Freight Forwarder

3dpersonnels; Derry and Strabane District; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career development

Entrepreneurial environment

International reach

Job summary

3dpersonnels in Derry, Northern Ireland (Hybrid) seeks a Freight Forwarder / Operations Manager to lead daily freight forwarding operations across road, sea, and air. You will own client relationships, coach a small team, and shape how the office competes across UK, Ireland and international markets.

The role requires 5+ years in freight forwarding or logistics operations, proven leadership, and strong negotiation and communication skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in freight forwarding, logistics coordination, or supply chain operations.
• Proven leadership in an operational or client-facing logistics role.
• Strong grasp of international shipping, incoterms, customs, and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily freight forwarding operations (road, sea, air) ensuring on-time, cost-effective results.
• Grow and own client accounts, not just service them.
• Manage international shipments including customs, bookings, and documentation.
• Negotiate rates with suppliers and carriers to protect margins.
• Oversee KPIs and coach a small team.
• Drive process and tech improvements for desk efficiency.
• Handle escalations and coordinate with global offices on multimodal freight.
• Stay ahead of customs and regulatory changes.

Skills

Logistics leadership

Client relationship management

Attention to detail under pressure

Strong communication

Negotiation skills

Tools

CargoWise

SAP

MS Office

Job description

Freight Forwarder / Operations Manager

Derry, Northern Ireland (Hybrid) | Full-Time, Permanent | Reports to: Managing Director

About the Company

Our client is one of the fastest-growing privately-owned logistics companies in the world - a top 3PL, top 100 logistics provider, and a genuinely great place to work. They deliver end-to-end supply chain solutions across road, sea and air, built around agility and technology rather than one-size-fits-all freight.

The Opportunity

They're growing their Northern Ireland operation and need someone to lead and build the Derry team from the ground up. This isn't a maintenance role - it's a build role. You'll run day-to-day freight forwarding operations, own client relationships, lead a small team, and shape how this office competes across the UK, Irish, and international markets.

If you like solving supply chain problems other people give up on, and you want the autonomy to build something rather than inherit it - this is worth a conversation.

What You'll Own

• Daily freight forwarding operations (road, sea, air) - on-time, cost-effective, no drama
• Client accounts - growing them, not just servicing them
• International shipments: customs clearance, carrier bookings, documentation
• Rate negotiation with suppliers and carriers - protecting margin without losing competitiveness
• KPIs across operational performance, client satisfaction, and cost
• A small team - coaching, feedback, development
• Process and tech improvements that actually make the desk run better
• Escalations - you're the one people come to when it goes wrong
• Cross-collaboration with global offices on multimodal freight projects
• Staying ahead of customs and regulatory change

What You Bring

• 5+ years in freight forwarding, logistics coordination, or supply chain operations
• Proven leadership in an operational or client-facing logistics role
• Strong grasp of international shipping, incoterms, customs, and documentation
• A proactive, "find a way" mindset - not a "that's not my job" one
• Sharp prioritisation and attention to detail under pressure
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Comfortable with logistics software and MS Office; CargoWise or SAP experience is a plus

On Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Real career development inside a fast-growing global business
• A genuinely entrepreneurial environment - your ideas get heard
• The chance to build and own a local operation with international reach
• Backing from an international team with a track record of delivering

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