Air Import Team Leader

Right Now Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A logistics recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Air Import Team Leader to oversee a dedicated airfreight operations team. This role is pivotal in ensuring exceptional service delivery while maintaining compliance with regulations. Responsibilities include managing team operations, conducting training, and facilitating communication among departments. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in airfreight import, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to quality customer service. A competitive salary of £40,000 to £45,000 is offered for this hands-on position.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership abilities in an airfreight environment.
• Strong knowledge of HMRC and Border Force regulations.
• Experience in mentoring and coaching team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a small airfreight operations team.
• Ensure compliance with all import regulations.
• Monitor daily operations and resolve issues efficiently.
• Maintain clear and professional communication with all stakeholders.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Strong organisational and administrative abilities

High attention to detail and accuracy

Ability to perform under pressure in a high-volume environment

Positive, proactive attitude with strong problem-solving skills

Confident decision-making based on sound judgment

Team leadership or supervisory experience

Education

3-5 years’ experience in airfreight import operations

Strong understanding of customs processes and entries

Knowledge of ETSF and HMRC / Border Force regulations

Tools

Proficiency in MS Office

Internal logistics systems

Job description

Job Description

Right Now Group is seeking an experienced Air Import Team Leader to lead and support a small, fast-paced airfreight operations team. This is a hands-on role requiring strong operational knowledge, leadership capability, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service to customers, clients, and agents.

You will be responsible for overseeing daily import operations, ensuring compliance with HMRC / Border Force regulations, resolving issues efficiently, and fostering a high-performance, collaborative team environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and support a small airfreight operations team to consistently deliver high-quality work
• Coach, mentor, and train team members, including updates on regulatory and internal procedures
• Allocate and oversee daily workloads; ensure operational cover during holidays and sickness
• Conduct daily and weekly team meetings; elevate issues to management where required
• Promote a proactive, collaborative, and solutions-focused team culture
• Manage airfreight import shipments from origin through to final delivery
• Ensure full compliance with ETSF procedures and HMRC / Border Force regulations
• Monitor arrivals, trigger points, discrepancies, amendments, and claims
• Carry out regular warehouse walk-throughs and bond checks; document and resolve any discrepancies
• Maintain and update customer and supplier records within internal systems
• Lead and participate in cross-departmental meetings with Transport, Warehouse, and Customer Service teams
• Deliver high-level customer service through clear, professional communication
• Handle and resolve queries from customers, suppliers, and overseas agents
• Ensure efficient and effective communication within the team and with external stakeholders
• Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs tailored to specific customer requirements)
• Conduct monthly audits of ETSF paperwork and customs entries
• Keep the team informed of all HMRC / Border Force regulatory changes
• Maintain dashboards and internal records with accurate, up-to-date shipment and compliance data
• Ensure all procedural updates are documented and communicated effectively

Shift: 4 on 4 off

Hours: 07:00 to 19:00

Salary: £40,000 to 45,000

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organisational and administrative abilities
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to perform under pressure in a high-volume environment
• Positive, proactive attitude with strong problem-solving skills
• Confident decision-making based on sound judgment
• 3-5 years’ experience in airfreight import operations
• Strong understanding of customs processes and entries
• Knowledge of ETSF and HMRC / Border Force regulations
• Team leadership or supervisory experience
• Proficiency in MS Office and internal logistics systems