Business Development Manager
Business Development Manager – Air & Ocean Freight Forwarding – New York, NY
Freight Forwarding | New York, NY (New York City Metropolitan Area) $105,000 – $150,000 Base + Uncapped Commission + Car Allowance | OTE $200K+
WHY THIS ROLE
The New York office is taking on its largest commercial build in a decade. After scaling pharma cold-chain capacity at JFK and onboarding new premium retail accounts, the branch now needs a commercial operator to lead new-logo acquisition across the NY/NJ metro. Focus on transatlantic air and ocean opportunities into pharma & life sciences, premium retail & fashion, and high-tech electronics, with gateway capability at JFK, EWR, and the Port of NY/NJ.
ABOUT
Founded in 1953 in Zurich, this European freight forwarder operates across 68 countries with 14,500 people. What makes the seat winnable is the product: transatlantic eastbound air express, a European ocean consolidation network running 40+ weekly sailings, and one of only a handful of forwarders holding IATA CEIV Pharma certification at JFK. Vertical depth runs across pharma & life sciences, premium retail & fashion, and high-tech electronics. The NY/NJ presence goes back to 1978, with recent technology investment underpinning faster quote turnaround and live shipment visibility.
WHAT YOU'LL DELIVER
- 30–40 named-account shippers across NY/NJ metro generating 3x base salary in GP by month 18.
- 8–10 qualified first meetings per month across pharma & life sciences, premium retail & fashion, and high-tech electronics.
- NY branch RFQ/RFP bid desk ownership alongside pricing, targeting tenders above $300K annual revenue.
- 3x pipeline coverage in CargoWise and Salesforce against quarterly target.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- 4+ years commercial air and ocean freight forwarding sales, US Northeast market.
- Commercial track record you can walk through: accounts won, lanes developed, GP history, shipper relationships.
- Vertical exposure in at least one of: pharma & life sciences, premium retail & fashion, high-tech electronics, aerospace MRO, or financial services logistics.
- Active CRM discipline in CargoWise, Salesforce, or equivalent.
- Working knowledge of AMS/ACE filings, HTS classification, CEIV Pharma basics, and NVOCC vs master-loader economics.
This role is focused on air and ocean freight forwarding. Candidates from adjacent product lines are welcome if you can evidence commercial credibility and willingness to reorient your pipeline.
WHAT'S ON OFFER
The compensation is built for commercial operators in a top-tier US market. Base $105,000 – $150,000 depending on experience. Uncapped commission pays 12% of GP from month one, with a 15% accelerator above quota and a $5,000 quarterly kicker for hitting pipeline coverage targets. No cap, no monthly clawback. Strong operators clear $200K+ OTE in year one and scale from there. Car allowance included. Full medical, dental, and vision from day one, 401k with 5% employer match, and 20 days PTO plus US public holidays.
Hybrid work model. Manhattan office visits as required, field-heavy coverage across NY/NJ. Behind the role sits the support you need to win: a pricing desk with 24-hour turnaround, an inside sales team for lead qualification, vertical-specific marketing content, and ops leadership with decades of Port of NY/NJ experience. You'll sell a product with genuine depth. No scrambling to explain why the forwarder can't cover a lane.
Progression track to Senior BDM within 24 months, then Regional Sales Manager for the Northeast. The business has a long track record of growing commercial talent from BDM into branch leadership.
