Business Development Manager - China

Role Overview

Business Development Responsibilities

• Build relationships with freight forwarding decision makers in Greater China and drive trade into and out of Africa.
• Identify and win business from freight forwarders, manufacturers, traders, and organizations with China-Africa trade flows.
• Develop project logistics opportunities across infrastructure, energy, mining, and other major sectors.
• Support logistics solutions, consolidation products, and freight negotiations with airlines and shipping lines.
• Connect Chinese decision makers operating across Africa with OBT's local network.

Shipping Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with Chinese ship owners, operators, and charterers and position OBT as a ship agency partner across Africa.
• Identify shipping opportunities using intelligence from African offices and OBT's wider network.
• Meet vessel owners, operators, charterers, and other shipping stakeholders across Greater China.
• Update customers on African port developments, restrictions, vessel lineups, and changing market conditions.
• Coordinate with local operations teams on customer matters requiring commercial escalation in China.

Qualifications and Experience

• Fluent Chinese and strong professional English are essential.
• Strong commercial experience in shipping, logistics, freight forwarding, ship agency, or international trade is required.
• Proven ability to develop new business and build senior client relationships is required.
• Good understanding of the Greater China market and its commercial relationships is required.
• Shipping or ship agency experience is highly desirable.
• Previous exposure to Africa or China-Africa trade is an advantage.
• Candidates should be confident working across countries, cultures, and business environments.
• Candidates should be commercially minded, proactive, and comfortable creating opportunities.
• The role requires approximately 60% travel across Greater China and Africa.

What the Company Offers

• Competitive salary and comprehensive medical insurance.
• Company phone, SIM, and necessary business tools.
• International exposure across Asia and Africa.
• Opportunity to influence a strategically important growth market.
• Exposure to shipping, logistics, and major project opportunities across developing trade corridors.