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Cherokee Federal · 5 hours ago

Senior Manager, Trade Lane Development – WCSA/USA/WCSA

Charlotte, NC, United States

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

5+ years exp

Cherokee Federal is the leading provider of worldwide smart end-to-end supply chain & logistics, enabling the flow of trade across the globe. The Senior Manager, Trade Lane Development is responsible for strategizing and growing ocean and air volumes on the WCSA/USA/WCSA trade routes, supporting overall business developments and expanding service delivery to maximize regional growth.

GovernmentNon ProfitProfessional ServicesPublic Relations

No H1B

Responsibilities

Define and execute the regional trade lane strategy aligned with global trade lane goals and regional business objectives

Identify growth opportunities and design trade lane-specific commercial action plans (including target industries, customers, and lanes)

Build strong relationships with origin and destination offices to ensure aligned pricing, service delivery, and product development

Provides input for annual Trade Lane budgeting

Manages pipeline size and hit ratio on assigned trade lane(s)

Support local and regional sales teams with trade lane-specific knowledge, customer engagement, and solution design

Lead and manage key RFQs/RFPs for strategic accounts on the lane; support pre-sales and post-sales activities

Conduct regular trade lane performance reviews with sales and key account managers

Plans overseas visits and acts as enabler for overseas sale

Steers local Sales force by identifying opportunities on assigned trade lane(s), launching, managing Sales campaigns and driving volume/density initiatives on assigned trade lane(s)

Provides selling tools for assigned lanes such as benchmarking and selling kit for Sales

Establishes and agrees Trade Lane must-win customer list together with Sales and Products; Interacts on pricing with tender and pricing team on pricing/rate

Collaborate with procurement teams to identify competitive buying rates and required capacity from carriers and partners

Provide strategic pricing guidance for tenders and spot quotes based on market intelligence and profitability thresholds

Monitor margin performance and propose corrective actions where required

Analyse trade lane volume trends, lane profitability, and service performance metrics

Identify root causes of underperformance and initiate improvement/ action plans in coordination with operations and commercial teams

Deliver regular reporting and presentations on trade lane health and progress to senior management

Analyse trade lane volume trends, lane profitability, and service performance metrics

Identify root causes of underperformance and initiate improvement/ action plans in coordination with operations and commercial teams

Deliver regular reporting and presentations on trade lane health and progress to senior management

Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders regarding the assigned trade lane

Facilitate regular coordination between origin/destination offices and regional teams to align strategies and execution

Build strong external relationships with partners and strategic customers

Work with product teams to develop differentiated service offerings (e.g., transit-time options, visibility solutions, sustainability features) tailored to trade lane requirements

Capture customer and market feedback to continuously enhance the trade lane value proposition

Propose Commercial business cases in order to develop USP’s on respective trade lanes to boost growth, increase profitability or increase customer retention (e.g. invest in capacity to build console program, long term carrier contracts to give advantage on rates/ capacity, etc)

Work with product teams to develop differentiated service offerings (e.g., transit-time options, visibility solutions, sustainability features) tailored to trade lane requirements

Capture customer and market feedback to continuously enhance the trade lane value proposition

Qualification

Trade lane developmentFreight forwarding experienceCommercial acumenStakeholder managementLogistics software proficiencyProject managementAnalytical skillsCustoms regulations knowledgeFluent in EnglishCommunication skillsNegotiation skillsLeadership skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management or a related field, with a Master's degree preferred

5-8 years of experience in the freight forwarding industry, with a strong background in commercial, trade lane or route development

Proven commercial acumen and understanding of freight procurement, pricing, and customer solutioning

Strong communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills

Data-driven, analytical, and proactive in resolving challenges and identifying opportunities

Fluent in English; additional regional languages are a plus

Willingness to travel within the region and occasionally internationally

Proven track record of success in trade lane management, with exceptional negotiation, communication, and leadership skills

Experience managing complex logistics operations across multiple regions, with strong knowledge of carrier pricing and capacity management

Familiarity with customs regulations, import/export procedures, and other relevant industry standards

Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and lead a team of professionals

Proficiency in MS Office and logistics software applications, and familiarity with emerging digital technologies and trends in the logistics industry

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Company

Cherokee Federal

Cherokee Federal, a division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, is a trusted team of government contracting professionals who can rapidly build innovative solutions.

Founded in 1969

Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

5001-10000 employees