Job Summary
We are seeking a highly strategic Freight Category Lead to own and execute the global end-to-end category strategy for air, ocean, and land logistics. The ideal candidate will transform logistics spend into a competitive advantage by driving comprehensive spend analytics, demand forecasting, and TCO optimization across international freight corridors and regional land transport networks. Leveraging primary experience with Tier 1 and Tier 2 maritime liners, top-tier forwarders, land logistics fleets, and major 3PL providers, this role manages market volatility through robust risk mitigation frameworks. This position requires an agile, cross functional leader capable of navigating macroeconomic ambiguity to deliver commercial value and operational excellence across global supply chains.
Job Description
- Category Strategy & TCO: Develop and implement multiyear, sustainable global category strategies for air, ocean, and land freight (including 3PL,FTL, and LTL setups) aligned with corporate financial objectives.
- Spend Analytics & Demand Forecasting: Conduct detailed lifecycle and spend analysis, tracking freight usage patterns, lane cost-drivers, and capacity variations to optimize routes and carrier/3PL allocations.
- Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation: Design complex indexing models and lead strategic sourcing events to secure competitive, multi-geography rate structures directly with Tier 1 liners (MSC, Maersk, CMA, HAPAG), Tier 2 liners, leading land transport networks, and 3PL partners.
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): Establish a structured SRM framework with core asset carriers and asset light 3PL providers; define performance benchmarks, lead QBRs, and drive collaborative continuous improvement initiatives.
- Risk Mitigation & Supply Resilience: Develop proactive risk management strategies, tracking geopolitical, environmental, and regulatory changes to secure capacity guarantees and alternative routing during high-disruption cycles.
- Digital Transformation & Tooling: Champion the optimization of enterprise TMS platforms (OTM, Coupa Logistics, Blue Yonder) or latest AI based platforms as per the Gartner Magic Quadrant, using external market intelligence databases to automate freight data taxonomy and governance.
- Cross Functional Governance: Partner as a strategic advisory peer to internal manufacturing business units, finance, plant warehouse operations, and trade compliance teams to streamline freight desk SOPs, warehouse-to-land-transport handoffs, and policy compliance.
- Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and build capabilities within a high-performing freight team, fostering an agile culture focused on digital enablement and commercial market savvy.
Profile Description
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Engineering, or a related field (Master’s/MBA in Supply Chain heavily preferred).
- Experience: 10-14 years of global corporate procurement experience, specifically leading complex multimodal freight categories (Ocean, Air, Land), 3PL partner sourcing, and international carrier management for a Global MNC.
- Corporate Persona: Currently operating within a matrixed corporate setup, exhibiting highly polished presentation skills and active engagement in global logistics, 3PL networks, or supply chain professional forums.
- Multimodal Category Mastery: Deep expertise in total cost of ownership (TCO) models, freight indexing (e.g., Drewry/FBX for ocean, regional land transport indices), and sophisticated sourcing mechanics for both assetbased carriers and 3PL/4PL outsourced logistics models.
- Logistics Operating Edge: Prior career experience inside a shipping liner, major freight forwarder, or prominent 3PL enterprise, providing critical insider knowledge of carrier yield management, lane routing, spot vs contract dynamics, and warehouse/fleet capacity allocation behaviors.
- Digital Sourcing Infrastructure: High proficiency in leveraging advanced enterprise TMS, spotbuy transport portals, and advanced dataanalytics platforms to monitor assetcarrier and 3PL performance and lane compliance.
- Ambiguity Management & Influence: Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to translate complex maritime and regional land logistics market trends into actionable strategic recommendations for executive stakeholders.
About Company
A client of ilink Talent Solutions is a Singapore headquartered technology and business services company with over 3,200 employees across Asia, the US, UK, Middle East, and Australia, supported by major innovation hubs in Chennai and Bengaluru. They deliver cloud, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, automation, and digital transformation solutions. Recognised with awards including the SAP Outstanding Innovation Partner (SEA 2024) and Great Place to Work, they are rapidly expanding their global client base beyond their founding parent group.
