Ocean Freight & Customs Co-Ordinator

EL Recruitment Solutions Ltd; Tamworth; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

EL Recruitment Solutions Ltd is seeking a Sea Freight Operator to manage end-to-end export ocean shipments and documentation. You will coordinate bookings, liaise with shipping lines and overseas agents, and ensure timely updates to customers in a fast-paced freight forwarding environment.

The role requires strong organisational skills, commercial awareness and meticulous attention to detail to maintain profitability and service levels across daily operations.

Qualifications

• Experience in sea freight operations within a freight forwarding environment.
• Strong knowledge of export documentation and customs processes.
• Good commercial awareness and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritise workload in a fast-paced environment.
• Confident written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in freight forwarding operations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate export sea freight quotations in line with customer requirements and margins.
• Receive, review and process export bookings ensuring shipment details are complete.
• Coordinate shipments with shipping lines, hauliers, warehouses and overseas agents.
• Produce and check export documentation including Bills of Lading, manifests, and customs-related paperwork where applicable.
• Monitor shipment progress and communicate updates, delays, or issues to customers and partners.
• Submit completed files and invoices to the Accounts Department in accordance with company procedures.
• Maintain accurate records within the freight operating system and ensure full audit compliance.
• Support the smooth day-to-day running of the export department and wider office operations.
• Undertake any additional duties as reasonably required by management.

Skills

Sea freight experience

Export documentation

Commercial awareness

Attention to detail

Prioritise workload

Communication skills

Freight forwarding

LCL shipments

Liaising with overseas agents

Job description

Job Title: Sea Freight Operator

Role Overview

The Sea Freight Operator is responsible for managing the end-to-end coordination of export ocean shipments, ensuring all bookings, documentation, and customer requirements are handled accurately and within agreed service levels. The role requires strong organisational skills, commercial awareness, and the ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced freight forwarding environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate and competitive export sea freight quotations in line with customer requirements and company margins.
• Receive, review, and process export bookings, ensuring all shipment details are complete and correct.
• Coordinate shipments with shipping lines, hauliers, warehouses, and overseas agents.
• Produce and check all export documentation, including Bills of Lading, manifests, and customs‑related paperwork where applicable.
• Monitor shipment progress and proactively communicate updates, delays, or issues to customers and partners.
• Finalise shipment files, ensuring all costs are captured and profitability targets are met.
• Submit completed files and invoices to the Accounts Department in accordance with company procedures.
• Handle incoming calls and emails professionally, resolving customer queries in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate records within the freight operating system and ensure full audit compliance.
• Support the smooth day‑to‑day running of the export department and wider office operations.
• Undertake any additional duties as reasonably required by management.

Key Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Previous experience in sea freight operations within a freight forwarding environment
• Strong knowledge of export documentation and customs processes
• Good commercial awareness and attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise workload in a fast‑paced environment
• Confident communication skills (written and verbal)
• Proficiency in freight forwarding

Desirable:

• Experience with LCL shipments
• Experience liaising with overseas agents and shipping lines

36.25 hrs per week office based. Mon-Fr 9am-17:15pm with 1 hr unpaid lunch