Freight Forwarding Manager

Freight Forwarding Manager

Location: Solihull

Salary: Up to £65,000 + Branch Performance Bonus up to £20,000

Benefits: Company Car, Private Healthcare and Contributory Pension

Are you an experienced freight forwarding professional ready to take ownership of a successful multimodal operation?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established and growing freight forwarding business with a strong financial position and ambitious plans for continued growth. You will manage a vibrant operational team from a modern office, overseeing international air, road and sea freight services.

The business supports a diverse customer base, ranging from smaller independent companies to major multinational organisations. It offers a varied and commercially focused environment where you will have the autonomy to lead, develop the operation and make a genuine impact.

The Role

As Freight Forwarding Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management and continued development of the operations department across air, road and sea freight.

This is a hands-on leadership position suited to somebody who is commercially aware, confident managing people and willing to support the operational team when required.

Package and Benefits

• Salary up to £65,000
• Bonus based on branch performance
• Company car
• Private healthcare
• Contributory pension
• Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:30pm
• Modern office environment
• Established and financially secure business
• Genuine autonomy and influence over the operation
• Excellent opportunity to support and benefit from continued company growth

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the daily air, road and sea freight forwarding operation
• Lead, motivate, mentor and develop a close-knit operational team
• Take responsibility for departmental performance and profitability
• Support the preparation and calculation of RFQs and tender submissions
• Manage and develop important customer accounts
• Build strong, long-term relationships with customers and suppliers
• Negotiate competitive rates and service agreements with suppliers
• Attend face-to-face customer and supplier meetings
• Identify opportunities to develop existing accounts and support new business growthln
• Conduct staff appraisals and support individual development
• Maintain consistently high standards of customer service and operational accuracy
• Provide hands-on operational support during busy periods

The Candidate

• Strong multimodal freight forwarding experience across air, road and sea
• Export experience would be particularly beneficial
• Previous management or team leadership experience
• A solid understanding of freight forwarding operations
• Commercial awareness and experience of profit and loss responsibility
• Experience preparing RFQs and tender submissions
• Proven key account management and relationship-building skills
• Confident negotiating with carriers, hauliers and other suppliers
• Comfortable attending customer and supplier meetings
• Able to motivate, mentor and develop employees
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Good IT skills and excellent attention to detail
• Calm, organised and confident when working under pressure
• A positive, engaging and hands-on management style
• Strong work ethic with the ability to lead by example
• Commercially minded with an interest in sales and business development