Gateway & Procurement Specialist- Air Logistics

Kuehne + Nagel AS; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading logistics company is seeking an Air Freight Operations professional to optimize processes in ensuring timely shipments, manage cargo documentation, and maintain high-quality standards. This role requires strong negotiation and communication skills within a dynamic team, with opportunities for career growth and a supportive work environment rich in benefits.

Benefits

Pension plan

Employee assistance programme

Wellbeing centre access

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in air freight with capacity and rate negotiation.
• Understanding of governance in Dangerous Goods, Customs, and Aviation Security.
• Strong commercial acumen and proficient time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Procure air freight costs, book, and process export shipments.
• Produce documents for cargo transit and ensure customs compliance.
• Manage truck planning and coordinate with stakeholders to optimize operations.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Time Management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

It's more than a job

When you work in Freight Logistics and Operations at Kuehne+Nagel, you play a key role in optimising processes and ensuring that inventory and shipments move efficiently. But that is not all. Your work also helps ensure that vital medicines reach patients on time and supports other essential deliveries, from wind turbines to semiconductors. At Kuehne+Nagel, our contribution counts in more ways than we imagine.

Working within a high performing team, your role will be to procure air freight costs and flights, book and process export shipments on an allocation or adhoc basis to strict deadlines. From an import perspective you will also plan and monitor full utilisation of trucks. You will also be responsible for maintaining quality standards in security, health and safety as well as that of the environment in relation to these three key areas.

How you create impact

• Capacity procurement and rate negotiation on scheduled flights, charter and part charter services.
• Export: Produce and prepare documents for transit of cargo, ensure customs declarations, security checks are complete and issue check certificates.
• You will also follow standard operating procedures (SOP’s), create accurate accruals, recover compromised route plans, negotiate spot rates, increase or decrease allocations, optimise processes and support safe unit load device (ULD) builds and manage ULD equipment.
• Import: Truck planning and optimisation, ensuring a high level of communication with UK branch, Airport Transfer and warehouse colleagues in the UK, Frankfurt and Amsterdam; build strong relationships with stakeholders internally and externally too; Frankfurt Pallet Management, issue management, performance management, volume reporting, truck P&L responsibility and closing down outstanding customs matters.
• From a QSHE perspective you will ensure you cooperate with all stakeholders and are aware of company procedures and work instructions.
• Ensure continuous Improvement is driven operationally through the corrective and preventive action process (CAPA), Supplier Management and by actively promoting a culture of continual improvement.
• Ensure full compliance with regulatory and legislative authorities. (i.e., Full Import and export compliance ETSF regulations and aviation security regulations).
• Ensure a safe system of work and a safe working environment is maintained.at all times, by addressing unsafe acts, full compliance with ISO 45001 standards and related Kuehne+Nagel work instructions and guidance.

What we would like you to bring

• Demonstrable experience within air freight specifically with capacity and rate negotiation experience on commercial and charter carriers.
• Experience of governance and control in relation to Dangerous Goods, Customs and Aviation Security.
• You will have a good understanding of Aircraft types and configurations, routings and equipment experience.
• Understanding of ULD builds.
• You’ll be a skilled communicator with great speaking and listening skills as well as the capability to negotiate, be persuasive and work collaboratively.
• You’ll have strong commercial acumen, be resourceful and be proficient in time management, organisation and planning.
• With a methodical and logical approach, you’ll be able to solve complex issues and make sound business decisions.
• Good IT skills specifically Microsoft office packages.

What's in it for you

If you would like to become a valued member of our team, we will make sure that you’re rewarded for your commitment and expertise. You can join the contributory Kuehne+Nagel pension plan and enjoy our Route 2 Rewards scheme, which offers everything from discounts, benefit information, recognition and its own wellbeing centre. We care for our colleagues (and their immediate family) with our employee assistance programme providing access to 24/7 GP, legal and financial advice along with mental health counselling. All of this to help you live a happier and healthier life. As proud holders of the Gold Covenant, we are a forces-friendly employer who recognise the skills, expertise and value service leavers bring to our organisation.

Who we are

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world.

As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life-saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.

We kindly advise that placement agencies refrain from submitting unsolicited profiles. Any submissions of candidates without prior signed agreement will be considered our property and no fees will be paid.