Ocean Product Manager
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Ocean Product Manager to lead and develop our client's ocean freight product offering across the Netherlands. This role is responsible for carrier procurement, ocean freight pricing strategy, capacity management, and maintaining strategic partnerships with shipping lines to ensure competitive service offerings and sustainable profitability.
The successful candidate will act as the key link between commercial, operations, procurement, and carrier partners, driving product performance and supporting business growth across international ocean freight services.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the ocean freight product strategy for the Netherlands market.
- Negotiate service contracts, pricing agreements, and space allocations with global ocean carriers.
- Monitor market conditions, freight rate developments, carrier capacity, and industry trends to ensure competitive positioning.
- Manage carrier relationships at both local and regional levels, building strategic partnerships that support long-term growth.
- Ensure optimal utilization of contracted rates, equipment availability, and carrier allocations.
- Oversee capacity management activities and proactively address service disruptions, equipment shortages, or space constraints.
- Analyze market intelligence and provide regular updates on carrier performance, rate developments, and commercial opportunities.
- Collaborate with sales teams to support customer tenders, RFQs, and large commercial opportunities.
- Work closely with operational teams to ensure carrier commitments are met and service levels remain high.
- Track and resolve carrier service failures, ensuring accountability and minimizing operational impact.
- Deliver regular reporting on product performance, profitability, carrier utilization, and market developments.
- Lead product improvement initiatives and support strategic projects as required.
Requirements
- Minimum 7-10 years of experience within ocean freight forwarding, carrier management, procurement, or trade management.
- Strong understanding of international ocean freight markets, carrier networks, and industry dynamics.
- Demonstrated experience negotiating contracts and pricing agreements with ocean carriers.
- Proven ability to manage multiple carrier relationships and stakeholders across international markets.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience balancing pricing competitiveness and profitability objectives.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret market data and make strategic decisions.
- Experience supporting large customer tenders and commercial growth initiatives.
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Maritime Studies, or a related field preferred.
- Fluent in English; additional European languages are advantageous.
Key Competencies
- Commercially driven mindset
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills
- Strategic thinking and market awareness
- Relationship management and stakeholder engagement
- Data-driven decision making
- Leadership and collaboration
- High level of ownership and accountability
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
What Success Looks Like
- Competitive and profitable ocean freight product offerings.
- Strong carrier partnerships and favorable commercial agreements.
- Effective capacity management and service reliability.
- Increased support for customer growth and tender wins.
- Continuous monitoring of market conditions to identify risks and opportunities.
- Improved profitability and product performance across the ocean freight portfolio.
FAQs
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