Freight Operations Manager

Logix Recruitment Limited; Caddington; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading logistics company in Caddington is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee airfreight and customs operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in air cargo handling, UK customs regulations, and a minimum of 5 years' experience in airfreight operations. This role includes managing a team and ensuring compliance while delivering seamless logistics solutions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in airfreight operations—export/import.
• Strong hands-on experience with UK customs procedures.
• Solid knowledge of airline handling processes and aviation security.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily air export and import operations.
• Lead all customs activities for imports, exports, and transit declarations.
• Support the coordination of road transport with the European fleet.

Skills

Airfreight operations experience

UK customs knowledge

Aviation security standards

Team leadership

Problem-solving ability

Tools

ASM Sequoia

Job description

Operations Manager

Location: Luton

Role Summary

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading the companies core airfreight and customs operations, ensuring compliant, efficient, and time‑critical handling of shipments. The role requires strong expertise in air cargo, airline/airport procedures, and UK customs regulations. Experience in road and sea freight is a strong advantage, supporting the companies multimodal offering and contributing to seamless end‑to‑end logistics solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Airfreight Operations Leadership

• Manage daily air export and import operations.
• Ensure full compliance with Regulated Agent requirements, IATA rules, and airport/aviation security protocols.
• Oversee MAWB/HAWB preparation, airline bookings, screening, and flight cut‑off performance.
• Coordinate with airlines, ground handling agents, and the Luton warehouse.
• Resolve delays, offloads, capacity issues, and handling irregularities.

Customs Operations & Compliance

• Lead all customs activities for imports, exports, and transit (T1) declarations using ASM Sequoia.
• Ensure HMRC compliance, including correct tariff classification, valuation, and regulatory documentation.
• Manage customs processes for bonded warehousing, controlled goods, and special procedures.
• Act as the escalation point for HMRC, Border Force, and customer customs enquiries.
• Train and update the team on changing customs regulations and best practice.

Road & Sea Operations Support

• Support the coordination of road transport with TC's European fleet, including collections, express shipments, and airport linehauls.
• Liaise with drivers, planners, and TC depots to ensure timely and compliant movement of goods.
• Assist with sea freight operations when required—booking, documentation, customs, and carrier liaison.
• Contribute to multimodal planning for customers using combined air‑road‑sea solutions.
• Ensure operational alignment across all modes to deliver seamless end‑to‑end service.

Quotation Management & Customer Response

• Guarantee accurate and responsive quotations for airfreight, handling, customs, and multimodal services.
• Validate operational costs, air rates, and customs charges before issuing prices.
• Support commercial opportunities by providing strong operational insight to sales and account teams.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Lead, motivate, and develop the operations and customs team at Luton.
• Ensure staff maintain high competency in airfreight processes, customs procedures, and operational compliance.
• Plan resources to support 24/7 time-criti­cal environments.
• Track and improve performance against KPIs for service quality, accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.

End-to-End Shipment Oversight

• Manage the entire shipment lifecycle from booking → handling → customs → transport → delivery.
• Ensure accurate documentation, job costing, invoicing, and operational reporting.
• Maintain clear, proactive communication with clients throughout the process.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in airfreight operations (export/import) within a freight forwarder or air cargo environment.
• Strong, hands‑on experience with UK customs procedures and ASM Sequoia.
• Solid knowledge of airline handling processes, screened cargo, and aviation security standards.
• Previous experience supervising or managing an operations or customs team.
• Strong problem‑solving ability and resilience in a time‑critical environment.
• Excellent communication skills, accuracy, and a strong compliance mindset.