Ocean Freight Export Clerk

Tall Grass Recruitment; Wythenshawe; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £32,000 DOE

Annual bonus

Pension

PMI

On site gym & café

Free parking

Job summary

Tall Grass Recruitment is seeking an Ocean Freight Export Clerk in Manchester (M22) to coordinate ocean export shipments from booking to departure, liaising with shipping lines, overseas agents and internal teams. This office-based role offers hybrid working (3 days in the office, 2 days at home) with a salary up to £32,000 DOE, plus annual bonus and benefits. The ideal candidate will have UK export procedures, experience with FCL/LCL and strong attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Experience in ocean freight forwarding and export operations.
• FCL/LCL export knowledge and UK export procedures.
• Experience preparing export shipping documents.
• Strong customer service and organisational skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Manage ocean freight export bookings from booking to departure.
• Coordinate with shipping lines, co-loaders and transport providers.
• Ensure shipments meet customer requirements and schedules.
• Provide shipment updates and resolve issues promptly.
• Raise and verify customer invoices and monitor costs.

Skills

Ocean freight forwarding

FCL/LCL export

UK export customs

Export documentation

Customer service

Organisational skills

Microsoft Office

Work under pressure

Tools

Cargowise C1

Job description

Ocean Freight Export Clerk

Location: M22 - Manchester Office - Office based 3 days week, 2 days working from home.

Salary : Up to £32,000 DOE

Department: Ocean Freight Operations reporting into the Operations Manager

Job Summary

The Ocean Freight Export Clerk is responsible for the efficient coordination and management of ocean export shipments from origin to destination. Working within a freight forwarding environment, the role involves liaising with customers, shipping lines, overseas agents, hauliers, customs authorities, and internal departments to ensure shipments are handled accurately, compliantly, and within agreed service levels.

The successful candidate will possess strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a thorough understanding of ocean freight export procedures and documentation.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Activities

• Manage ocean freight export shipments from booking through to final departure.
• Arrange bookings with shipping lines and co-loaders.
• Coordinate collection and transport of cargo from customer premises to port.
• Ensure shipments are processed in accordance with customer requirements and agreed schedules.
• Monitor shipment progress and proactively communicate updates to customers.
• Resolve operational issues and service disruptions promptly and professionally.

Documentation & Compliance

• Bills of Lading
• Export Customs Declarations
• Commercial Invoices
• Packing Lists
• Certificates of Origin
• Shipping Instructions

Ensure compliance with UK customs regulations and international shipping requirements.

Verify documentation accuracy prior to shipment departure.

Maintain accurate shipment records within the freight management system. C1

Customer Service

Act as a key point of contact for customers regarding export shipments.

Provide shipment status updates and resolve customer queries.

Develop and maintain strong customer relationships through professional communication.

Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and service delivery.

Financial Responsibilities

Raise and process customer invoices.

Verify supplier and carrier invoices.

Ensure all operational costs are accurately recorded.

Assist with profit monitoring and shipment profitability.

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with:
• Shipping Lines
• Overseas Agents
• Transport Providers
• Warehouse Operators
• Customs Authorities
• Internal Sales and Operations Teams
• Build effective relationships to ensure smooth shipment execution.

Skills & Experience

• Previous experience within ocean freight forwarding.
• Knowledge of FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) export operations.
• Understanding of UK export customs procedures.
• Experience preparing export shipping documentation.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Excellent organisational and administrative abilities.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience using Cargowise C1
• Customs declaration experience.
• Understanding of Incoterms.
• Knowledge of dangerous goods procedures.
• Relevant freight forwarding qualifications

Key Competencies

• Attention to Detail
• Communication Skills
• Time Management
• Customer Focus
• Problem Solving
• Teamwork
• Commercial Awareness
• Ability to Prioritise Workloads

Performance Measures

• On-Time Shipment Processing
• Documentation Accuracy
• Customer Satisfaction
• Compliance with Customs and Regulatory Requirements
• Shipment Profitability
• Service Level Achievement

Benefits / Package

• Salary £32,000 DOE + Annual Bonus & Salary reviews,
• Real Career Progression
• Pension
• PMI
• On site Gym & Café
• Free Parking, close to train stations
• Offering Hybrid working 3 days office and 2 days home after probation