Internal Sales Executive - Durban
South Africa
DRIVING CONNECTIVITY
Chart your Course with PIL
With over 55 years of leadership in the global shipping industry, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is looking for proactive individuals to drive innovation and sustainable shipping solutions. If you’re fueled by pioneering ideas, enjoy challenging the status quo, and are determined to make a significant impact, PIL wants you as a part of our dynamic community of maritime professionals.
At PIL, we provide local experiences with a global reach. With our headquarters in Singapore, and services offered at over 500 locations in 90 countries, you will have ample opportunities to work with colleagues from different cultures and communities.
Get On Board for a Dynamic and Purposeful Career.
We’re seeking a a proactive Internal Sales Executive to manage inbound and outbound sales, develop qualified leads, prepare quotations, and support customer retention and portfolio growth. You’ll collaborate closely with external sales, pricing, and trade teams to drive a strong pipeline, accurate rate submissions, and a balanced customer mix aligned with our commercial strategy.
Key Responsibilities:
Sales Support, Lead Development & Prospecting
- Manage a defined sales portfolio covering both import and export customers to ensure balanced growth across trades.
- Own the sales process from initial customer engagement through quotation and RFA submission under agreed commercial guidelines.
- Respond to and qualify inbound enquiries while maintaining a structured outbound telesales and prospecting plan to support new business generation and portfolio diversification.
- Promote and sell PIL’s core ocean products together with value-added services including intermodal transport solutions, cross-border TBL and container protection offerings.
- Ensure all sales activity, opportunities, quotations and customer engagement are accurately captured within the CRM system to support pipeline visibility, forecasting accuracy and performance monitoring.
Booking, Allocation & Space Management Support
- Support customers with the placement of bookings in line with available capacity.
- Monitor booking performance against agreed allocations and proactively highlight shortfalls, upside opportunities or risks for follow-up with relevant stakeholders.
- Take responsibility for daily monitoring of booked tonnage on all services to maximise space utilisation. Where capacity constraints occur, coordinate additional space requests with other branches. Where available space exceeds bookings, escalate to the National Sales Manager and ensure the capacity is promoted nationally across all three branches.
- Assist with coordination of approvals for special cargo including hazardous and out-of-gauge when required through the appropriate internal channels.
- Support internal reporting on space utilisation, allocation performance and booking trends to assist commercial decision-making.
Pipeline Management & CRM Discipline
- Ensure disciplined CRM usage and high standards of data quality to support business intelligence and decision-making.
- Maintain regular structured engagement with assigned portfolio accounts to support loyalty and business continuity.
- Actively develop new accounts to increase the number of active customers managed within the portfolio.
- Manage allocated sales leads within agreed timelines, tracking conversion activity and outcome status through CRM.
Commercial Coordination & Market Intelligence
- Engage with Trade and Pricing teams on rate requests, approvals and commercial opportunities to support competitive and profitable quotations.
- Share timely market intelligence including rate trends, demand developments and competitor activity to support informed decision-making.
- Contribute towards the delivery of branch and national commercial performance targets through revenue, volume and portfolio growth.
Operational & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with the Customer Service department to ensure that customer feedback, concerns and requirements are actioned promptly and effectively, and that insights are shared both ways to continuously improve service delivery.
- Collaborate proactively with the Equipment department to ensure availability of containers to support confirmed and forecasted bookings, and to identify and resolve any potential equipment supply risks in advance.
- Maintain effective working relationships with internal departments to ensure that customer commitments are fully understood and supported operationally.
Governance, Data & Compliance
- Ensure all customer onboarding documentation is obtained and processed in accordance with company requirements and approval procedures.
- Maintain accurate and current customer records across all applicable systems and platforms.
- Ensure high standards of data integrity, compliance and confidentiality are maintained at all times.
Core Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Relevant experience in shipping, liner agency, or logistics is preferred.
- Proven capability in inside sales, telesales or sales support roles.
- Strong commercial awareness and relationship-building capability.
- High level of proficiency in CRM platforms and Microsoft Office tools.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail and process discipline.
Personal Attributes
- Customer-focused and commercially driven with a strong sense of ownership.
- Disciplined, organised and able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and support decision-making.
- High levels of integrity, professionalism and accountability.
WE VALUE:
- A broad network of customers, local authorities, vendors, and service providers.
- Procurement best practices and ethical leadership.
- Strong communication skills, including oral, written, and presentation abilities.
- Strategic thinking with a hands-on approach to achieving business objectives.
- High integrity and adherence to corporate governance policies.
Why Join Us:
- Make an Impact: Take on a high-profile leadership role and play a pivotal part in driving PIL’s growth in South Africa and beyond.
- Innovate and Lead: Shape the future of logistics with autonomy, creativity, and the backing of a globally recognized shipping leader.
- Expand Your Legacy: Be at the forefront of transforming logistics solutions in one of the most dynamic regions on the continent.
Application Process:
To apply for this exciting opportunity, please submit your resume outlining your qualifications and experience on PIL Career Website.
Eligibility to Apply:
This position is open to South African Nationals or individuals who currently have the legal right to work in South Africa. Please note that applicants without this eligibility will not be considered.
About Us
Incorporated in 1967, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is ranked 12th among the world’s top container shipping lines and is also the largest home-grown carrier in Southeast Asia. Based in Singapore, PIL is a global carrier with a focus on Asia, China, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands.
Together with its affiliated companies Mariana Express Lines (MELL) and Malaysia Shipping Corporation, PIL serves customers at over 500 locations in more than 90 countries worldwide with a fleet of 100 container and multi-purpose vessels.
Apart from the core liner shipping business, PIL also has several other business units such as container manufacturing, depot, and logistics services.
PIL strives to meet the needs of its customers by providing value-adding services such as intermodal, breakbulk, and reefer services delivered on innovative technological platforms. With its focus on “Driving Connectivity” and commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, PIL aims to be an efficient, sustainable, and future-ready shipping line.
For more information, visit www.pilship.com
Pacific International Lines (PIL) is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.