Freight Forwarder

3D Personnel Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Real career development

Entrepreneurial environment

International reach

Job summary

3D Personnel Ltd is helping to recruit for a Freight Forwarder / Operations Manager in Derry, Northern Ireland. The role is hybrid, full-time, and focuses on building the local desk while overseeing day-to-day freight forwarding operations across road, sea, and air.

You will own client relationships, negotiate with suppliers and carriers to protect margin, and lead a small team. You will also drive process improvements and stay ahead of customs and regulatory changes to maintain competitive

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

• Run day-to-day freight forwarding operations (road, sea, air) with focus on on-time and cost efficiency.
• Own client accounts and grow them, not just service them.
• Manage international shipments: customs clearance, carrier bookings, documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Communication

Negotiation

Prioritisation

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Team coaching

MS Office

Tools

CargoWise

SAP

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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