Ocean Freight Specialist

About

Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist founded in 1871. With €19.7 billion in sales in 2025 and approximately 78,000 employees in 54 countries, Continental makes mobility safer, smarter, and more sustainable through its Tires group sector. The company has a premium portfolio of tire solutions and offers smart services for fleets and tire retailers. It is one of the world's largest tire manufacturers with over 56,000 employees in its tire division.

About the Role

The Ocean Freight Specialist is responsible for managing and optimizing all ocean transportation operations, including carrier selection, contract negotiations, shipment execution, and cost control. This role ensures efficient, compliant, and cost-effective international freight movement while maintaining strong relationships with carriers, freight forwarders, and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Ocean Freight Operations

• Oversee daily ocean freight activities, including booking, documentation, tracking, and exception management.
• Ensure timely and accurate shipment execution from origin to destination.
• Manage inbound and outbound ocean shipments across global trade lanes.
• Monitor transit times and implement improvements to service performance.

Carrier & Vendor Management

• Develop and maintain relationships with ocean carriers and freight forwarders.
• Support Purchasing with the negotiation of freight contracts, rates, and service agreements.
• Conduct quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with key logistics providers.
• Monitor vendor performance against KPIs and SLAs.

Cost Optimization & Budget Management

• Identify cost-saving opportunities across lanes, carriers, and routing strategies.
• Manage and monitor ocean freight spend against budget targets.
• Support freight procurement strategies, including RFPs and bid analysis.

Risk Management & Issue Resolution

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks such as port congestion, capacity constraints, and delays.
• Resolve shipment disruptions, claims, and exceptions in a timely manner.
• Manage service claims and dispute resolution with carriers.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Partner with internal teams including procurement, supply chain, warehousing, and customer service.
• Coordinate with regional logistics teams to ensure alignment across global operations.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to leadership on performance and cost trends.

Reporting & Analytics

• Track KPIs including transit time, on-time delivery, cost per TEU, and carrier performance.
• Develop dashboards and reports to support data-driven decision-making.
• Analyze shipping patterns and recommend process improvements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in ocean freight/logistics operations.
• Strong knowledge of Incoterms (DAP, FCA, FOB, CIF, etc.).
• Experience with ocean carrier contracts and rate negotiations.
• Familiarity with global shipping documentation and customs processes.
• Proficiency in TMS, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on operational excellence.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. Continental is able to offer visa support for internal candidates or for those individuals who hold existing valid employment visas.
• A relocation package can be offered if needed.
• 7+ years of experience in ocean freight/logistics operations is a plus.
• Experience managing North America (US/CAN) or global ocean logistics is a plus.
• Knowledge of port operations and drayage coordination is a plus.
• Experience with digital freight platforms and visibility tools is a plus.
• Advanced Excel skills are a plus.