Job Purpose: As International Shipping & Procurement Coordinator, you will take ownership of the day-to-day coordination of Dura’s international and domestic shipping activity, ensuring shipments are planned, documented, tracked and delivered accurately, efficiently and commercially.
This is a hands-on role for someone with strong import shipping experience who enjoys bringing structure, control and visibility to international freight movements. You will work closely with suppliers, freight agents, Operations, Sales, Finance and Procurement to improve shipment planning, documentation accuracy, delivery communication and freight cost control.
The role will also support the development of a more proactive Procurement function by releasing capacity within the team, improving shipping processes and enabling colleagues to focus more time on supplier development, cost management and wider procurement activity.
Opportunity to Make an Impact
This is a key opportunity to help shape and improve Dura’s shipping processes. The successful candidate will be encouraged to review current ways of working, challenge inefficiencies, improve documentation flow, strengthen freight agent performance, reduce avoidable costs and provide better shipment visibility across the business.
For someone with strong international shipping experience, this role offers the chance to bring specialist knowledge into a growing Procurement team and make a practical difference to service levels, cost control and operational planning.
Key Responsibilities:
International Shipping & Freight Coordination
Coordinate international and domestic shipments, with a particular focus on China to UK imports and cross-trade movements.
Arrange container shipments through freight forwarders, shipping agents and logistics partners.
Manage CIF and cross-trade shipments, ensuring correct documentation, communication and execution.
Obtain, compare and challenge freight rates across sea, air, rail and road to achieve the best balance of cost, service and reliability.
Monitor shipment progress, proactively escalating delays, risks or changes that may affect stock availability, customer commitments or operational planning.
Freight Partners, Cost Control & Service Performance
Build effective working relationships with shipping agents, freight forwarders and logistics providers.
Monitor agent performance, cost, responsiveness and service levels.
Review freight routes, delivery methods and agent options to identify cost savings and service improvements.
Support the reduction of avoidable freight costs, demurrage, storage charges and delivery inefficiencies.
Shipping Documentation & Compliance
Prepare, check and manage shipping documentation accurately and on time.
Manage commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, switch bills of lading, certificates of origin/conformity and supporting compliance documentation.
Ensure HS codes and clearance documentation are provided accurately to shipping agents and freight partners.
Maintain complete, accurate and accessible shipping records.
Escalate missing or inaccurate documentation promptly to prevent shipment delays or compliance risk.
Container Planning & Operational Visibility
Maintain clear container schedules, overseas shipment trackers and delivery updates.
Work with Operations to plan container deliveries around space, labour and unloading capacity.
Provide clear updates to Sales, Operations, Finance and Procurement on shipment status, delivery timing and risks.
Improve shipment visibility so the business can make better decisions around stock availability and customer expectations.
Procurement & Systems Support
Maintain accurate supplier promise dates, production schedules, dock dates and due dates.
Update Rootstock/Salesforce and relevant shipment trackers.
Support purchase order activity, pre-allocations, ad hoc purchasing and supplier follow up where required.
Help create capacity within the team by taking ownership of shipping related workload and supporting more structured procurement activity.
Success in the Role Will Look Like
Shipping documentation is accurate, complete and available before required deadlines.
Container schedules are visible, reliable and regularly updated.
Operations have sufficient notice to plan unloading, labour and space.
Sales and internal stakeholders receive clear updates on stock movements and delivery expectations.
Freight costs, demurrage risks and avoidable delivery charges are actively challenged and reduced where possible.
Freight agents and shipping partners are reviewed for service, cost and reliability.
Procurement colleagues gain capacity to focus on supplier management, cost improvement and more strategic procurement activities.
Shipping processes become more structured, consistent and less dependent on informal knowledge.
Behavioural Competencies (Aligned to PRIDE Values)
- Purpose: Supports Dura’s purpose by helping ensure the reliable and efficient supply of products that enable sustainable infrastructure solutions.
- Respect: Builds professional relationships with suppliers, customers, shipping agents and internal teams, communicating clearly and constructively.
- Innovation: Identifies opportunities to improve shipping processes, documentation accuracy, system updates and communication flow.
- Decisiveness: Takes ownership of daily priorities, follows up issues promptly, and escalates risks before they become operational problems.
- Encouragement: Supports colleagues, shares information clearly, and contributes positively to a collaborative team culture.
Person Specification
Values & Leadership Style
- Honest, reliable and adaptable
- Calm and effective in a fast-paced environment
- Highly organised with strong prioritisation skills
- Proactive, positive and solution-focused
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
- Clear communicator across all levels
- Takes ownership and follows through
- Proactively challenges existing processes and identifies opportunities for improvement
- Supports company culture and PRIDE values
Knowledge, Skills & Competencies
Essential
Proven experience coordinating international imports, ideally China to UK.
Good working knowledge of import documentation, freight forwarders and customs clearance requirements.
Understanding of Incoterms, particularly CIF and cross-trade movements.
Experience dealing with commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin/conformity and HS codes.
Ability to track shipments, identify delays and communicate risks early.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple shipments, deadlines and stakeholders.
High attention to detail and accuracy, particularly when checking documentation and maintaining system records.
Confident communicator able to provide clear updates to internal teams and external partners.
Confident using Microsoft Excel, Outlook and business systems or trackers.
Able to work calmly under pressure and escalate issues early where delays or compliance risks may arise.
Desirable
- Export or cross-trade experience.
- IOSCM, CIPS or freight/logistics qualification.
- Experience using ERP systems, ideally Salesforce/Rootstock.
- Experience in manufacturing, construction products, composites or stockholding environments.
Pay: £35,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Procurement & International Shipping: 3 years (required)
Language:
- Fluent English (required)
Work Location: In person
