Ocean Freight Commercial Manager

Ocean Product Manager – Logistics

Location: Southampton (with travel to customer sites and head office in Heathrow)
Package: Competitive, with mean earnings up to £80,000
Hours: Monday – Friday

We are recruiting an experienced Ocean Product Manager to lead and develop the Ocean Export product within a dynamic logistics operation. This is a senior role, combining people leadership, operational oversight, and business development, making it ideal for an ambitious professional with strong industry experience.

Why This Role Matters

• Lead and mentor your team, supporting career development and succession planning

• Oversee operations, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and service excellence

• Drive business development and revenue growth in line with district objectives

• Contribute to strategic planning and maintain strong customer and vendor relationships

Key Responsibilities

People & Leadership

• Develop, mentor, and support team members, including identifying your #2

• Conduct regular appraisals, set clear expectations, and implement development plans

• Plan and lead department meetings, goal setting, and performance monitoring

• Ensure staff complete ongoing training and development programs

Operations & Process

• Manage day-to-day Ocean Export operations, improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness

• Maintain accurate processes, SOPs, and KPIs

• Monitor productivity, revenue-to-expense ratio, and other operational metrics

• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships and evaluate performance

Customer & Business Development

• Maintain personal involvement with top customers and participate in retention activities

• Support sales teams with product knowledge and technical expertise

• Respond to RFQs, proposals, and quotations with market-competitive pricing

• Drive new business onboarding and manage customer transitions

Financial Oversight

• Assist with departmental budgeting and review P&L performance

• Monitor revenue, freight yields, and accounts receivable

• Control expenses and ensure contracts follow company procedures

Culture & Compliance

• Promote a positive team culture and lead by example

• Ensure all internal and external compliance standards are met

• Encourage innovation, system enhancements, and process improvements

Skills & Experience Required

• University degree or equivalent business qualification

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in ocean freight or global logistics

• Minimum 3 years’ team management experience

• Strong leadership, emotional intelligence, and change management skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills

• Demonstrable experience in operational excellence, P&L oversight, and business development

• Strong understanding of ocean export processes and the logistics market

• Fluent in English

What We’re Looking For

• A strategic, results-driven leader with a focus on operational and financial excellence

• Exceptional at building relationships internally and externally

• Able to drive business growth while managing a high-performing team

• Organized, reliable, and adaptable, with a proactive approach to problem-solving

What’s On Offer

• Competitive package with mean earnings up to £80,000

• Office-based Monday – Friday with travel to customer sites and head office

• Opportunity to lead a high-performing team and influence operational strategy

• Exposure to a broad, global logistics network and key industry accounts

If you are a senior Ocean Export professional with proven leadership experience and a track record of driving operational excellence and business growth, this is an excellent opportunity to take the next step in your career.

WR Logistics are the #1 recruitment partner for all vacancies in the logistics industry. We recruit in the UK & USA for permanent jobs.

WR is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.