Shipping Supervisor

Cochlear; Addlestone; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in medical devices located in Addlestone, UK, seeks an experienced individual to lead their EMEA shipping operations. This role focuses on ensuring compliance with import/export regulations and managing a team of specialists for operational excellence. Candidates should possess expert knowledge in customs regulations and a strong leadership background. The company offers competitive pay and flexible work options, along with a chance to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare sector.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holidays

Company pension

Flexible working patterns

Yearly salary review

Group Life Insurance

Employee Referral Bonus

Cycle to work scheme

Vitality health care

Free gym access

Qualifications

• Proven experience in import/export regulations and customs clearance.
• Expert level knowledge of HMRC/EU compliance and tariff codes.
• Experience shipping Lithium-Ion batteries.

Responsibilities

• Lead the shipping team and ensure operational excellence.
• Manage import and export compliance with international regulations.
• Supervise logistics and ensure performance metrics are met.

Skills

Import/export regulations

Customs clearance

Document handling

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Fluency in English

Education

Member of relevant professional body

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Oracle inventory applications

Job description

Change people's lives and love what you do! Cochlear develops world-leading medical devices that help people hear and be heard. As a top 100 medical device company and market‑leader in implantable hearing devices, more people choose a Cochlear‑branded cochlear or acoustic implant system than any other. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people's lives.

The role holder is responsible for leading and developing the regional centre of excellence for shipping within EMEA, through managing a team of import, export and shipping specialists. The role holder will be the subject matter expert (SME) for Customs compliance, international trade documentation and trade compliance requirements for the import and export of all products within EMEA, with the focus of ensuring that all orders shipped reach the customer as and when expected, within set performance and cost parameters. Ultimately, you will deliver high quality customer service, operational excellence, and value creation, through the following key accountabilities.

• Team & People Leadership: Provide day‑to‑day leadership, coaching, and development plans for the Shipping team
• Import & Export Compliance: Apply correct procedures to meet HMRC/EU regulations, manage Letters of Credit, and supervise dangerous goods shipments
• Performance & Continuous Improvement: Identify and report KPIs, use data to improve service and cost efficiency
• Freight Partner Management: Select and manage carriers for best‑in‑class service and value
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships and share documentation and performance insights

Qualifications

• Proven experience in import/export regulations and customs clearance
• Expert level knowledge of HMRC/EU compliance, tariff codes, and dangerous goods handling
• Exceptional document handling, control and management
• Detailed knowledge of letters of credit
• Experienced in the shipping of Lithium‑Ion batteries
• A flexible, dynamic, self‑driven and proactive individual; able to motivate self, team and others; easily accepts constructive input from others
• Evidence of strong leadership ability and a natural bias for action; capable of leading through influence while using facts to drive decisions
• A strong collaborator, capable of building great relationships with stakeholders, colleagues and external partners
• Capable of working under pressure, in a fast‑paced environment, with the ability to manage conflict and positive resolution of issues
• Member of relevant professional body
• Fluent in English

Desired Skills

• Qualified in the IATA dangerous goods regulations (IATA DGR) and Holder of Dangerous goods licence
• Experience within pharmaceutical and/or medical device supply chain organisations
• Experience of shipping product to the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe
• Experience of GDP (Good Distribution Practice) and QMS (Quality Management System) environments
• Experienced gained working within complex European/EMEA matrix organisation
• Experience of working within a Quality Management environment, gained within either medical devices (ISO13485), food, pharmaceuticals or similar business
• Yellow or Green Belt Lean Six Sigma knowledge and experience preferred
• Microsoft packages including Word, Excel & PowerPoint
• Experience of Oracle inventory applications

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holidays (plus UK Bank Holidays)
• Company pension
• Flexible working patterns and the possibility to work remotely up to 40% per week
• Yearly salary review
• Pension scheme
• Group Life Insurance
• Group Income Protection
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Service Anniversary Reward
• Cycle to work scheme
• Vitality health care
• Medicash cashplan
• Free use of gym on business park and paid exercise classes available

For 40 years, Cochlear has been creating reliable products that continue to keep people connected to the world and to each other. We help people of all ages to hear in more than 180 countries around the world. Our technology connects people to life's possibilities and to the people who matter most. We have over 4000 employees globally dedicated to improving people's lives. To date, we have invested over $2billion AUD in research and development.

This is your chance to be part of a premier organization with a great culture, working in a dynamic, growing and rapidly evolving environment to deliver outstanding results that benefit our customers every day. If you feel that you have the skills and experience to be successful in this role and take on new challenges to build your career with Cochlear, please start your application by clicking the APPLY button below!

Equal opportunities

Cochlear is committed to providing equal opportunities to avoid unlawful discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief or age. In line with our corporate ethics and statutory obligations we strive to ensure that the work environment is free of harassment and bullying and that everyone is treated with dignity and respect - this is an important aspect of ensuring equal opportunities in employment.