acquisition, offering an exciting opportunity for a highly driven sales professional to make a significant impact within a growing organisation.
The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying, developing, and securing new Air Freight business opportunities across a range of industries. This position requires a proactive hunter with a strong commercial mindset, extensive freight forwarding experience, and the ability to build a pipeline from scratch while converting prospects into long-term customers.
This is an opportunity to join a dynamic and growth-focused environment where success is measured by business development activity, customer acquisition, and the ability to deliver sustainable revenue growth through strategic sales initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify, target, and secure new Air Freight business opportunities across the Dutch market and wider international logistics sector.
- Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve and exceed commercial objectives.
- Generate a consistent pipeline through cold calling, networking, referrals, market mapping, and industry engagement.
- Manage the entire sales cycle from prospecting and qualification through to proposal development, negotiation, and contract completion.
- Develop strategic target accounts and establish relationships with key decision-makers.
- Promote international Air Freight and value-added logistics solutions tailored to customer requirements.
- Work closely with operational and pricing teams to ensure successful implementation of new business wins.
- Negotiate commercial agreements and pricing solutions that deliver value for both customers and the business.
- Maintain accurate sales forecasts, pipeline reports, and CRM records.
- Monitor market developments, competitor activity, and customer trends to identify new growth opportunities.
- Represent the organisation at industry events, customer meetings, and networking activities.
Profile
Essential
- Minimum 10 years' experience within the logistics, freight forwarding, or supply chain industry.
- Proven track record in Business Development or Freight Forwarding sales.
- Strong Air Freight forwarding knowledge and experience.
- Demonstrated success in generating new business and securing new customer accounts.
- Experience selling international freight forwarding and logistics solutions.
- Strong commercial negotiation and relationship management skills.
- Fluent English language skills.
- Ability to operate independently within a highly target-driven sales environment.
Preferred
- Experience within pharmaceutical or healthcare logistics.
- Knowledge of time-critical freight solutions.
- Experience with temperature-controlled logistics.
- Exposure to international freight forwarding networks.
- Experience selling complex and customised logistics solutions.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong hunter mentality with a passion for winning new business.
- Excellent prospecting, lead generation, and pipeline management abilities.
- Consultative and solution-oriented sales approach.
- Strong commercial awareness and market intelligence capabilities.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
- Relationship-building skills across multiple stakeholder levels.
- Self-motivated, resilient, and results-driven mindset.
- Ability to identify and convert strategic opportunities into long-term business partnerships.
Interested?
This opportunity is ideally suited to an experienced Air Freight sales professional who is motivated by acquiring new customers, developing strategic accounts, and building long-term commercial success. Candidates with a strong track record in freight forwarding sales and a genuine passion for business development are encouraged to apply for a confidential discussion.
For further information, please contact Costantino Sartori.
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