Ocean Freight Rate Card Maintenance Team Lead

DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) is the world leader in air freight services and one of the leading providers of ocean freight services. Around 30,000 employees work to ensure we transport our customers of shipments by air or sea. DGF's logistics solutions span the entire supply chain, from the factory to the shop floor. This also includes special transport-related services.

As the experts in freight forwarding, we deliver 100% assurance to our customers via a mindset that’s always looking ahead to the next commercial opportunity, predicting the next potential issue, anticipating the next global trend.

Because at DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, we’re not simply about freight forwarding. We’re about forward-thinking ways to connect people – and improve their lives.

Job Purpose

The Ocean Freight Rate Card Maintenance Team Lead is responsible for managing a team of rate card maintenance specialists that owns and maintains post‑award customer rate cards end‑to‑end. The role enables and develops the team members to work independently and confidently, make informed decisions without constant escalation, and deliver competitive quotations for additional lanes as well as timely updates to surcharges, transit times, extensions, and refreshes. In addition, the role acts as their first point of contact to resolve doubts and will be the interface to the Growth team in case alignment with Tender Managers or Pricing Specialists is required. By establishing clear SOPs and training, and by defining guidelines and quality checks, the Team Lead ensures accurate rate card maintenance, mapping and bundling charges in line with customer requirements, and handover of rate cards to upload in RMS/CW1 by the Rate Card Loading team to enable auto‑rating and billing accuracy.

Principal Accountabilities

Team Leadership and Management

• Operates with minimal supervision, sets priorities and SLAs.
• Conducts 4‑eyes reviews
• Builds team autonomy through training, coaching, and knowledge assets so the reporting team can own their topics and make informed decisions without constant escalation.
  
  
  

Rate Card Maintenance

• Handles complex, ambiguous, and multi‑party issues (e.g., conflicting instructions, data gaps across IPT/CPT, cross‑system issues).
• Challenges pricing assumptions and optimizes mapping/bundling per customer (in partnership with Tender Managers/Product) to improve quote hit ratio, protect margin, and grow the business via proactive additional lanes with competitive rates.
• Ensures latest rate card and respective updates are available and Rate Card Loading tickets are raised timely (initial/partial loading, rate extension/refresh, additional lanes, surcharges updates).
• Take control of the surcharge’s expiry.
• Full alignment with Regional and Country Growth/OCC.
  
  
  

Process Documentation and Improvement

• Applies deep functional and cross‑functional expertise (pricing, product, billing, systems) and translates it into SOPs and process governance (definition and maintenance of the process)
• Identifies and applies improvements needed, data standards, checklists, version control, and approval workflows
• Ensures audit readiness, and data integrity across the post‑award rate card lifecycle
• Coaches the team to internalize and apply the process consistently, enabling the team to work independently.
  
  
  

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Acts as the escalation point for Tender Managers, Product/Pricing, Finance/Billing, and Operations.
• Translates commercial intent into clear data rules and timelines, manage refresh calendars
• Communicates decisions and impacts.
  
  
  

Own KPIs

• Set targets and run disciplined reviews across TAT, First‑Time‑Right, SLA adherence, Surcharges Expiry, rate accuracy with no incidents
• Drive corrective/preventive actions.
  
  
  

Quality, Risk & Continuous Improvement

• Leads root cause analysis on pricing‑data issues impacting rating/billing
• Implements validation rules
• Raises automation needs to reduce cycle time, rework and minimize risk.
  
  
  

Skills

• Proficiency in Excel and database tools/systems
• Pricing and rate process expertise
• Deep understanding of freight forwarding and supply chain logistics
• Extensive knowledge of forwarding, ocean carriers, and transport providers
• Strong ownership, data‑driven decision‑making and accountability
• Structured and detail oriented
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to perform effectively in dynamic, fast-paced environment with high-pressure situations
• Stakeholder leadership & escalation management
  
  
  

Qualifications & Key Requirements

• More than 4 years in freight forwarding, logistics, or shipping industry with at least 2 years in a pricing leadership role.
• Experience with business intelligence tools and platforms.
• Experience applying Project Management skills and principles including scheduling, resource allocation, task dependencies and coordination.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Logistics, Business or Information Systems would be considered benefitial.
• Professional proficiency in business English, both spoken and written.
  
  
  

Location

Mumbai, India

RCS Grade

I

Your Benefits

We offer excellent employee benefits, a competitive salary package and great development opportunities.

• Positive work environment: Our TOP EMPLOYER prestigious certification attests to our best-in-class efforts to attract and retain talent by fostering a positive work environment and encouraging personal and professional development among employees
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement plans, social counseling, generous corporate discount programs and other employee wellbeing programs.
• Global Exposure: Joining DHL Global Forwarding means being part of a truly global organization, providing you with the opportunity to work with diverse teams and gain exposure to international markets and practices.
• Work-Life Balance: We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and we strive to provide a flexible work environment.
• Continuous Learning and Development: We invest in our employees' growth by offering training programs, coaching, workshops, and resources to enhance your skills and knowledge.
• Onboarding: Individual onboarding, training on the job, networking, a dedicated certified program.
  
  
  

Interested in this position? Just click on “Apply”!

Are you curious to learn more about us?

Our official website: DHL Global Forwarding

Check out our business updates and culture: LinkedIn/ Instagram / Facebook & X

We are looking forward to your application.

DGF HR Team