Branch Manager / Sr Business Development Manager

Monroe Consulting Group, an Executive Recruitment firm's Logistics Division, is partnering with an organisation within the Freight Forwarding sector to hire a Branch Manager. This opportunity is based in Seberang Perai, Penang.

Position Overview

Lead the overall management of a branch operation, overseeing business growth, financial performance, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction.
Drive revenue and profitability growth while strengthening market presence, operational efficiency, and team performance within the region.

Key Responsibilities

Branch Leadership & Business Growth

• Lead the overall performance of the Penang branch, ensuring the achievement of revenue, profitability, operational, and customer service objectives.
• Develop and execute business growth strategies to expand market share and strengthen presence in the Northern Region.
• Identify new business opportunities and work closely with the Sales team to acquire new customers while growing existing accounts.
• Drive branch sales performance and ensure the achievement of monthly, quarterly, and annual sales targets.
• Lead and manage major customer tenders (RFQs), commercial proposals, and strategic business opportunities.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Take full ownership of the branch's Profit & Loss (P&L), budget planning, cost control, and financial performance.
• Work closely with the Finance team to review monthly financial results, monitor KPIs, and implement improvement initiatives.
• Negotiate competitive freight rates and service agreements with airlines, shipping lines, transport providers, and other business partners.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through operational efficiency, procurement optimisation, and cost management.

Operations & Service Excellence

• Oversee the daily operations of air freight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, transportation, and warehousing activities to ensure operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs), customer requirements, regulatory standards, and company policies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce operational bottlenecks, and improve service quality.
• Monitor operational performance through KPIs and implement corrective actions where required.

Customer Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, business partners, and stakeholders.
• Ensure a high level of customer satisfaction by delivering timely, reliable, and value-added logistics solutions.
• Handle customer escalations professionally and implement effective solutions to strengthen long-term partnerships.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing branch team by fostering a positive, collaborative, and customer-focused working environment.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations while supporting employee development through coaching and training.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with workplace safety, quality standards, and company policies.

Reporting & Strategic Planning

• Prepare and present monthly management reports covering operational performance, financial results, sales achievements, and business development activities.
• Recommend strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and branch profitability.
• Perform any other duties assigned by Management.

Key Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of management experience in the freight forwarding or logistics industry.
• Strong knowledge of international freight forwarding, customs brokerage, transportation, warehousing, and supply chain operations.
• Proven experience managing branch operations, business development, and Profit & Loss (P&L).
• Demonstrated success in leading teams, developing talent, and achieving business growth targets.

Technical / Functional Expertise

• Strong knowledge of international freight forwarding, customs brokerage, transportation, warehousing, and supply chain operations.
• Proven experience managing branch operations, business development, and Profit & Loss (P&L).
• Experience leading major customer tenders (RFQs), commercial proposals, and strategic business opportunities.
• Ability to manage branch financial performance, budget planning, cost control, and KPI monitoring.
• Experience negotiating freight rates and service agreements with airlines, shipping lines, transport providers, and business partners.
• Knowledge of Service Level Agreements (SLAs), regulatory requirements, and operational compliance standards.
• Experience overseeing air freight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, transportation, and warehousing operations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and logistics management systems.

Soft Skills & Leadership Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation and customer relationship management skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and capable of working in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships.
• Strong team leadership, coaching, and talent development capabilities.
• Ability to foster accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin will be an added advantage.