Inbound Shipping Planner

Oliver Bonas Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking an Inbound Shipping Planner for a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role involves managing freight logistics, ensuring compliance with customs, and collaborating across departments. The position offers hybrid working and a supportive environment focused on equity and inclusion.

Benefits

Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products

Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme

Flexible holiday – 30 days, increasing to 35 days

Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme

Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan

Auto-enrolment into our pension plan

Free access to our onsite gym

Cycle to work scheme

Quarterly free lunch

Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave

Qualifications

• Previous international shipping or warehouse/logistics experience preferred.
• Strong team player with excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and plan the most appropriate route for shipment.
• Arrange customs clearance for inbound shipments.
• Produce monthly reports to evaluate transportation costs.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Organisational Skills

Attention to Detail

Education

Administration Experience

Tools

Excel

Job description

We are looking for an Inbound Shipping Planner to join Team OB in our Support Office on a 12 month fixed term contract.

As an Inbound Shipping Planner at OB you will you will ensure the smooth running of all freight from supplier to our distribution centres and make the product supply journey as seamless as possible.

This is a hands-on role and will require you to work between various departments, third parties and suppliers. A good commercial understanding is also beneficial as Shipping has a pivotal role in our business.

Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We offer hybrid working with a split of 3 days in the office and 2 days home working per week. This is a full time role working 8am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

A bit about us …

At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work.

Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do.

Our team knows their stuff. They’re confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility.

More about the role …

An OB Inbound Shipping Planner will:

• Investigate and plan the most appropriate route for shipment, taking into account cost, transit time and security
• Consider the multi WH aspect of the product journey and launch date in the decision-making process
• Obtain, check and prepare documentation to ensure customs and insurance requirements
• Classify and adhere to all product code classification to ensure correct codes are applied duty paid
• Arrange customs clearance for inbound shipments via Sea, Air, Road and Courier services
• Updating shipping tracker both computerised and manually to include current purchase orders, ready dates, departure & arrival dates
• Work with freight forwarding companies, shipping lines and haulage companies to achieve an efficient and effective service
• Work with our Finance team to ensure payment of freight and other charges or collection of payments are made on time
• Work with the Head of Warehouse & Logistics and the Goods In Team Leaders to organise most effective delivery times of products for storage into the Warehouse
• Provide an accurate delivery schedule for the business to co-ordinate across departments
• Authorise freight, duty and VAT invoices
• Check Import Entries for irregularities and amend accordingly
• Control inbound and outbound courier shipment, to ensure we are compliant with HMRC and Oliver Bonas’ requirements
• Complete shipping quotes for the company on an ad-hoc basis
• Produce monthly reports to evaluate the costs of transportation, duty and VAT spend, highlighting and efficiencies and cost savings
• KPI reports to ensure Freight Forwarders are performing to agreed standards
• Maintain current knowledge of political situations and other factors that could affect the movement of freight
• Work with the Quality Controller to assist with supplier returns
• Ensure regular ongoing communication with the Buying, Merchandising and Warehouse teams to keep everyone in the loop with the timings of deliveries into the Warehouse

Bonas Benefits:

• Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products
• Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First – offering financial, emotional and vocational support
• Flexible holiday – 30 days (including bank holidays) – increasing to 35 days with length of service
• Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme
• Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical
• Auto-enrolment into our pension plan
• Free access to our onsite gym
• Cycle to work scheme
• Refer a Friend incentive
• Quarterly free lunch
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team
• Mental Health First Aider support
• Education and support through 360L Learning platform.

What we look for:

• Previous international shipping or warehouse / logistics experience preferred
• Excel – intermediate – pivot tables, Vlookups, math functions, short cuts)
• Strong team player with excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Detailed focused
• Confident style with ability to negotiate and influence internal teams and external partners
• Previous administration experience is essential
• Strong organisational skills with previous experience of working to deadlines

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB

At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.

It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities.

Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme.

To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity