Business Development Manager (IO & East Africa)

Role Purpose

The role is primarily a business development and commercial leadership position, focused on building and expanding the company's shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, and container-related business across the Indian Ocean and East Africa. The Mauritius office serves as the commercial hub, while Mombasa handles operational execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop strategic relationships with international shipping lines, NVOCCs, agents, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters.
• Negotiate freight rates, service contracts, carrier allocations, free days, detention, and demurrage terms.
• Generate new business in:
• Ocean freight (FCL & LCL)
• Import and export shipping
• NVOCC activities
• Shipping-line representation and agency services
• Container storage, repositioning, and handling
• Inland transport, warehousing, and cross-border logistics
• Promote Mombasa as a logistics gateway into East and Central Africa.
• Secure contracts for container depot, equipment management, empty-container handling, reefer operations, repairs, and related services.
• Develop long-term customer accounts and recurring container volumes.
• Monitor market trends, freight rates, capacity, competitors, and trade developments.

Geographic Focus

Strong emphasis on trade lanes connecting:

• Asia/China
• India
• Middle East (especially Dubai)
• Europe
• Mauritius
• Kenya (Mombasa)
• East and Central Africa

Performance Expectations

The role is highly KPI-driven and measured by:

• New shipping-line and logistics contracts secured
• Container volumes (TEUs)
• Revenue and gross profit generated
• Customer acquisition and retention
• Shipping-line relationships established
• Container storage and transport contracts won

Requirements

Ideal Candidate Profile

The preferred candidate will have:

• Direct experience within a shipping line, liner agency, NVOCC, freight forwarder, shipping agency, or container depot operation.
• Existing relationships with shipping-line decision-makers.
• Strong understanding of:
• International container shipping
• Freight pricing and carrier contracts
• FCL/LCL operations
• Bills of lading and trade documentation
• Container equipment management
• Reefer and depot operations
• East African and Indian Ocean trade routes

Required Skills

• Strong commercial negotiation and sales ability
• Proven business development capability
• Knowledge of international shipping and logistics
• Relationship-building with senior industry executives
• Analytical and market intelligence skills
• Proposal preparation and contract negotiation expertise
• Strong communication and presentation skills

Experience Requirements

• Minimum: 5 years in shipping/logistics.
• Preferred: 8 to 15 years within shipping lines, NVOCCs, liner agencies, or international freight forwarding.
• Experience covering East Africa, Mauritius, Mombasa, or Indian Ocean trades is highly advantageous.

Proactive reserves the right:

• To call only the shortlisted candidates for interview.
• Not to make any appointment following this advertisement nor to assign any reason whatsoever for accepting or rejecting any candidate.