The Ocean Procurement position will lead all procurement tasks and analyses regarding Ocean Freight, either FCL or LCL. This position will support the Accounting, Operations, Spot Quotes and Engineering, Analysis teams and other teams within the organization. The Ocean Procurement position will lead all procurement tasks and analyses regarding Ocean Freight, either FCL or LCL. This position will support the Accounting, Operations, Spot Quotes and Engineering, Analysis teams and other teams within the organization. SUMMARY:The Ocean LCL and FCL Procurement Manager will be responsible for managing and optimizing LCL procurement activities within our ocean freight department and support FCL Ocean carrier procurement activities and maintain carrier. This role focuses on developing and maintaining strong relationships with carriers, negotiating competitive rates, and ensuring the highest levels of service and efficiency while supporting the development of LCL network. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in ocean freight and LCL shipments, with strong negotiation skills and a deep understanding of global logistics trends, market conditions, and compliance standards.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.Carrier Negotiations and Management:
- Identify, negotiate, and secure competitive rates and service levels with ocean carriers for LCL shipments
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with ocean co-loaders/service providers to ensure reliable and cost-effective solutions
- Continuously monitor and assess carrier performance, addressing service issues and leveraging data to enhance customer relationships
- Create and manage pricing tools and extend to Solutions and rate repository platform
- Support negotiating Global and/or local incentives with co-loader
- Managing and reporting on TOC space allocation programs with Ocean Freight Carriers to ensure flawless operations and guarantee that bookings are handled according to our priorities
- Support allocation management functions to ensure space allocations are benefited through cargo steering
2. Client Bid/RFQ Management:
- Assist Solutions & RFQ management teams on customer bids by providing pricing for all rounds in RFQ & tariff management
- Assess by customer and volumes to propose rates in an RFQ
- Source costing from vendors as necessary to complete bids
3. Market Analysis and Strategy Development:
- Analyze global and regional market trends to identify opportunities for cost savings, improved efficiency, and strategic sourcing
- Support to develop and implement LCL procurement strategies to ensure competitive positioning in the marketplace
- Provide regular market insights to internal teams and recommend adjustments to procurement strategies as needed
4. Cost Control and Optimization:
- Manage procurement budgets and achieve cost savings targets through effective negotiation and strategic sourcing
- Monitor freight costs, implement strategies to control expenses, and drive continuous improvement in procurement practices
- Collaborate with finance and other internal departments to ensure accurate forecasting and budgeting
- Enhance LCL network to ensure a Global footprint
- Organize Global LCL volumes to strategically develop Direct Consolidation Services
5. Operational and rate repository tools:
- Resolve Cost Rate Maintenance issues and support Accounting team with Invoicing questions
- Ensure Cost contracts and Client tariffs comply with FMC regulations
- Upload Cost rates to TMS for automation of billing/payment such as creating and managing an efficient process for costing automation in CargoWise and managing CargoSphere rate management integration into CargoWise
- Maintain internal and external databases hosting Co-loader cost contracts such as CargoSphere & CargoWise
- Contract auditing/approval
- Other activities as assigned
6. Reporting:
- Complete all required data analysis, bid assessments and modal trend reporting, as necessary
- Track savings compared to baseline
- Track mitigation savings when applicable
7. Initiatives and Continual Improvement:
- Identify, support to implement, and track improvement initiatives
- Work closely with internal stakeholders, including operations, finance, solutions, and commercial teams, to align procurement activities with business needs
- Serve as a point of contact for LCL procurement inquiries, supporting internal teams with rate requests, service details, and shipment updates
- Act as a subject matter expert on LCL procurement and provide training or guidance to team members as required
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:This position has no supervisory responsibilities.QUALIFICATIONS:To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university; or three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Contract negotiations
- Ability to bargain and collaborate
- Creative thinking for out of the box solutions
- Written and Oral skills
- Presentation skills
- High attention to detail
- Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Project
- Problem Resolution
- Process orientation
- Spanish language skills a plus
REASONING ABILITY:Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.PHYSICAL DEMANDS:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. WORK ENVIRONMENT:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.