Purpose of the Job
Responsible for the buy side of Aramex's North America ocean freight product: carrier relationships, rate procurement, space and capacity commitments, and regulatory compliance. As a member of the Aramex Global Procurement Organization, this role ensures that North America sales teams and the global network are equipped with competitive, compliant, space-backed ocean rates on the key trade lanes — and that buy rates are converted into competitive, margin-managed sell rates through the pricing desk.
This is a commercial enabler role, not a back-office rate desk: the role works directly with carriers, customers, and the Aramex network to win business, retain accounts, and bring agent-handled freight back in house.
Job Description
Carrier Relationships & Rate Procurement:
- Member of the Aramex Global Procurement Organization, spanning US / Europe / Asia / Middle East
- Builds relationships with the major ocean carriers in North America on behalf of Aramex
- Establishes rate tariffs on key lanes (Trans-Atlantic, Trans-Pacific, MEA) that sales can leverage to retain existing customers and win new business
- Secures named-account rates with carriers for specific business sold by North America field sales, overseas sales, and RFQs, including special conditions (e.g., free time)
Pricing & Sell-Side Management:
- Directs the pricing desk (RFQ/tender responses, spot quote turnaround SLAs, margin guidance by trade lane), ensuring buy rates are converted into competitive, margin-managed sell rates for field sales and overseas offices
- Owns rate distribution into quoting systems and rate validity maintenance, so that current, quotable rates are always available to the sales organization
Space & Capacity Management:
- Secures space allocations and capacity commitments with carriers on key lanes, managing weekly allocations and volume commitments (MQCs) to ensure rates are backed by guaranteed space, particularly in tight market conditions
- Manages the buying mix across contract (NAC), FAK, and spot rates to balance cost, capacity certainty, and flexibility
Regulatory Compliance:
- Owns FMC/NVOCC regulatory compliance, including service contract filings, NRAs/NSAs, tariff publication, and detention & demurrage compliance under OSRA 2022
- Ensures Canadian ocean freight bookings and documentation meet applicable Canadian regulatory requirements
Carrier Performance Management:
- Manages carrier performance through quarterly business reviews and carrier scorecards (schedule reliability, roll rates, free-time compliance, invoice accuracy)
- Serves as escalation point for service failures, rolled cargo, and detention & demurrage disputes
Commercial & Network Support:
- Joint customer visits with sales to understand customer-specific requirements and provide key product knowledge (business builder)
Works with the network to put rates and services in place to bring business currently handled by agents back in house
Job Requirements - Experience and Education
- 8–12+ years in ocean freight, with substantial experience in carrier procurement, trade lane pricing, or ocean product management at an international freight forwarder or NVOCC
- Established relationships with the major ocean carriers serving North America (Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic, and Middle East trades)
- Hands-on command of the US regulatory framework: FMC/NVOCC licensing, service contracts, NRAs/NSAs, tariff publication, and OSRA 2022
- Demonstrated experience negotiating carrier contracts, MQCs, and named-account rates, and managing allocations through tight and soft market cycles
- Experience running or working closely with a pricing/tender desk, including RFQ economics and margin management
- Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience – Direct experience in the role would supersede
Skills
- Negotiator's instinct paired with relationship-building skill — carriers must view Aramex as a preferred partner, not just a rate shopper
- Commercial orientation: comfortable in front of customers alongside sales, translating procurement strength into won business
- Analytical rigor: benchmarks buy rates against market indices, reads trade lane P&L dynamics, and manages margin by lane
- Detail discipline for compliance: treats FMC filings, contract validity, and tariff accuracy as non-negotiable
- Builder profile: comfortable standing up processes, systems, and carrier programs in a developing product rather than inheriting a mature machine
- Effective across a global matrix: aligns global procurement priorities with North America commercial needs