District Manager – Air & Ocean

What You Can Expect :

Financial Management & District Performance

- Maintain overall accountability for district P&L performance, including revenue, profitability, operating expenses, budgeting, forecasting, and financial targets, in alignment with the Heads of Air and Ocean Product.

- Monitor branch and district financial performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective measures to achieve profitability and growth objectives.

- Oversee credit management, accounts receivable, and financial risk exposure, ensuring effective controls while supporting commercial growth.

- Analyze pricing structures, cost components, operational efficiencies, and profit margins to improve financial performance and competitiveness.

- Prepare and present district performance reports, financial analyses, forecasts, and strategic recommendations to regional leadership.

Commercial Growth & Business Development

- Drive district revenue growth through strategic business development, key account management, customer retention, and market expansion initiatives.

- Partner with Sales and Product leadership to identify new business opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, and expand air and ocean freight volumes.

- Support the development of competitive freight forwarding solutions, including pricing strategies, service offerings, and cross-selling opportunities.

- Maintain relationships with strategic customers, addressing escalations and ensuring long-term satisfaction and account profitability.

- Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and customer requirements to identify opportunities and support district commercial strategies.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

- Provide leadership and oversight across district branch operations, ensuring service quality, productivity, regulatory compliance, and consistent execution of operational standards.

- Collaborate with the Operational Excellence Team (OET) to implement and maintain standardized operating procedures, process improvements, and regional best practices.

- Monitor operational KPIs, service performance, and customer satisfaction, implementing improvement initiatives where necessary.

- Work closely with Air and Ocean Product teams to align operational capabilities, service delivery, and commercial commitments.

- Identify opportunities to optimize workflows, resource utilization, cost efficiency, and overall branch performance.

- Ensure compliance with applicable transportation regulations, internal policies, financial controls, and corporate governance requirements.

Leadership & People Development

- Lead, coach, and develop branch management teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, and a high-performance culture across the district.

- Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, succession planning, and employee development in partnership with Human Resources.

- Establish clear performance expectations and measurable objectives, ensuring branch leaders are accountable for financial, operational, and commercial results.

- Promote cross-functional collaboration between Operations, Sales, Product, Finance, HR, and other regional stakeholders.

- Drive organizational change, employee engagement, and continuous improvement while maintaining alignment with Rhenus' leadership principles and corporate values.

- Perform additional responsibilities and strategic initiatives as assigned by regional leadership.

What You Bring:

- Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in international freight forwarding, including significant leadership responsibility within branch, district, or multi-site operations.

- Demonstrated experience managing P&L performance, budgets, financial forecasts, cost controls, and profitability improvement initiatives.

- Strong operational and commercial knowledge of both air and ocean freight forwarding, including import/export processes, pricing, carrier relationships, and international logistics solutions.

- Proven track record of driving revenue growth through business development, strategic account management, customer retention, and cross-selling initiatives.

- Experience leading branch operations or multiple locations, with demonstrated success in improving service quality, operational efficiency, and financial performance.

- Strong people leadership capabilities, including managing and developing teams, coaching managers, performance management, and succession planning.

- Sound understanding of freight forwarding regulations, compliance requirements, operational procedures, and industry best practices.

- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with Product, Sales, Finance, HR, and Operational Excellence teams in a matrix organization.

- Strong analytical and financial acumen, with experience using operational KPIs, financial reporting, and performance metrics to guide business decisions.

- Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and customer relationship skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior leadership and key accounts.

- Proven ability to manage competing priorities, lead organizational change, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent relevant industry experience will be considered.

- Proficiency with freight forwarding systems, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications; experience with CargoWise or comparable transportation management systems is an asset.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional languages are an asset.

- Willingness and ability to travel regularly between district branches and other locations as business needs require.