Global Head of Freight Strategy & Development

About the role

ECOM is looking for a senior freight professional to act as Global Head of Freight Strategy & Development. Working with the Commodity COOs and cross-functionally with trading, commercial and logistics teams, the role develops ECOM's global freight and warehousing strategy across Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton, covering container shipping, bulk shipping and vessel chartering. It leverages the Group's volumes, market knowledge and industry relationships to improve competitiveness, reliability, access to capacity and freight risk management.

Key responsibilities

• Build ECOM's Global Freight Strategy by mapping major freight flows across Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton and identifying where coordination across commodities and regions creates value.
• Understand global container markets and provide forward-looking freight intelligence.
• Strengthen relationships with major ocean carriers and key logistics providers at regional and global levels, using the combined commodities footprint.
• Analyse overlapping trade lanes, carriers, origins and destinations to improve purchasing power, service and access to capacity, and promote a One ECOM approach.
• Develop a global view of the warehousing footprint and identify where storage improves competitiveness, flexibility and customer service.
• Identify bulk and breakbulk shipping opportunities and vessel chartering options, and advise on charter-party negotiations, freight hedging and demurrage and detention exposure.
• Leverage in-house capabilities and coordinate market intelligence and commercial leverage across the Group, especially if these activities centralise.

Required profile

• Significant experience in ocean container shipping, ideally in a major shipping line or a senior freight commercial role.
• Strong network and established relationships with major ocean carriers and key decision-makers across relevant trade lanes.
• Experience across multiple geographies, trade lanes and, ideally, commodity or agricultural supply chains.
• Ability to connect Group-wide volumes and requirements across Coffee, Cocoa and Cotton.
• Commercial mindset, entrepreneurial and pragmatic, able to influence and negotiate internally and externally.

Required skills

• Deep understanding of carrier economics, capacity management, equipment flows, service networks and freight pricing.
• Ability to read and anticipate freight-market developments and turn them into commercial and strategic action.
• Understanding of global warehousing and distribution networks and how inventory positioning supports freight and commercial strategy.