Assistant General Manager - Freight Forwarding

About the Role

We're seeking an experienced Assistant General Manager to join our freight forwarding operation in Abu Dhabi, leading both sales growth and operational excellence. You'll manage a team, develop strategic customer relationships, and drive business development across our UAE/GCC markets—particularly in specialized logistics sectors like energy, nuclear, and industrial. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone ready to expand their responsibilities and make a tangible impact on our regional growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of freight forwarding professionals, setting performance targets and developing talent while maintaining hands-on involvement in key accounts and operations
• Develop and execute sales strategy to win new business, personally managing relationships with C-suite and decision-makers in oil & gas, energy, nuclear, and industrial sectors
• Oversee freight forwarding operations including dangerous goods (DG) transportation, compliance, and documentation—ensuring 100% regulatory adherence across all shipments
• Build and nurture long-term partnerships with existing clients, identifying upsell opportunities and expanding service offerings within your portfolio
• Manage P&L accountability for your division, including pricing strategy, cost control, and margin optimization while maintaining competitive positioning
• Represent the company at industry events and client meetings, positioning yourself as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert in specialized logistics

Requirements

• 12+ years of freight forwarding and transportation experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management or leadership role managing teams of 5+
• Currently based in Abu Dhabi/UAE or willing to relocate immediately; deep knowledge of the local market, regulatory environment, and customer landscape
• Proven track record of personal business development and closing new contracts—this is not an operational-only role; sales acumen is essential
• Mandatory: Hands-on expertise in dangerous goods (DG) transportation, classification, documentation, and compliance across air, sea, and land freight
• Demonstrated experience managing high-value client relationships in specialized sectors (oil & gas, energy, nuclear, government, or industrial logistics)
• Nice to have: Practical exposure to Class 7/radioactive materials or nuclear logistics operations
• Age range: Preferably 40–48 years old; we value maturity, judgment, and the ability to command respect with senior stakeholders