Freight Category Lead

Mindsprint · Chennai, India

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 multi-year, 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:

Required Skills & Expertise:

• 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 asset-based 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, spot-buy transport portals, and advanced data-analytics platforms to monitor asset-carrier 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.

Qualifications:

• 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.