Route Manager in Hayes

Route Manager - Hemel Hempstead Think Specialist Recruitment are working with a leading global freight forwarder to recruit a Route Manager for their UK airfreight team. You'll deliver procurement and carrier management strategies that balance cost, capacity and service, working closely with operations teams, stations, gateways and airline partners. This is a commercial role rather than an operational one. You'll secure the best pricing, protect capacity, manage airline relationships and give the wider UK network the market insight it needs to win and deliver business. This position is a fully office based role working in our clients Hayes site, on offer is a salary from £40k+ per annum dependent on experience which could see the successful candidate secure a salary in the late 40's, along with an annual bonus scheme. The role Deliver the airfreight procurement strategy, supporting the airline relationships that sit behind it Secure the best pricing through contract and spot buying Plan consolidations and protect capacity, working directly with operations and stations Optimise consolidations and control volume paid Take commercial ownership of gateway shipments, consolidations and some back-to-back shipments Define and manage internal rates Analyse the market and customer demand to balance supply and demand Monitor carrier performance using internal reports and take corrective action locally or escalate where needed Provide market information, guidance and support to the wider UK network Make sure all activity meets compliance and code-of-conduct requirements, including anti-corruption Contribute to the continuous improvement programme About you Strong commercial understanding of the airfreight industry, with around five years' experience preferred Excellent negotiation skills, with a track record of securing results with carriers or suppliers Excellent communication skills, internally and externally Good operational understanding of how airfreight moves, and the confidence to challenge when needed Able to build strong relationships with suppliers and colleagues A strong problem solver and results driven, with a positive "can do" attitude Customer focused, and a good team player Good IT awareness, with confidence in analysing performance data and reports Looking for the next step in your career? Think Specialist Recruitment is an independent support staff recruitment agency based in Hemel Hempstead, working across Herts, Beds and Bucks. We specialise in permanent, temporary and contract recruitment across administration, customer service, HR, finance, sales support, marketing and IT support