Import & Export Coordinator

Benmax Pty; Canberra; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Benmax Pty is establishing a dedicated import/export desk to manage international freight. The role entails coordinating sea and air shipments, building relationships with brokers and forwarders, and ensuring timely, compliant documentation for import and export operations.

You will track shipments, optimize costs, and support zone and multi-jurisdiction movements while aligning with project delivery schedules across hospitals, schools, and data centres.

Qualifications

• Experience in international freight coordination (import/export).
• Knowledge of Incoterms, customs docs and HS codes.
• Experience with freight forwarders and customs brokers.
• Ability to document and establish freight processes.
• High accuracy and deadline discipline with legal/financial consequences.

Responsibilities

• Book and coordinate sea and air freight across import/export lanes.
• Prepare import/export documents: invoices, packing lists, declarations, origin certificates.
• Liaise with brokers/forwarders from instructions to clearance follow-up.
• Track shipments from origin to delivery and provide reliable ETAs.
• Monitor demurrage, detention, and storage costs.
• Ensure inbound goods arrive fully documented for correct receipts.
• Escalate classification and compliance questions as needed.
• Feed lead times and constraints into S&OP planning.

Skills

Import/Export coordination

Incoterms knowledge

Documentation accuracy

Brokers & forwarders liaison

ERP data maintenance

Education

Supply Chain/Logistics or International Trade degree

Tools

ERP system

Job description

For 40 years, Benmax has delivered the mechanical and HVAC services inside some of Australia's most demanding buildings, from hospitals and schools to the data centres powering the country's AI growth. We're a team of more than 250 people across Australia, and our in-house fabrication division builds the large-scale equipment that goes into these projects.

That equipment is large and high-value, and much of it moves internationally, along with production materials we bring in from overseas suppliers. As production ramps up, our freight volumes will grow significantly, and each shipment feeds a live installation schedule where a late arrival or a held-up clearance can stall work on site. To manage this, we're setting up a dedicated import/export desk for the first time, and we need someone to build it and run it.

About the role

You'll have the chance to shape how international freight works at Benmax. You'll put together the forwarder and carrier relationships, booking processes, documentation standards and customs interfaces, then take ownership of it all day to day.

Licensed customs brokers and forwarders handle the clearances, working from the instructions and paperwork you provide. You'll be the one planning each shipment, getting the documents right and on time, and keeping our planning, receiving and project teams across where everything is and when it will land.

What you’ll be doing

• Book and coordinate sea and air freight across import and export lanes, choosing the mode and service that suits the schedule and the budget
• Prepare and manage import and export documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, declarations and certificates of origin, in line with customs and biosecurity requirements (including ISPM-15 packaging)
• Manage the day-to-day relationship with brokers and forwarders, from instructions and document packs through to clearance follow-up and resolving issues
• Track shipments from origin to delivery, pick up delays early and give our teams ETAs they can rely on
• Keep a close eye on container free time, empty returns and port storage to keep demurrage, detention and storage costs down
• Make sure inbound goods arrive fully documented so receipts post correctly
• Support Free Trade Zone and multi-jurisdiction movements, escalating classification and compliance questions to the right people
• Track freight cost and service performance by lane, and feed lead times and constraints into our S&OP planning

What you’ll bring

• Experience in international freight coordination (import and/or export), including bookings and documentation
• Working knowledge of Incoterms, customs documentation requirements, and HS codes and tariff classification
• Experience working with freight forwarders and customs brokers
• Demonstrated experience establishing or documenting freight or documentation processes
• A high level of accuracy and deadline discipline when handling documentation with legal and financial consequences
• Proficiency maintaining data in an ERP or system of record
• Ability to work independently, prioritise effectively and make sound decisions in a developing function
• Experience with South-East Asian lanes
• Exposure to Free Trade Zone or bonded operations
• Experience with project cargo, oversize or high-value freight
• Qualifications in Supply Chain, Logistics or International Trade
• Membership of the Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA)