Sea Export | Air Import & Export | Worldwide Cross Trade
Westbound Logistics Services is an award-winning leader in the freight and logistics industry, with offices across the UK, China and Europe.
We are looking for an experienced Cross Trade & Multimodal Operator to join our operations team.
This is a varied operational role covering UK Sea Freight Exports, UK Air Freight Imports and Exports, together with worldwide Cross Trade movements.
The successful candidate will have previous freight forwarding experience and be confident managing international shipments from initial booking through to final delivery. You will work closely with customers, overseas agents and Westbound offices, airlines, shipping lines and other service providers to ensure shipments are handled efficiently and customers are kept informed throughout.
A key part of the position will be managing Cross Trade shipments where cargo moves between countries without entering the UK, requiring strong communication, organisation and the ability to coordinate multiple parties across different locations and time zones.
We are looking for someone who understands international freight forwarding, takes ownership of their shipments and is comfortable making operational decisions and resolving problems when required.
Key Responsibilities
- Managing worldwide Cross Trade shipments from initial booking through to final delivery
- Handling UK Sea Freight Export shipments, including both LCL and FCL movements
- Handling UK Air Freight Import and Export shipments
- Coordinating shipments between overseas origins and destinations where cargo does not enter the UK
- Liaising closely with Westbound overseas offices and our worldwide network of agents
- Liaising with airlines, shipping lines, hauliers, warehouses and other service providers
- Obtaining and reviewing freight rates and selecting appropriate routing and service options
- Making bookings and coordinating collection, departure, arrival and final delivery arrangements
- Preparing, checking and managing appropriate shipping documentation
- Managing Bills of Lading, Air Waybills and associated freight documentation
- Coordinating with customs teams and brokers to ensure appropriate import and export clearance requirements are met
- Monitoring shipments throughout their journey and proactively managing delays, changes or service issues
- Keeping customers informed with accurate and timely shipment updates
- Handling operational queries and resolving problems efficiently
- Liaising with internal departments including Sales and Accounts where required
- Understanding the importance of key customer accounts and ensuring operational delivery supports wider customer and commercial commitments
- Ensuring shipment files, costs, charges and operational information are recorded accurately within company systems
- Supporting the wider operations team where required
Cross Trade Operations
The Cross Trade element of this position requires someone comfortable coordinating shipments internationally and taking responsibility for movements involving multiple overseas parties.
Responsibilities will include:
- Coordinating cargo movements between worldwide origins and destinations
- Communicating with overseas suppliers, agents, customers and consignees
- Understanding different routing options and selecting appropriate transport solutions
- Managing documentation requirements across international movements
- Monitoring time differences, local requirements and shipment deadlines
- Ensuring all parties receive clear and timely instructions
- Identifying potential problems before they affect the movement of cargo
- Maintaining commercial awareness when reviewing freight costs, buying rates and operational options
Experience & Knowledge
We are looking for someone with previous freight forwarding experience who can demonstrate a good operational understanding of international freight movements.
Ideally, you will have experience in several of the following areas:
- Worldwide Cross Trade operations
- UK Sea Freight Exports
- FCL and LCL movements
- UK Air Freight Imports and Exports
- Bills of Lading and Sea Freight documentation
- Air Waybills and Air Freight documentation
- Import and Export customs procedures
- Working with overseas agents and international freight networks
- Shipping line and airline bookings
- UK collections and deliveries
- International routing and freight rate management
You do not necessarily need extensive experience across every element of the role, but you must have a solid freight forwarding background and be capable of developing your knowledge across the different modes.
Personal Attributes
We are looking for someone who is:
- Experienced, organised and confident working independently
- Proactive and comfortable taking ownership of shipments
- A strong communicator with a confident telephone manner
- Comfortable dealing directly with customers, suppliers and overseas partners
- Able to manage multiple shipments and priorities simultaneously
- Calm under pressure and capable of resolving operational problems
- Commercially aware and conscious of both service and cost
- Detail-focused when dealing with international documentation
- Comfortable working across different countries, cultures and time zones
- Positive and collaborative when working as part of the wider Westbound team
SalaryNegotiable during the interview process and dependent upon experience.
Probation
6 months, with an ongoing review at 3 months.
Benefits
- 20 days paid holiday per year, excluding bank holidays
- Following completion of the first full year of employment, an additional day's holiday is gained each year, capped at 25 days excluding bank holidays
- Contributory pension following successful completion of probation
- NHS Top-Up health scheme following successful completion of probation
If you're an experienced freight forwarder who enjoys the variety of managing shipments across different modes and worldwide markets, we'd like to hear from you.
[email protected]
Pay: £25,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Casual dress
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- We are seeking candidates within a commutable distance of our offices in Basildon only
Work Location: In person
