Business Development Executive – DHL Global Forwarding (Ireland)
Location:
Field‑based (Dublin, Shannon, Cork DGF Offices)
Department:
Sales & Marketing
Reports to:
Head of Sales & Marketing
Days/Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm
Role Overview
The Business Development Executive is responsible for driving regional sales growth across Air, Ocean and Road Freight products while managing key country accounts within your territory. You will lead strategic business development initiatives to expand and maintain our customer base, deliver net growth, and achieve revenue, profitability, and service targets aligned with national strategy and Group policies.
Key Responsibilities
Sales & Account Strategy
* Develop and execute regional sales and account strategies including account planning, revenue targets, and service goals.
* Review and adjust regional portfolio strategy to align with country business objectives.
* Contribute to pricing strategies and support contract negotiations for new accounts.
Business Development & Customer Engagement
* Drive business development initiatives with measurable impact on regional results.
* Engage senior management of key accounts to support business growth and transformational opportunities.
* Lead retention efforts and support cross-selling across DHL Express (DHLE) and DHL Supply Chain (DHL SC).
* Track market trends and translate product offerings into customer solutions.
* Monitor competitor activity and share insights across the business.
Collaboration & Service Excellence
* Coordinate customer-facing functions to ensure cohesive service delivery.
* Support sector and customer management by consolidating industry demands and sharing best practices.
* Ensure compliance with all revenue, international trade, data protection, H&S, HR, Quality, and environmental requirements.
Problem Solving & Performance Management
* Identify issues, perform root-cause analysis, and apply structured problem‑solving techniques.
* Document issues, solutions, and actions taken.
* Continuously review processes, support change initiatives, and maintain DHL's high standards.
Competencies
Relationships & Communication
* Communicates openly and honestly.
* Builds trust, respects diversity, and develops strong relationships.
* Handles difficult conversations calmly and professionally.
* Listens effectively and responds clearly.
Teamwork
* Shares knowledge openly and contributes to team spirit.
* Works collaboratively to achieve business goals.
* Encourages and motivates colleagues.
Customer Orientation
* Makes decisions with customer impact in mind.
* Builds strong internal and external partnerships.
* Strives to exceed customer expectations and solves issues proactively.
Problem Solving
* Identifies opportunities, evaluates risk, and applies formal problem‑solving tools.
* Establishes effective work processes and communicates solutions clearly.
Commitment to Excellence
* Meets targets and takes initiative.
* Demonstrates flexibility, embraces change, and seeks feedback.
* Looks for opportunities to improve processes and outcomes. Procedural
Skills & Attention to Detail
* Organizes workload effectively, meets deadlines, and follows procedures accurately.
* Improves and creates procedures where required.
* Maintains high accuracy in data and documentation.
Experience & Skills Required
* Minimum
3 years' experience
in freight‑forwarding commercial key account sales.
* Strong operational understanding of freight forwarding across Air/Ocean/Road.
* Proven experience working with complex, high‑value customers.
* Demonstrated influencing, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Skills
* Results‑driven, self‑directed, and highly organized.
* Excellent relationship‑building and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
* Strong MS Office capability (Excel, PowerPoint).
* Ability to manage multiple projects across product and pricing teams.
Qualifications
* Relevant third‑level qualification (desirable).
* Comprehensive supply chain knowledge.
* Full clean driving license.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this role. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed. The Company reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.