Logistics Manager at 1004 Mart

1004 Mart; Dubai; On-site; AED 78,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

1004 Gourmet General Trading L.L.C. in Dubai seeks an experienced Logistics Manager to oversee freight forwarding, customs clearance, and municipality-related logistics across the UAE.

You will optimize landed costs, manage vendor relationships, and ensure smooth, compliant movement of inventory from suppliers to warehouses and retail locations. The role requires deep knowledge of UAE regulations, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to coordinate across multiple emirates.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in freight forwarding or customs clearance in the UAE.
• Deep knowledge of UAE import/export regulations and HS codes.
• Proven ability to negotiate freight rates and manage vendor relationships.
• Strong skills in landed cost calculation and cost analysis.
• Advanced MS Excel proficiency for tracking and reporting.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Maintain relationships with freight forwarders and negotiate favourable rates.
• Oversee inbound shipments from suppliers in Asia.
• Coordinate freight consolidations and schedule pickups to reduce costs.
• Identify opportunities to lower logistics costs and improve processes.
• Ensure timely clearance through UAE ports and airports.
• Track shipments end-to-end from origin to delivery.
• Ensure compliance with UAE customs and regulatory requirements.
• Manage municipality registrations and audits across emirates.

Skills

Freight forwarding

Customs clearance

Vendor negotiations

Landed cost analysis

MS Excel

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

This Full time on site position offers great opportunities for career growth.

1004 Gourmet General Trading L.L.C., a leading importer, wholesaler, and retailer of premium Asian specialty food and beauty products, is seeking an experienced and highly organized Logistics Manager to oversee all freight forwarding, customs clearance, and municipality-related logistics operations across multiple emirates. The Logistics Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the timely, compliant, and cost-effective movement of inventory throughout our supply chain. This position requires strong relationship management skills, deep knowledge of UAE customs and regulatory procedures, and proven expertise in logistics cost optimization.

About 1004 Gourmet. 1004 Gourmet is a fast-growing Asian specialty food and beauty products distributor operating multiple retail locations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, complemented by a dedicated B2B division. We specialize in premium imported products and maintain the highest standards of quality, compliance, and customer service.

Key Responsibilities

• Freight Forwarding & Vendor Negotiations: Maintain strategic relationships with freight forwarders and negotiate favourable freight rates and competitive service terms.
• Manage inbound shipment logistics from suppliers (Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and other sources).
• Coordinate freight consolidations and schedule shipment pickups to optimize costs and delivery timelines.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities in freight and logistics operations.
• Shipment Coordination & Timely Clearance: Ensure timely arrival and clearance of all shipments through ports and airports in the UAE.
• Track shipments end-to-end from origin through customs clearance to final delivery at warehouse or retail locations.
• Coordinate with suppliers regarding cargo readiness, shipping schedules, and documentation requirements.
• Monitor clearance progress and proactively address delays or other issues.
• Review and manage all required shipping documentation (bills of lading, commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin).
• Customs & Regulatory Compliance: Maintain strong professional relationships with customs agents and brokers, manage the customs clearance process, and ensure full compliance with all UAE import regulations and requirements.
• Obtain and verify all required health, food safety, and regulatory certificates.
• Coordinate with customs agents to resolve issues, answer regulatory questions, and facilitate smooth clearance.
• Municipality & Regulatory Affairs: Build and maintain strong relationships with municipality officers across all emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah, Fujairah, and others).
• Register products in municipality databases and maintain current registration status across all emirates.
• Prepare for and manage municipality audits and inspections; provide required documentation and arrange facility access.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with municipal health, food safety, labeling, and product-specific requirements.
• Handle municipality correspondence, submit required reports, and track compliance renewal deadlines.
• Cost Tracking & Landed Cost Management: Track and document all costs associated with shipments including freight, duties, taxes, broker fees, and clearance charges.
• Calculate and finalize landed cost for each shipment; provide cost analysis to management.
• Reconcile freight invoices and ensure accurate cost allocation to shipments and products.
• Analyse logistics expenses and recommend opportunities for cost optimization and process improvement.
• Offloading & Labor Management: Schedule labour and equipment (forklifts, trucks, etc.) for receiving and offloading shipments at warehouse facilities.
• Track labour hours and equipment usage for accurate cost tracking and billing.
• Coordinate with warehouse team to optimize offloading timelines and minimize operational delays.
• Vehicle & License Compliance: Maintain comprehensive tracking of vehicle licenses and municipality registration details for all company delivery vehicles.
• Coordinate with PRO on vehicle registration renewals and municipality permit requirements.
• Ensure all vehicles remain compliant with emirate-specific regulations and inspection requirements.
• Reporting & Performance Management: Prepare regular logistics and cost reports for management review and decision-making.
• Track and report on key performance metrics (on-time delivery, freight costs, clearance efficiency, landed costs).
• Provide shipment summaries, cost analysis, and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in freight forwarding, customs clearance, or logistics operations in the UAE.
• Deep knowledge of UAE customs procedures, import/export regulations, and HS coding systems.
• Proven familiarity with municipality requirements and compliance processes across multiple emirates.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating freight rates and managing vendor relationships successfully.
• Strong background in landed cost calculation and freight cost analysis.
• Expert proficiency in MS Excel for tracking, analysis, and reporting.
• Excellent organizational and time management capabilities; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to meet tight deadlines and work effectively under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specific experience with food, FMCG, or specialty food imports and corresponding regulatory requirements.
• Background in health, food safety compliance and municipality food safety audits.
• Fluency in Arabic language.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Customs Brokerage, Business Administration, or related field.

Core Competencies

• Relationship Management: Ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships with customs agents, municipality officers, freight forwarders and suppliers.
• Regulatory Expertise: In-depth understanding of UAE customs import regulations and municipal compliance requirements.
• Cost Management: Proficiency in tracking, analysing and optimizing logistics costs and landed costs.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous accuracy in documentation compliance and record-keeping.
• Problem Solving: Proactive approach to identifying and resolving logistics issues and regulatory challenges.
• Reliability: Consistent follow-through on commitments and deadlines.
• Professional Demeanour: Discretion, professionalism represent company effectively with external stakeholders.

Pay: AED7,000.00 - AED8,000.00 per month.