Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager – Freight Forwarder
Location: Chicago, IL
Industry: Freight Forwarding & Logistics
Salary: Competitive base + commission (dependent on experience)

We are partnered with a leading German-owned freight forwarder expanding their U.S. footprint and actively hiring a Business Development Manager in the greater Chicago area.

This is a hunter-focused sales role targeting new business across air and ocean freight. You'll be backed by a strong global network, local operational support, and competitive service capabilities across key trade lanes including Transatlantic, Asia-Europe, and U.S. import/export.

Key Responsibilities:

- Drive new business acquisition across air, ocean, and customs brokerage services
- Identify and pursue mid-market and enterprise-level opportunities across Illinois and the Midwest
- Collaborate with local and overseas operations teams to ensure service quality and onboarding of new clients
- Maintain a consistent pipeline and exceed GP targets
- Represent the company in client meetings, industry events, and networking functions

Requirements:

- 3+ years of freight forwarding sales experience (air & ocean focus)
- Proven track record in new business development and exceeding GP targets
- Strong knowledge of U.S. trade lanes, Incoterms, and global forwarding procedures
- Experience working in a KPI-driven environment with CRM usage
- Must be based in or able to cover the greater Chicago area

Why Join?

- Backing of a financially strong, globally respected German forwarder
- Local autonomy with direct access to leadership
- Competitive compensation and uncapped commission
- Clear career path with U.S. expansion plans underway

All inquiries handled in strict confidence. Apply now or reach out directly to learn more.