Sea Freight Import Specialist — Multimodal Growth Path

White Recruitment Construction; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20 days’ holiday + bank holidays

Contributory pension

Health scheme after six months

Onsite parking

Training and progression opportunities

Job summary

White Recruitment Construction is hiring a Sea Freight Import Operator in Chelmsford to manage sea freight imports from booking to delivery and to gain broader multimodal exposure through training.

The role focuses on imports initially, with progression into exports, air freight, and road freight. The office-based position offers a clear career development path in a growing international freight forwarder.

Qualifications

• Experience in freight forwarding operations.
• Good knowledge of sea freight imports.
• Experience handling FCL and/or LCL shipments.
• Understanding of the complete import process from origin to UK delivery.
• Good knowledge of shipping documentation.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple shipments simultaneously.
• Proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems.
• Confidence working independently and taking ownership of shipments.
• Good general IT and freight-forwarding system skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing FCL and LCL sea freight imports from booking through to delivery.
• Liaising with overseas agents, shipping lines, co-loaders and hauliers.
• Monitoring vessel schedules, departures, arrivals and potential delays.
• Checking import documentation for accuracy.
• Arranging UK customs clearance.
• Coordinating container releases, collections and final deliveries.
• Managing port and shipping-line requirements.
• Monitoring free time to minimise demurrage, detention and storage charges.
• Keeping customers informed throughout every stage of their shipment.
• Resolving operational issues quickly and professionally.
• Checking supplier invoices and shipment costs.
• Ensuring job files are completed accurately and correctly costed.
• Building strong relationships with customers, suppliers and overseas partners.
• Working closely with the sales and operations teams.

Skills

Freight forwarding

Sea freight imports

FCL/LCL handling

Import process knowledge

Shipping documentation

Customer service

Multitasking

Problem solving

Independent work

IT systems

Tools

CNS

Destin8

Multifreight

Job description

White Recruitment Construction is hiring a Sea Freight Import Operator in Chelmsford to manage sea freight imports from booking to delivery and to gain broader multimodal exposure through training.

The role focuses on imports initially, with progression into exports, air freight, and road freight. The office-based position offers a clear career development path in a growing international freight forwarder.