Ocean Freight Pricing Manager

Job Purpose

As the Pricing Manager for Ocean Freight Forwarding, you will lead a team of pricing professionals and oversee the development, execution, and governance of pricing in a country, from spot quoting to tender reply. You will be responsible for ensuring pricing competitiveness, profitability, and alignment with global trade and commercial objectives. Your leadership and market expertise will play a critical role in driving business growth, securing high-value tenders, and enabling commercial success.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Pricing Management

- Define and execute local and regional pricing strategies in coordination with Regional Trade Management
- Set pricing frameworks and margin guidance to support customer acquisition and retention
- Analyze trade lane performance and customer profitability to optimize pricing models

Tender & Bid Management

- Oversee the pricing function for global, regional, and key local tenders, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and competitiveness
- Collaborate with Sales and Tender Management to win strategic business while maintaining healthy margins
- Review and approve complex pricing structures for high-value RFQs and long-term contracts

Cost Management

- Drive cost of sales reductions by optimizing buying conditions of all local charges incl. but not limited to origin/destination handling charges, pickup and delivery fees as well as demurrage, detention and storage in collaboration with Trade Management, Procurement and ICC (if applicable)
- Ensure local buying conditions are mapped in line with the global charge code guidance
- Oversee and support service delivery in the timely resolution of cost disputes

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

- Collaborate with Sales, Trade Lane Managers, Carrier Management, and Product teams to align pricing with commercial goals
- Act as a key pricing advisor to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
- Build and maintain strong relationships with external suppliers and carriers to support pricing negotiations

Data Governance and Compliance

- Ensure accurate, timely and complete maintenance of tariffs, surcharge tables, and pricing data in relevant systems (e.g., MTS, QuoteShop, CW1 DDS, RMS)
- Ensure local quotations are in line with global charge code guidance
- Support service delivery in the timely resolution of rate disputes
- Ensure FMC compliance through timely and accurate NRA issuance and acceptanceDrive process improvement initiatives to enhance pricing workflows and automation

Team Leadership & Management

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of pricing specialists, fostering a high-performance culture
- Allocate resources and set priorities to support pricing requests, tenders, and strategic projects
- Provide coaching and career development support to ensure team growth and operational excellence

Stakeholders

- Sales & Commercial Leadership
- Global Tender Management
- Trade Lane Development Teams
- Carrier & Procurement Teams
- Regional & Global Pricing Offices

Management Responsibility

- Individual contributor who may manage two or fewer employees

- May direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs
- Coach, review and delegate work to lower level professionals

Or in case of a larger team

- Supervise professional level employees (typically entry or experienced level) and may also supervise some non professional employees

Skills

- Proven leadership and people management abilities in a cross-functional, multicultural environment
- Deep understanding of ocean freight markets, trade dynamics, and carrier pricing structures
- Strong analytical and commercial acumen with the ability to interpret data and translate into actionable strategies
- Advanced proficiency in pricing systems, Excel, and data tools
- Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
- Capable of managing complexity, prioritizing under pressure, and driving decisions

Qualifications & Key Requirements

Education:

- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience/qualification in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related field)

Experience:

- More than 4-5 years in freight forwarding, logistics, or shipping industry with at least 2–3 years in a pricing leadership role

Language:

- Fluent in local relevant language as well as fluency in English