Import Manager

Layka Recruitment; Poyle; On-site; GBP 58,500 - 71,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Healthcare scheme

Job summary

Layka Recruitment is seeking an experienced Import Manager to lead a pivotal function within a fast-paced logistics operation. Based in the Colnbrook area (LHR) with plans to move to Feltham, the role requires strong leadership and a customer‑focussed mindset to drive performance.

You will manage a team, oversee KPIs, budgets, and P&L, and work closely with commercial colleagues to support new customer implementations and ongoing improvements across air freight, customs brokerage and multimodal

Qualifications

• Minimum 7-10 years’ experience within import, customs, freight forwarding or logistics operations.
• Minimum of 5 years’ management experience, leading operational teams within a fast-paced forwarding or logistics environment.
• Proven leadership capability, including coaching, performance management, employee development, succession planning, recruitment and team engagement.
• Experience managing departmental performance through KPIs, service levels, productivity measures, resource planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong commercial awareness, with responsibility for departmental budgets, cost control and P&L performance.
• Strong understanding of international freight forwarding operations, including air freight, customs brokerage and multimodal transport movements.
• Excellent knowledge of HMRC regulations, customs compliance requirements and import processes.
• Ability to act as the senior escalation point for operational, customs, compliance and customer service matters.
• Experience building and maintaining strong relationships with customers, carriers, customs authorities and overseas partners.
• Comfortable leading customer business reviews, supporting new customer implementations and working closely with commercial teams to drive growth.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a customer‑focused mindset and the ability to collaborate across multiple functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational teams within a fast-paced forwarding or logistics environment.
• Drive departmental KPIs, service levels, productivity and resource planning.
• Oversee budgets and P&L performance with strong commercial awareness.
• Serve as senior escalation point for operational, customs, compliance and customer service matters.
• Build and maintain relationships with customers, carriers, customs authorities and overseas partners.
• Lead customer business reviews and support new customer implementations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Customer focus

Job description

Import Manager

Our esteemed client is looking for an experienced Import Manager to take on a pivotal role within the business following an internal promotion!

Location: Colnbrook (LHR) – moving to Feltham
Working Days: Monday to Friday
Working Hours: 09:00 - 17:30
Annual Leave: 26 days plus UK Public Holidays

Candidate Profile

We are seeking an experienced Import Manager from a freight forwarding environment, with a strong operational background, industry knowledge, and a proven ability to lead and develop high‑performing teams.

Key requirements include:

• Minimum 7-10 years’ experience within import, customs, freight forwarding or logistics operations.
• Minimum of 5 years’ management experience, leading operational teams within a fast‑paced forwarding or logistics environment.
• Proven leadership capability, including coaching, performance management, employee development, succession planning, recruitment and team engagement.
• Experience managing departmental performance through KPIs, service levels, productivity measures, resource planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong commercial awareness, with responsibility for departmental budgets, cost control and P&L performance.
• Strong understanding of international freight forwarding operations, including air freight, customs brokerage and multimodal transport movements.
• Excellent knowledge of HMRC regulations, customs compliance requirements and import processes.
• Ability to act as the senior escalation point for operational, customs, compliance and customer service matters.
• Experience building and maintaining strong relationships with customers, carriers, customs authorities and overseas partners.
• Comfortable leading customer business reviews, supporting new customer implementations and working closely with commercial teams to drive growth.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a customer‑focused mindset and the ability to collaborate across multiple functions.

Salary & Package

Up to £65,000 basic salary

Car allowance

Benefits: Healthcare scheme available following successful completion of probation.

We look forward to seeing your CV