Airfreight Manager - Heathrow

Airfreight Manager - Heathrow

Salary C: £60K - £70k (Neg) plus Benefits

Job Description & Role

The Airfreight Manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimising the Group's global airfreight network strategy. The role will ensure strategic network designing, cost-effective airline procurement, optimal route-to-market selection, maximum utilisation of protected capacity, and strong commercial positioning across all key trade lanes, and establishing global relationships with key airline and consolidation partners.

This position is both strategic and operational, combining network design, airline relationship management, commercial negotiation, and day-to-day tactical decision-making.

Your general tasks include:

Network Strategy & Development

• Create and continuously optimise the Group's global airfreight network.
• Identify the most efficient and commercially viable airline port pairs across key trade lanes.
• Develop route air freight linehaul strategies aligned with customer demand, net achieved yield targets, and service commitments.
• Monitor performance of lanes and adjust routing strategies accordingly.

Airline & Route Management

• Control airline products and determine approved port pair options.
• Evaluate airline performance (net achieved cost, service reliability, capacity, claims ratio).
• Maintain preferred carrier programmes and global incentives
• Ensure alignment between airline performance and operational capabilities.

BSA Agreements & Management

• Negotiate and manage BSA agreements and non-BSA capacity contracts
• Ensure contractual compliance and service delivery against agreed KPIs.
• Monitor market rate fluctuations and adjust agreements accordingly.
• Maintain strong strategic relationships with key airline partners.

Capacity & ULD Management

• Manage utilisation of purchased airfreight capacity to ensure maximum load factors.
• Oversee ULD (Unit Load Device)allocation, rotation, and reconciliation.
• Improve Net Achieved Rate (NAR) through proactive planning of densities
• Coordinate with operations teams to ensure space optimisation.

Operational Decision Making

• Make daily routing and airline allocation decisions based on:
• Cost
• Service level requirements
• Transit times
• Capacity availability
• Margin protection
• Provide escalation support for operational challenges affecting airfreight performance.
• Ensure service consistency across the network.

Commercial Negotiation &Profitability

• Lead commercial negotiations with airlines and strategic partners.
• Secure competitive rates to maintain and improve gross margin.
• Support pricing teams with airline cost intelligence.
• Contribute to tender responses and major commercial bids.
• Drive profitability through cost control and strategic capacity management
• Maintain a good sense of seasonality and understanding of competitor strategies

Success Measures

• Improve NAR across key airfreight trade lanes.
• Achieve targeted load factor utilisation on bulk agreements.
• Reduce cost per kilo through strategic procurement.
• Maintain high on-time performance across selected carriers.
• Establish and maintain a structured airline performance scorecard.

Requirements

• Proven airfreight leadership experience within logistics or freight forwarding
• Strong airline negotiation and BSA management background
• Deep understanding of global trade lanes and cargo routing
• Commercially astute, decisive, and data-driven
• Strong stakeholder and relationship management capability
• Strong analytical skills

Preferable

• Existing airline industry relationships.
• Experience designing multi-country airfreight networks.
• Exposure to both express and general cargo operations.
• Familiarity with cargo management systems and yield optimisation tools.
• Experience working within a global logistics network.

Apply Vicky