Pearson Whiffin Recruitment are currently supporting an established and growing independent freight forwarding and logistics business in seeking an experienced Ocean Freight Forwarder to join their operations team in Birmingham.
This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive freight professional looking to play a key role within a dynamic and customer-focused organisation. The successful candidate will take ownership of a major international ocean freight project while supporting wider freight forwarding, customs, and multimodal operations.
The position offers a varied workload, strong development opportunities and the chance to work within a collaborative team environment where initiative and operational excellence are highly valued.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate end-to-end door-to-door FCL shipments between the CZ & US through overseas agents and partners
- Arrange vessel bookings via origin agents
- Coordinate collections from shipper premises with overseas partners
- Review and validate shipping documentation, including Bills of Lading, commercial invoices, packing lists and customs documentation
- Provide accurate shipment updates and maintain full track-and-trace visibility for customers
- Manage operational exceptions, investigate issues, and implement preventative measures
- Complete full job costing, including supplier invoice verification, customer billing, and incidental cost management
- Produce KPI reports and performance data for key customer accounts
- Act as the central point of contact between shippers, consignees, overseas agents, carriers and customers
Additional Responsibilities
- Provide pricing and procurement support for ocean freight spot-rate enquiries
- Prepare and manage UK import and export customs declarations
- Ensure compliance with all customs procedures and regulatory requirements
- Prepare Chamber of Commerce documentation, including Certificates of Origin and EUR1 certificates where required
- Support wider multimodal freight forwarding operations as business needs dicatate
- Maintain accurate operational records and shipment data within the company transport management system
About You
- Previous experience within ocean export freight forwarding
- Proven ability to manage shipments independently from booking through to completing
- Experience completing standard UK import and export customs declarations
- Strong organisational skills and customer service focus
- Ability to manage multiple shipments and prioritise workload effectively
- Comfortable working within a small team and using initiative to resolve operational challenges
- Highly competent with IT systems and able to learn new software quickly
- Experience handling cross-trade shipments through overseas forwarding partners (desirable)
- Knowledge of CFSP customs procedures, including Inward Processing (desirable)
- Experience managing exports to the United States (desirable)
In return, you will receive:
- £30,000 - £35,000 per annum (DOE)
- Quarterly bonus scheme linked to individual and business performance
- 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Additional birthday leave
- Enhanced holiday entitlement through a loyalty-based scheme, increasing to up to 31 days plus bank holidays
- Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
This role is being handled by Ollie Burnie at Pearson Whiffin Recruitment
Not quite the right role but still looking?
Whether you are entry or Executive level, our team of experienced Recruitment specialists can help you with your career. We are Kent’s leading independent consultancy and pride ourselves on delivering an exceptional service to both candidates and clients.
Find us on Facebook @PearsonWhiffinRecruitment and Instagram @PearsonWhiffinRecruitment.
METPERM
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Ocean Export: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
