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.
- 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
- 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