About the Role
Newcastle upon Tyne is an important commercial and logistics centre with access to major road, rail, port and regional distribution networks. At PlayForwarding Digital Logistics, we support businesses with international freight forwarding, customs coordination, digital shipment management and multimodal transport solutions.
We are looking for a Commercial Freight Manager who can take ownership of commercial growth, freight pricing, customer development and supplier negotiations. You will work closely with freight operations, finance, customs, customer service and carrier partners to develop profitable logistics solutions for new and existing customers.
This role is suited to an experienced freight professional who can combine commercial judgement with practical knowledge of international transport. You will manage customer proposals, negotiate freight agreements and support the continued development of sea, air, road and intermodal services.
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial Strategy: Develop and implement commercial plans that support revenue growth, customer retention and sustainable freight margins.
- Business Development: Identify prospective customers and new market opportunities across international freight and supply chain services.
- Freight Pricing: Prepare competitive quotations and pricing models for sea, air, road, rail and multimodal transport services.
- Customer Management: Build strong relationships with key customers and ensure that proposed solutions meet operational and commercial requirements.
- Contract Negotiation: Negotiate customer agreements, carrier rates, service terms and commercial conditions.
- Tender Management: Coordinate freight tenders, requests for quotation and commercial proposals from initial review through submission.
- Carrier Management: Work with shipping lines, airlines, hauliers and logistics partners to secure reliable capacity and competitive rates.
- Margin Management: Monitor revenue, costs and profitability across customer accounts, trade lanes and freight products.
- Commercial Forecasting: Prepare sales forecasts, pipeline reports and revenue projections for management review.
- Market Analysis: Monitor freight rates, capacity trends, competitor activity and customer demand across relevant markets.
- Cross Functional Coordination: Work closely with operations, finance, customs and customer service teams to support successful account delivery.
- Risk Management: Identify credit, contractual, capacity and service risks and recommend appropriate commercial controls.
- Performance Reporting: Prepare reports covering sales activity, account profitability, tender performance and commercial priorities.
- Team Support: Guide commercial employees and account managers while promoting consistent pricing and customer management practices.
What We Are Looking For
- Experience: At least 6 years of experience in freight forwarding, logistics, commercial management or transport sales, including responsibility for major customer accounts.
- Education: Bachelor degree or recognised professional qualification in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, International Business or a related discipline.
- Freight Knowledge: Strong understanding of sea freight, air freight, road transport, rail freight, customs processes and multimodal logistics.
- Commercial Skills: Experience preparing freight quotations, pricing models, tenders and customer proposals.
- Negotiation: Proven ability to negotiate customer contracts, carrier rates and service agreements.
- Customer Development: Experience winning new business, growing key accounts and maintaining long term customer relationships.
- Financial Awareness: Ability to analyse revenue, costs, margins and account profitability.
- Market Awareness: Understanding of freight pricing, capacity conditions and international transport trends.
- Leadership: Ability to guide commercial teams, coordinate priorities and maintain accountability for results.
- Communication: Strong written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to explain commercial and operational information clearly.
- Technology Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, customer relationship management platforms, freight management systems and commercial reporting tools.
- Organisation: Ability to manage multiple tenders, accounts, deadlines and commercial priorities in a fast paced environment.
- Professional Qualification: Membership of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport or another recognised professional body is an advantage.
Pay: £50,000.00-£65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Life insurance
- Paid volunteer time
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
