Freight Procurement Manager - Seafreight Container Logistics

Reporting To: Head of Operations / General Manager

About the Company

Our client is a well-established international trading business headquartered in Dubai, with strong operations spanning Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. The company has built a reputation for large-scale commodity movement, supply chain excellence, and long-term commercial partnerships across global markets. With growing trade volumes and expanding shipping activity, they are investing heavily in freight procurement strategy, carrier partnerships, and logistics optimization to strengthen their international supply chain capabilities. This is an opportunity to join a commercially aggressive, entrepreneurial, and globally connected organization where logistics plays a direct role in profitability.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Freight Procurement Manager to lead freight sourcing, carrier negotiations, and contracting strategy across global containerized shipments.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• securing competitive freight rates
• building strong shipping line / broker partnerships
• managing freight contracts and tenders
• optimizing landed freight cost
• monitoring freight market intelligence
• supporting trading execution across key international lanes This is a strategic role requiring both commercial sharpness and operational execution capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end freight procurement across containerized trade lanes
• Negotiate commercial freight contracts with shipping lines, brokers, NVOCCs, and freight forwarders
• Run RFQs / tenders to benchmark market pricing
• Build diversified carrier network and reduce supplier concentration risk
• Monitor freight indices, capacity trends, bunker surcharges, and route economics
• Partner with internal commercial / operations teams on shipment execution planning
• Manage demurrage, detention, freight claims, and service disputes
• Optimize freight spend through consolidation, routing strategy, and long-term agreements
• Ensure compliance with shipping regulations, sanctions, and documentation standards
• Develop procurement reporting frameworks and freight governance processes
• Mentor junior logistics / operations staffRequirements

Must have:

✔ 5–7 years in freight procurement / chartering / shipping procurement
✔ Strong ocean freight market knowledge (containers)
✔ Experience negotiating directly with carriers / brokers
✔ Deep understanding of Incoterms, BL conditions, freight costing
✔ Strong Excel / ERP / freight systems exposure
✔ Commercial negotiation strength
✔ Analytical freight modelling capability
✔ UAE / GCC exposure preferred
✔ Fluent English communication

Preferred industries:

• Commodity trading
• Agri commodities
• FMCG imports / exports
• Bulk liquids
• Shipping / freight forwarding
• Global supply chain operationsBenefits

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary package with performance-based incentives.

• A high-impact role within a well-established, internationally active commodity trading company.

• Exposure to global freight markets across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

• Opportunity to shape and lead the freight procurement function in a growing business.

• Dynamic, multicultural work environment in Dubai with a flat, entrepreneurial structure.