About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Freight Manager – Food Exports to lead our international freight operations and support our export business across approximately 40 countries.
This role is responsible for managing containerised food exports, ensuring shipments are delivered safely, efficiently, on time and at competitive costs while meeting international shipping and food safety requirements.
Beyond managing day-to-day shipments, we are looking for someone who can strengthen our freight procurement strategies, build strong relationships with global shipping partners, optimise logistics costs and proactively manage risks across international trade lanes.
This is an opportunity for a freight professional who enjoys taking ownership, driving improvements and developing a high-performing team in an international manufacturing and export environment.
What You'll Do
Freight Procurement & Cost Management
- Lead freight procurement activities, including ocean freight negotiations, carrier selection and competitive tendering with shipping lines and freight forwarders.
- Manage freight budgets, monitor shipping costs across trade lanes and identify opportunities for cost optimisation.
- Control demurrage, detention, surcharges and other freight-related expenses.
- Evaluate carrier and freight forwarder performance to ensure competitive pricing, service reliability and operational efficiency.
International Shipping & Export Operations
- Manage containerised food exports, including FCL/LCL, dry and reefer shipments, across international markets.
- Oversee shipment planning, container bookings, loading coordination and shipment tracking from origin to destination port.
- Work closely with Production, Planning, Warehouse and Customer Service teams to ensure shipment readiness and timely execution.
- Optimise container utilisation and proactively address shipment delays, port congestion and equipment shortages.
Food Cargo Integrity, Risk & Compliance
- Ensure appropriate food-grade container standards, cargo handling practices and reefer temperature requirements to protect product quality during transit.
- Oversee marine cargo insurance arrangements and coordinate claims relating to cargo damage, loss or spoilage.
- Manage shipping-related risks and develop contingency plans for operational disruptions.
- Ensure compliance with applicable Incoterms 2020, customs requirements, export regulations and destination-country food import requirements.
- Coordinate with the Documentation team to ensure shipping documents, certificates and Letters of Credit requirements are fulfilled accurately and on time.
Stakeholder Management & Continuous Improvement
- Build and maintain effective relationships with shipping lines, freight forwarders, hauliers, customs brokers and other logistics service providers.
- Collaborate with Sales, Production, Quality, Finance, Customer Service and Documentation to support customer commitments and smooth export operations.
- Monitor freight performance, identify operational gaps and implement improvements to enhance service quality and cost efficiency.
- Maintain effective freight SOPs, reporting processes and logistics systems.
- Lead, coach and develop the Freight team, building commercial capability, accountability and operational excellence.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, International Business or a related discipline.
- 7–10 years of relevant experience in international freight, shipping or export logistics, including at least 3 years in a managerial capacity.
- Strong hands-on experience managing containerised ocean freight (FCL/LCL) across international markets.
- Proven track record in freight rate negotiations, carrier management, tendering and cost optimisation.
- Strong understanding of international shipping procedures, Incoterms 2020, customs requirements and export documentation.
- Experience managing shipping lines, freight forwarders and logistics service providers.
- Experience in food exports, food-grade container requirements, reefer shipments or temperature-sensitive cargo would be an advantage.
- Good understanding of Letters of Credit and international trade documentation requirements.
- Strong analytical, commercial negotiation and problem-solving skills.
- Proven leadership experience with the ability to develop and manage a team.
- Proficiency in ERP, logistics management systems and Microsoft Office applications.
- Strong communication and stakeholder-management capabilities.
What Will Help You Succeed
You are commercially minded, proactive and results-oriented, with the ability to balance freight costs, service reliability, cargo integrity and international trade requirements.
You understand that successful food exports require more than securing container space. They require strong planning, attention to product quality, effective risk management and close coordination across the supply chain.
You are confident negotiating with shipping partners, challenging existing practices and identifying opportunities to improve freight efficiency.
Most importantly, you enjoy taking ownership, developing people and continuously improving international freight operations.