Trade Manager (f/m/d)

About the role

What if your work could drive change in a globally established industry, shaping processes that touch every corner of the world? At Forto, we are at the forefront of change, harnessing the power of AI to revolutionise logistics. We want to reinvent digital supply chains to be transparent, frictionless and sustainable. From day one, our mission has been to simplify global trade - creating a seamless and efficient logistics process.

Responsibilities

• Trade Strategy & Market Development:
• Define and execute the commercial strategy for designated trade lanes with full P&L awareness.
• Monitor market dynamics, competitor moves, and rate environments to inform strategy.
• Identify and develop new trade corridors and volume opportunities in close collaboration with Sales.
• Contribute to annual budget planning, volume forecasting, and capacity commitments for the trade.
• Drive the digital evolution of our sea freight product together with various stakeholders.
• Customer & Stakeholder Management:
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key shippers and carrier partners.
• Lead commercial negotiations on contracts, agreements, and service commitments.
• Pricing & Revenue Management:
• Set and manage freight rate levels, surcharges, and contract structures in alignment with the pricing function.
• Analyse contribution margins across customer segments and drive yield improvement initiatives.
• Engage in tender processes for major accounts.
• Capacity & Space Management:
• Manage and grow our trade volume for your trades.
• Manage vessel space allocation across designated trade lanes, balancing utilisation targets with revenue yield objectives.
• Work with network and operations teams to input into capacity deployment decisions.
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
• Liaise with operations, network planning, finance, legal, and product teams to ensure service reliability and contract compliance.
• Required Skills and Experience
• 7-10+ years of progressive experience in container shipping or freight forwarding, with substantial exposure to trade management, commercial strategy, or pricing functions.
• Proven track record across key global trade lanes, including Asia-Europe, Intra-Asia, Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent.
• Demonstrated ownership of trade P&L, with hands-on experience in pricing strategy, yield optimization, and high-value contract negotiations at a senior level.
• Strong, well-established network of carrier relationships, with the ability to influence and secure competitive commercial outcomes.
• Skills & Competencies
• Deep, nuanced understanding of container shipping market dynamics, including rate indices, capacity management, carrier alliances, and macro demand drivers.
• Advanced analytical capability, with a data-driven approach to freight rate analysis, margin optimization, and market benchmarking.
• Exceptional commercial acumen and negotiation skills, with a consistent ability to structure and close complex, high-value deals.
• Fluent in English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in a global business environment.
• Personal Attributes
• Entrepreneurial and results-oriented mindset, with the ability to operate autonomously in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Highly resilient and adaptable, thriving in fast-paced, dynamic environments and comfortable with frequent international travel.
• Strong leadership presence, maintaining composure under pressure and effectively guiding teams through challenges.
• Collaborative and culturally aware team player, able to build trust and influence stakeholders across functions and geographies.
• Why work with us?

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