Manager Trade Management

Job purpose:

·     Assisting the Senior Manager – Trade Management in developing pricing and trade strategies to promote, keeping track on impact of pricing/contribution margins, involvement in developing and defining pricing structures and shipping rotations, close cross-functional coordination with commercial, operations, equipment control, and sales teams.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

Rate Finalisation and Pricing

·     Effectively consider various factors for special rate approval (competitor rates, shipper’s current and past volume support, overall booking, and inventory position).

·     Use net contribution report to confirm figures, maximizing revenue and sending recommendations to management to finalise the sale rate.

·     Effectively handle rate requests from offices/agents in Sea-Lead’s global network.

·     Track conversion of rate approvals into bookings and actual pick-up of containers, following up with agents’ sales team on the outcome of received inquiries.

Local Cost Analysis

·     Liaising with local offices/agencies in different ports & inland locations to collect cost details and updating cost matrix.

·     Achieving effective cost reduction by carefully analysing each element of the cost involved.

·     Effectively dealing with requests from own offices, agencies & customer for additional free days and waiver online detention.

Slot Rate Analysis and Purchase

·     Nurturing and sustaining good, long-term relationships with vendors and decision makers to secure a competitive edge, best prices, and best services. Ensuring valid quotes are received from different feeder vessel operators and carriers slot matrix is updated.

·     Following up and solving all disputes punctually, processing invoices without undue delay to reflect the exact outstanding position to vendors in the company books.

Budget Preparation and trade analysis

·     Preparing budgets with required action plans, performance forecast & revenue projections.

·     Analysing statistics for information on volume to/from various sectors, competitors, vendors and general market conditions.

·     Reviewing volume reports (DBR) and financial performance regularly.

·     Undertaking periodic trade reviews and updating management.

·     Assist GD/GM to follow up on any open claim with agents till case is close.

Customer service, problem solving and reporting:

·     Effectively and promptly handling operational issues reported by own offices or agencies, or issues between the load port and discharge port offices.

·     Maintaining good rapport and close interaction with customers in conjunction with sales, identifying/delivering as per contractual requirements, keeping them updated about their shipment status and solving any issues promptly.

·     Improving company processes through effective planning, scheduling, executing and report writing.

·     Assist the GD/GM – Trade Management in preparing monthly reports covering trade, revenues and markets.

Key interactions (Internal | External):

External: Agents | Agency | Feeder | Liner | POT | POD | POL

Internal:  Finance | Admin | Operations | Commercial | Sales | HR | Pricing | Equipment control.

Education requirements:

Language requirements:

·     Graduate/ Masters level education, Good computer skills (shipping software, EBMS, related logistics/ shipping/ marine certification, MS Office - Excel)

English – Fluent (required)

Background and experience:

Competencies and skills:                                  

·     Minimum 5 – 10 years’ experience as a Trade/Pricing Assistant Manager within a container shipping environment.

·     Knowledge of containers and their movement, trade lanes, ports, harbour, pricing, customs and immigration activities and procedures, and necessary regulatory/legal requirements.

·     Knowledge of Terminal operating systems, shipping operations, vessel services and port rotations.

·     Maintain relationship with shippers, agents, agency, principal, feeders.

·     Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.

·     Time management and organisational skills.

·     Analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills when under pressure and with tight work deadlines.

·     Team management and leadership qualities.