Manager – Trade Management

Job purpose

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 Finalization 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 finalize 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 analyzing 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.
• Analyzing 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 – 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

Background And Experience

• Graduate/ Masters level education, Good computer skills (shipping software, EBMS, related logistics/ shipping/ marine certification, MS Office – Excel).
• Minimum 15 years’ experience as a Trade/Pricing Manager within a container shipping environment.
• Knowledge of containers and their movement, trade lanes, ports, harbor, pricing, customs and immigration activities and procedures, and necessary regulatory/legal requirements.
• Knowledge of Terminal operating systems, shipping operations, vessel services and port rotations.

Competencies And Skills

• Maintain relationship with shippers, agents, agency, principal, feeders
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills
• Time management and organizational skills.
• Analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills when under pressure and with tight work deadlines.
• Team management and leadership qualities.