Director - Global Ocean Procurement

ABOUT QUINCE

Quince is a destination for builders, creators, innovators, and operators who want to come together and challenge the status quo. Our mission is simple: make really high quality essentials for really low prices, fairly and sustainably. We deliver on that mission through a unique manufacturer-to-consumer (M2C) model eliminating the layers of traditional retail that add cost and result in consumers paying more than they need to. We find, build relationships with, and work directly with the manufacturing partners behind some of the world’s finest products. From there, our teams design smart, efficient operational processes and build and deploy proprietary technology, AI, and analytics to help us scale fast.

What began with a small assortment of elevated basics has quickly grown into a cross-category brand spanning apparel, accessories, home goods, and more. Today, tens of millions of people across a growing number of countries come – and return – to Quince because they trust us to deliver.

OUR CULTURE

Quince is a culture built for builders by builders. Our way of working starts with a blank sheet of paper. We question conventional thinking, use technology and data to uncover new opportunities, and move quickly to turn ideas into reality. We aren’t interested in replicating how others do retail. We’re building a better way – at a speed and scale unlike anything that’s been done before.

We dream big and chase the hard problems others shy away from. Rejecting long-held assumptions is part of our company's DNA. Where conventional wisdom says you have to choose – soft or durable, speed or rigor, quality or price – we ask why that trade-off has to exist in the first place.

Our pace is fast and the bar is high because our customers expect a lot from us and we refuse to let them down. We believe the best results come from challenging ourselves, learning from one another, and building on each other's strengths.

Here, responsibility is not determined by role, tenure, or seniority. Every team member - no matter their level - has the opportunity to drive our business and shape our trajectory.

If you’re someone who likes to imagine new possibilities and build better systems rather than plug-in to outdated ones, Quince is the place for you.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a Director of Global Ocean Freight Procurement to join our growing Logistics team. This role will own the procurement strategy, carrier management, and network optimization efforts for Quince's global inbound Ocean freight operations. As Quince continues to scale, this leader will play a critical role in reducing transportation costs, securing strategic Ocean capacity, improving procurement efficiency, and driving strategic modal shifts across our global supply chain while maintaining inventory availability and customer service levels.

In this role, you will develop and execute sourcing strategies across key international trade lanes, secure capacity through ocean carriers and NVOCCs, negotiate directly with Freighters and freight providers, and build long-term capacity solutions that support Quince's growth. You will partner closely with Supply Chain, Planning, Finance, and Operations teams to deliver measurable cost savings, strengthen carrier relationships, and optimize our global inbound transportation network. You will own direct relationships with Key Categories like Furniture, Luggage, Bedding, Kitchen etc to ensure sufficient capacity and SLAs to meet the business needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Capacity Planning

Develop long-term lane strategies aligned with validated demand forecasts

Secure ocean capacity across FCL/LCL space, vessel allocations, and container equipment for business scale

Balance soft and hard space protections to guarantee space while mitigating financial commitments

Spearhead modal shift programs from air to ocean alongside Air Freight Procurement and First-Mile leads

Formulate ocean strategies for bulky/oversized goods including Furniture, defining loading and consolidation methods

Partner with Furniture, Bedding, Luggage, and other sourcing leaders to establish validated volume commitments before contract award.

Track volume realization against agreed allocations to recalibrate commitments and avoid shortfall charges

Procurement & Contracts

Direct ocean RFPs, annual carrier contract negotiations, and dynamic spot market sourcing strategies

Negotiate terms around demurrage, detention free-time, accessorial charges, service commitments, and liability limits

Benchmark freight costs against market indices; achieve 10% YOY cost reduction across inbound ocean operations

Manage ocean carrier and NVOCC scorecards evaluating transit times, vessel reliability, rollover rates, and damage frequency

Execution & Monitoring

Oversee daily ocean freight execution from origin handover through destination arrival, driving swift resolution of operational delays

Monitor performance against the <50-day P90 ocean transfer SLA and the <30-day P90 fast-boat SLA, and take corrective action on underperforming lanes.”

Align forwarders and cross-functional partners on booking management, shipping documentation, and port cutoffs

Risk & Compliance

Drive ocean compliance alongside Trade and Compliance teams, overseeing US import regulations, carrier screening, and origin export requirements across China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Cambodia

Establish rigorous operational controls for filing timelines and document validation across all ocean movements

Formulate proactive contingency strategies for tariff shifts, port congestion, and capacity disruptions

Partner & Stakeholder Management

Maintain collaborative relationships with Sourcing, Planning, Finance, Compliance, and regional First Mile leadership across South Asia and SEA

Brief executive leaders on lane performance, network capacity risks, savings metrics, and volume exposure

Team Leadership

Lead team of 2–3 direct reports managing ocean procurement operations across Asian trade lanes

Develop team capabilities through active coaching, clear category/lane ownership, and talent succession planning

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

10+ years in ocean freight procurement, carrier or NVOCC commercial roles, or freight forwarding operations leadership

Deep experience with ocean contracting, including FCL, LCL, service contracts, spot versus contract pricing, and space block management

Experience managing volume commitments and avoiding penalties on committed capacity

Experience with Asia-to-US trade lanes, including carrier, port, and forwarder dynamics in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, or India

Working knowledge of US import filing requirements, NVOCC screening, sanctions screening, HS classification, and country-specific export and import rules

Track record of measurable savings and managing large ocean budgets

Strong analytical skills, including rate benchmarking, capacity modeling, and cost per kg or CBM analysis

Experience managing rapid volume growth and capacity risk

Strong cross-functional and executive communication

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or a related field

Preferred

Experience managing customs, tariff, or export control compliance at an operational level

Experience with multi-country logistics networks

Background in direct-to-consumer (DTC), e-commerce, or retail logistics operations

Exposure to hazmat, furniture, bulky goods, or oversized item transportation

Experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS) or freight management platforms

MBA or advanced degree in Supply Chain, Operations, or Logistics

Track record building automation solutions or process improvements using AI/data analytics

Fluent spoken Mandarin

WHY QUINCE?

Joining Quince means being part of a mission-driven team reshaping retail. You will work alongside ta