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Head of Sea Freight Operations China

  • On-site
    • Shenzhen, China
    • Shanghai, China
    +1 more
  • Procurement

Job description

Do you have a passion for leading operational teams in the freight forwarding industry? Are you someone who sets the bar high, keeps calm under pressure, and knows how to bring a team along? Then you might be exactly who Shypple is looking for.

Read more below or apply via the “apply” button!

About Shypple
Shypple stands for "Shipping made simple." At Shypple, we want to shake up the traditional logistics industry. With our user-friendly platform and our logistics expertise, we strive to make the entire logistics chain run smoothly. Our platform serves as a central overview where you can track every stage of the supply chain in real time. With a wide range of features - booking, planning, delivery, and communication - we offer an all-in-one solution. Our goal is to reduce the administrative burden and time-consuming tasks within the logistics chain, so we can provide our customers with clarity, convenience, and efficiency.

Your role as Head of Sea Freight Operations

Our Operations team is at the heart of what we do - they make sure every shipment runs smoothly, every customer is taken care of, and the team keeps improving. As Head of Sea Freight Operations China, you lead that team. You report directly to the Managing Director and manage the Operations Team Leads.

This is a leadership role with real impact. You set the strategy, drive performance, and make sure your team has everything they need to do their best work.


What you’ll be doing

  • Strategy & direction: You develop a clear short, mid, and long-term strategy for the team, translate it into OKRs and KPIs, and take the lead in making it happen.

  • Performance management: You monitor KPIs, job costing, margins, and customer response times — and take action when things are off track.

  • Team leadership: You coach and develop your Team Leads, hold regular 1:1s and reviews, and create an environment where people grow and feel valued.

  • Capacity planning: You manage staffing levels, prevent backlogs, and collaborate with HR on hiring when needed.

  • Cross-functional collaboration: You work closely with procurement, account management, and other stakeholders to keep things aligned.

  • Process & compliance: You ensure manuals are up to date per ISO/AEO standards and that the team works accordingly.

  • Platform: You gather input on platform improvements and work with other Operations Managers to bring those forward to the product team.

Job requirements

What you’ll bring

  • Experience in the freight forwarding industry - this is a must

  • Fluent in English & Mandarin

  • Strong analytical skills: you connect the dots, make data-driven decisions, and stay sharp under pressure

  • Expert-level communication: you can adapt your style to any audience, from your team to MT level

  • Proven ability to lead and develop people

  • Resilient and adaptable - you keep focus when things change

You get 

  • A key leadership role in a fast-moving, international scale-up

  • A collaborative and informal work environment

  • Competitive salary with room for growth

  • Annual personal development budget

  • The chance to make a real impact on how we operate in China

Interested?

You can apply by clicking on the ‘apply now’ button on our website. You will hear from us within one week.
If you get selected for the first round, we will explain the next steps of our recruitment process.

If you have any questions related to this vacancy, please contact people@shypple.com.

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Perks and benefits

Fit for a great workplace

Learning budget

Up to €1000 per year to grow your skills

Hybrid work

Flexible hybrid model—set your own schedule, with teams meeting in the office 2–3 days a week to collaborate and stay connected

Company parties

Celebrate wins, milestones, and just because — good vibes guaranteed!

Employee Stock Option Plan

Own a piece of what you’re building with our employee stock option plan

25 paid days-off

And the possibility to buy more, up to 5 days

Breakfast

In office breakfast every day

Pension

50% is on us, the other 50% is on you

Travel costs

OV Business Card or €0.23/km (net) commuting allowance (10+ km away)

Phone/Internet reimbursement

Net reimbursement of €45 per month for phone & internet

Working from home budget

Net €2.45 per working from home day to cover power and coffee

Work from anywhere

Take your laptop and work from anywhere (within the EU time zone, up to 15 days a year)

Sabbatical

The possibilty to take 3 months of unpaid leave