Head of Sea Freight Department

Job description:

We are looking for a dynamic, detail-oriented and self-driven Sea Freight Department Head. He will be responsible for leading and managing the company's sea freight (FCL, LCL, breakbulk and project cargo where applicable) operations across Saudi Arabia. This role drives commercial growth, operational excellence, carrier relationships and compliance, ensuring profitable expansion and high-quality service aligned with company strategy and KSA market requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Commercial Leadership

Develop and implement the sea freight business strategy in line with company goals and Saudi market dynamics.

Drive revenue growth, gross profit, and market share in import, export and cross-trade sea freight.

Identify and develop new trade lanes, industry verticals and customer segments.

Support key account management, RFQs and major contract negotiations.

Operations & Service Excellence

Oversee end-to-end sea freight operations including FCL, LCL, consolidation, deconsolidation and special cargo.

Ensure adherence to SLAs, KPIs and customer service standards.

Manage sailing schedules, space planning, equipment availability and peak season challenges.

Implement continuous process improvements to enhance efficiency, reliability and visibility.

Carrier & Vendor Management

Build and maintain strong relationships with shipping lines, NVOCCs, feeder operators and port operators.

Negotiate competitive ocean freight rates, service contracts and equipment allocations.

Monitor carrier performance and resolve service disruptions, delays and claims proactively.

Financial Management

Own the sea freight P&L, including budgeting, forecasting and cost control.

Ensure profitable pricing strategies, cost optimization and margin improvement.

Analyse operational and financial performance reports and take corrective actions as needed.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with KSA regulations, customs, port authorities (e.g., Mawani), ZATCA and international maritime standards.

Oversee hazardous cargo (IMDG), documentation accuracy and audit readiness.

Manage operational risks including demurrage, detention, claims and cargo damage.

People Leadership

Lead, mentor and develop sea freight teams across operations, customer service and

sales support.

Set performance targets, conduct reviews and build a results-driven culture.

Ensure training, knowledge transfer and succession planning within the department.

Key Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related

field.

Experience

5-8+ years of experience in sea freight forwarding, with at least 45 years in a senior leadership role.

Strong knowledge of the KSA maritime market, ports (Jeddah, Dammam, Yanbu, etc.) and shipping line landscape.

Proven experience managing P&L and large-scale sea freight operations.

Skills & Competencies

Strong leadership and team management skills.

Excellent negotiation skills with carriers and vendors.

Strong commercial and financial acumen.

In-depth knowledge of sea freight operations, pricing and compliance.

Excellent communication skills in English; Arabic is a strong advantage.