Sea Logistics Operational Care Specialist, Import

Kuehne+Nagel; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Kuehne+Nagel is seeking an Operational Care Specialist within our Sea Logistics team in the UK. The role focuses on timely processing of tasks via BPA, including customs clearance prep, sales quotation linkage, accurate costing and gross profit management.

You will coordinate customer shipments, update milestones and collaborate with Customer Care Locations to ensure service excellence and compliance with KN procedures and QSHE standards.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of freight forwarding processes and sea logistics operations.
• Working knowledge of customs requirements, shipment methods and Incoterms.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management.
• Good commercial awareness and financial understanding.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage changing priorities.
• Strong problem-solving capability.

Responsibilities

• Ensure sales quotations are allocated and linked to shipments once vessels have sailed.
• Prepare and ensure all required documentation and information is available for customs clearance.
• Conduct daily ISR checks and manage discrepancies.
• Retrieve carrier contract rates and ensure accurate cost entry and accrual management.
• Ensure correct gross profit on contracted freight and UK charges.
• Monitor carrier and supplier performance and elevate issues where required.
• Resolve operational, rate and performance discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate and timely milestone updates within operational systems.
• Support new customer implementations, system setup and work instruction creation.
• Ensure compliance with KN procedures, industry regulations and QSHE requirements.

Skills

Freight forwarding

Customs knowledge

Incoterms

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Communication

Stakeholder management

Financial understanding

Work under pressure

Prioritization

Problem solving

Job description

It's more than a job As a member of the Sea Logistics team Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in transporting goods, optimising processes, and fulfilling our customers' promises. And by transporting medicines, toys and important machine parts, you are not only delivering goods, you are making small and big moments possible for people all around the world. At Kuehne+Nagel, our contribution counts in more ways than we imagine.

The Operational Care Specialist is part of the Operational Care Centre (OCC) and is responsible for the timely processing of operational tasks through Business Process Automation (BPA), including customs clearance preparation, sales quotation linkage, accurate costing and gross profit management. The role coordinates customer shipments, updates operational milestones and works closely with Customer Care Locations (CCL) to ensure service excellence and operational compliance.

How you create impact

• Ensure sales quotations are allocated and linked to shipments once vessels have sailed.
• Prepare and ensure all required documentation and information is available for customs clearance.
• Conduct daily ISR checks and manage discrepancies.
• Retrieve carrier contract rates and ensure accurate cost entry and accrual management.
• Ensure correct gross profit on contracted freight and UK charges.
• Monitor carrier and supplier performance and elevate issues where required.
• Resolve operational, rate and performance discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate and timely milestone updates within operational systems.
• Support new customer implementations, system setup and work instruction creation.
• Ensure compliance with KN procedures, industry regulations and QSHE requirements.

What we would like you to bring

• Strong knowledge of freight forwarding processes and sea logistics operations.
• Working knowledge of customs requirements, shipment methods and Incoterms.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management.
• Good commercial awareness and financial understanding.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage changing priorities.
• Strong problem-solving capability.

What's in it for you

As well as our competitive pay rates and superb training opportunities, we also offer a great working environment. You will be respected and valued if you work for us and have genuine opportunities to progress and develop.

• 26 days holidays plus bank holidays * 2 volunteering days per year * 3 x Life Assurance Option if you join the KN Route2 pension scheme * A tailored personal development and training programme. * Trusted and empowered to deliver and be your best. * Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave * Cycle to work scheme * Discount on high street stores and local supermarkets (Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys & more) * Refer a friend scheme.

Health Cash plans will be also available to you. The easy‑to‑use plan provides you with a range of valuable cash benefits and services and gives you money back towards the cost of your routine healthcare, up to set limits, helping you to budget for essential health costs such as optical, dental and therapy treatments.

As proud holders of the Gold Covenant, we are a forces‑friendly employer who recognise the skills, expertise and value service leavers bring to our organisation.

Who we are

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world.

As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life‑saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.