Role Purpose
The role is primarily a business development and commercial leadership position, focused on building and expanding the company's shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, and container-related business across the Indian Ocean and East Africa. The Mauritius office serves as the commercial hub, while Mombasa handles operational execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop strategic relationships with international shipping lines, NVOCCs, agents, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters.
- Negotiate freight rates, service contracts, carrier allocations, free days, detention, and demurrage terms.
- Generate new business in:
- Ocean freight (FCL & LCL)
- Import and export shipping
- NVOCC activities
- Shipping-line representation and agency services
- Container storage, repositioning, and handling
- Inland transport, warehousing, and cross-border logistics
- Promote Mombasa as a logistics gateway into East and Central Africa.
- Secure contracts for container depot, equipment management, empty-container handling, reefer operations, repairs, and related services.
- Develop long-term customer accounts and recurring container volumes.
- Monitor market trends, freight rates, capacity, competitors, and trade developments.
Geographic Focus
Strong emphasis on trade lanes connecting:
- Asia/China
- India
- Middle East (especially Dubai)
- Europe
- Mauritius
- Kenya (Mombasa)
- East and Central Africa
Performance Expectations
The role is highly KPI-driven and measured by:
- New shipping-line and logistics contracts secured
- Container volumes (TEUs)
- Revenue and gross profit generated
- Customer acquisition and retention
- Shipping-line relationships established
- Container storage and transport contracts won
Requirements
Ideal Candidate Profile
The preferred candidate will have:
- Direct experience within a shipping line, liner agency, NVOCC, freight forwarder, shipping agency, or container depot operation.
- Existing relationships with shipping-line decision-makers.
- Strong understanding of:
- International container shipping
- Freight pricing and carrier contracts
- FCL/LCL operations
- Bills of lading and trade documentation
- Container equipment management
- Reefer and depot operations
- East African and Indian Ocean trade routes
Required Skills
- Strong commercial negotiation and sales ability
- Proven business development capability
- Knowledge of international shipping and logistics
- Relationship-building with senior industry executives
- Analytical and market intelligence skills
- Proposal preparation and contract negotiation expertise
- Strong communication and presentation skills
Experience Requirements
- Minimum: 5 years in shipping/logistics.
- Preferred: 8 to 15 years within shipping lines, NVOCCs, liner agencies, or international freight forwarding.
- Experience covering East Africa, Mauritius, Mombasa, or Indian Ocean trades is highly advantageous.
Proactive reserves the right:
- To call only the shortlisted candidates for interview.
- Not to make any appointment following this advertisement nor to assign any reason whatsoever for accepting or rejecting any candidate.