Business Development Manager - Multinational Logistics Leader

Our client is a substantial, multinational, market‑leading logistics organisation with decades of industry heritage. Specialising in freight forwarding – particularly ocean and air freight – alongside contract logistics, warehousing and distribution, the business plays a pivotal role in connecting global supply chains.

With a long‑established international footprint and a reputation for operational excellence, the company is now entering an extensive global growth phase, elevating its UK ocean freight division to a board‑level strategic priority for the first time. As part of this multi‑year expansion plan, the organisation is investing heavily in building a new, high‑performing Ocean Freight Business Development team across the UK.

This is a rare opportunity to join during the “first wave” of a major commercial build – offering influence, leadership visibility, and a long‑term career trajectory within a world‑class logistics enterprise.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package
• Car allowance
• Fully flexible UK‑based working
• Annual performance bonus
• Health and wellbeing benefits including private medical support
• Pension scheme with employer contribution
• Generous holiday entitlement plus volunteer days
• Access to wellbeing platforms, online GP services, and mental health support
• Wide range of employee benefits including retail discounts and wellbeing resources
• Structured development pathways and long‑term career progression
• Opportunity for international collaboration and periodic remote working abroad

Role

As a Business Development Manager (Ocean Freight), you will play a key role in expanding the organisation’s UK customer base by winning new mid‑market and enterprise accounts across the region.

Your focus will be on new‑logo acquisition, driving growth across essential trade lanes and positioning the company as a preferred ocean freight partner within a competitive market.

You will:

• Build, manage, and convert a strong pipeline of UK prospects across targeted sectors.
• Conduct regular UK travel to meet clients, build relationships, and close opportunities.
• Engage deeply with ocean freight stakeholders, internal product teams, and leadership to shape client solutions.
• Develop tailored proposals, respond to RFQs/RFIs, and lead end‑to‑end commercial processes.
• Provide market intelligence, competitor insights, and emerging trade‑lane opportunities.
• Collaborate with overseas teams to generate leads and support multinational account development.
• Maintain detailed CRM records and support periodic business development and performance reviews.
• Contribute to the wider growth strategy of the UK ocean freight business unit.

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• Proven sales experience within a multinational freight forwarding organisation – specifically in ocean freight.
• A strong track record of winning new business and securing mid‑market or enterprise‑level accounts.
• A hunter mentality – proactive, driven, and adept at identifying and converting new opportunities.
• Comfortable and willing to travel extensively across the UK to meet clients and drive commercial outcomes.
• An enterprising, self‑starting approach, with the ability to operate autonomously in a fast‑growth environment.
• Experience managing complex solution‑led sales cycles, including RFQ processes and multi‑stakeholder engagements.
• Strong communication, client‑engagement, and relationship‑building skills.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Legal right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship not available).

Equality & Inclusion

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. The company is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where employees can grow, contribute, and excel, and where hiring decisions are based purely on skills, capability, and potential.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Proven track record in winning new business within freight forwarding – specifically ocean freight, with consistent success acquiring new‑logo mid‑market and enterprise clients.
• Strong hunter mentality with the drive to proactively identify, prospect, and convert new opportunities across the UK logistics landscape.
• Extensive UK travel experience, comfortable covering a national territory to meet clients face‑to‑face, build relationships, and close complex commercial deals.
• Deep understanding of ocean freight products, trade lanes, pricing structures, carrier relationships, and end‑to‑end operational workflows.
• Entrepreneurial and self‑starting, able to operate with autonomy, create momentum without prompts, and take initiative in an early‑stage commercial build environment.
• Commercially sharp and strategically minded, capable of shaping growth plans, spotting market opportunities, and helping influence the direction of a rapidly scaling business unit.
• Skilled in enterprise‑level sales cycles, including solution‑based selling, proposal development, RFQ/RFI management, and multi‑stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to collaborate cross‑functionally with operations, product, pricing, and leadership teams to deliver compelling customer solutions while ensuring operational feasibility.
• Resilient, energetic, and results‑driven, motivated by targets, growth, and contributing to a multi‑year expansion strategy.
• Strong communication and client‑engagement skills, able to articulate value clearly, build trust quickly, and represent the organisation with professionalism in the UK market.