Import/Export Freight Forwarder

Senior Import & Export Sea Freight Forwarder

Location: Felixstowe – office-based
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:30pm
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

We are seeking an experienced Import & Export Sea Freight Forwarder to join a fast-moving international logistics operation based in Felixstowe.

You will take responsibility for complex international freight movements, ensuring cargo travels seamlessly across global supply chains. Acting as a subject-matter expert within the forwarding team, you will manage high-value client accounts, resolve operational escalations and help improve processes, service levels and commercial performance.

Applicants must have at least five years’ freight-forwarding experience covering both imports and exports, together with strong customs knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate import and export shipments from initial booking through to final delivery.
• Manage sea freight movements, with additional involvement in road, air and multimodal transport.
• Ensure shipments are handled efficiently, compliantly and profitably.
• Manage key client accounts, provide expert support and build strong, long-term relationships.
• Prepare and oversee shipping documentation, customs entries and other regulatory paperwork.
• Complete or coordinate CDS entries, tariff classifications and duty calculations.
• Ensure compliance with UK, EU and international customs regulations.
• Negotiate rates and service agreements with carriers, shipping lines, airlines and overseas agents.
• Prepare quotations, analyse margins and contribute to commercial pricing decisions.
• Advise clients and colleagues on Incoterms, customs requirements, trade compliance and international shipping regulations.
• Proactively resolve delays, disputes, documentation problems and other shipment exceptions.
• Maintain accurate operational and financial records using MultiFreight or a similar freight management system.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational processes, service quality and profitability.

Essential Experience and Skills

• At least five years’ experience in freight forwarding, logistics or international shipping.
• Strong hands-on experience managing both import and export shipments.
• In-depth sea freight knowledge, including full-container-load and less-than-container-load movements.
• Practical knowledge of customs processes, CDS entries, export declarations, tariff classifications and duty calculations.
• Good working knowledge of Incoterms and international trade regulations.
• Experience managing complex shipments and resolving operational escalations.
• Strong commercial awareness, including rate negotiation, quotations and margin management.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Clear and professional communication skills.
• The ability to remain calm, organised and solutions-focused under pressure.
• Experience using MultiFreight or a similar freight management platform is preferred.
• Knowledge of carnets and dangerous goods procedures would be advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Company pension.
• 20 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• The opportunity to join a fast-paced global logistics environment.
• Scope to influence operational processes and contribute to commercial strategy.

If you are an experienced freight forwarder with strong import, export and customs knowledge, we would be pleased to hear from you.