Principal, Ocean Freight Business Development, Amazon Global Logistics

Amazon

Bellevue, WA

Apply

JOB DETAILS

SKILLS

Alliance/Partner Management, Business Administration, Business Development, Cargo/Freight, Competitive Analysis/Strategy, Contract Negotiation, Cost Control, Cross-Functional, Customer Experience, Customer Support/Service, Economics, Finance, Freight Forwarding, Healthcare, Industry/Trade Analysis, Leadership, Legal, Licensing, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marine Cargo, Market Tracking, Matrix Management, Negotiation Skills, Performance Analysis, Product Planning, Product Positioning, Regulations, Retail, Revenue Sharing, Strategic Planning, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Optimization, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Operations, Trading/Stockbroking

LOCATION

Bellevue, WA

POSTED

21 days ago

Description Amazon Global Logistics is reshaping how goods move across the world's oceans, and this Principal role is central to that transformation. By driving strategic carrier partnerships and optimizing ocean freight economics, you will directly lower Amazon's cost structure, fueling the flywheel of lower prices, broader selection, and better customer experience. As Principal, Ocean Freight Business Development, you will own Amazon's non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) commercial strategy across multiple geographies and trade lanes. You will serve as the recognized authority on ocean freight partnerships, influencing VP-level leaders, shaping competitive positioning, and setting the strategic direction for how Amazon procures and manages ocean capacity. This is a high-impact individual contributor role requiring deep industry expertise, commercial rigor, and the ability to drive alignment across complex, cross-functional organizations without direct authority. Key job responsibilities - Own and set the multi-year ocean freight strategy, defining the roadmap for carrier partnerships, rate structures, and market expansion across global trade lanes, with measurable impact on cost and capacity at the division level - Lead high-value negotiations with carrier C-suite executives, structuring Negotiated Rate Arrangements and service agreements that balance cost optimization with supply chain resilience across 20+ trade lanes - Serve as the enterprise-wide authority on NVOCC market dynamics, advising senior leadership on competitive positioning, regulatory shifts, and emerging opportunities that influence logistics strategy across multiple organizations - Drive cross-functional alignment across operations, finance, legal, and technology, building frameworks and mechanisms that scale carrier partnerships while influencing product and systems roadmaps - Identify and incubate new commercial models (capacity guarantees, revenue-sharing arrangements, co-investment structures) that differentiate Amazon's freight forwarding capabilities and create durable competitive advantage A day in the life You open the day analyzing trade lane performance data and market rate movements to inform a strategic recommendation. Mid-morning, you lead a negotiation with a major carrier's commercial leadership to finalize terms on a multi-market agreement. After lunch, you join a cross-functional working session with operations and technology teams on a new carrier integration. You close the day preparing a strategic brief for your VP on a market entry opportunity you identified through competitive analysis. About the team Amazon Global Logistics moves freight across oceans, skies, and continents to deliver for customers worldwide. Our NVOCC team builds and manages the carrier relationships that keep goods flowing through Amazon's international supply chain. We combine deep industry expertise with Amazon's technology and scale to challenge how global freight forwarding works. We are builders, negotiators, and strategists who obsess over cost, speed, and reliability. Basic Qualifications - 5+ years of operations, customer service, retail, distribution, shipping, logistics, healthcare, hospitality or manufacturing, or 5+ years of professional work (non-internship) experience - Bachelor's degree in Business, Logistics, Business Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field - 10+ years of experience in business development, commercial strategy, or strategic partnerships within ocean freight, logistics, or freight forwarding - Experience setting and executing multi-year commercial strategy with measurable impact across multiple geographies or business units - Experience leading complex contract negotiations with C-suite or VP-level external stakeholders - Experience influencing cross-functional teams and senior leadership without direct authority in matrixed organizations Preferred Qualifications - Experience in significant team leadership from a managerial position in the transportation delivery industry, or a similar logistics environment - Deep expertise in FMC regulations, NVOCC licensing requirements, international shipping compliance, and ocean freight market dynamics - Track record of driving commercial outcomes at the division or enterprise level, including rate optimization, new market entry, or transformational partnerships - Experience developing commercial frameworks, playbooks, or mechanisms that scale across teams and geographies - MBA or advanced degree in supply chain, logistics, or business Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner. The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits . USA, WA, Bellevue - 142,800.00 - 193,200.00 USD annually

About the Company

Amazon

At Amazon, we don’t wait for the next big idea to present itself. We envision the shape of impossible things and then we boldly make them reality. So far, this mindset has helped us achieve some incredible things. Let’s build new systems, challenge the status quo, and design the world we want to live in. We believe the work you do here will be the best work of your life.

Wherever you are in your career exploration, Amazon likely has an opportunity for you. Our research scientists and engineers shape the future of natural language understanding with Alexa. Fulfillment center associates around the globe send customer orders from our warehouses to doorsteps. Product managers set feature requirements, strategy, and marketing messages for brand new customer experiences. And as we grow, we’ll add jobs that haven’t been invented yet.

It’s Always Day 1
At Amazon, it’s always “Day 1.” Now, what does this mean and why does it matter? It means that our approach remains the same as it was on Amazon’s very first day – to make smart, fast decisions, stay nimble, invent, and stay focused on delighting our customers. In our 2016 shareholder letter, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos shared his thoughts on how to keep up a Day 1 company mindset. “Staying in Day 1 requires you to experiment patiently, accept failures, plant seeds, protect saplings, and double down when you see customer delight,” he wrote. “A customer-obsessed culture best creates the conditions where all of that can happen.” You can read the full letter here

Our Leadership Principles
Our Leadership Principles help us keep a Day 1 mentality. They aren’t just a pretty inspirational wall hanging. Amazonians use them, every day, whether they’re discussing ideas for new projects, deciding on the best solution for a customer’s problem, or interviewing candidates. To read through our Leadership Principles from Customer Obsession to Bias for Action, visit https://www.amazon.jobs/principles

COMPANY SIZE

10,000 employees or more

INDUSTRY

Other/Not Classified

FOUNDED

1994

WEBSITE

http://Amazon.com/militaryroles

Resume Resources

Free Resume Templates Free Resume Builder