Air Freight - Operations Specialist

JAS Worldwide; Sterling (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

JAS Worldwide is seeking a detail‑oriented Freight Forwarding Specialist to support Government & Defense shipments from the United States. You will handle bookings, documentation, rates, and problem resolution to ensure compliant and timely air freight movements.

You will coordinate with federal agencies, carriers, and overseas partners, maintain customer files, process invoicing and monitor KPIs to drive service levels.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Additional languages are a plus.
• Geographical knowledge preferred.
• Cargowise (C1) experience is a plus.
• Experience in freight forwarding industry is preferred.
• Knowledge of US Exports Compliance is preferred.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience handling Air freight shipments or a combination of education and expertise required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare/coordinate documentation for air transportation activities.
• Coordinate with US federal agencies and foreign entities for specific needs.
• Work under various contracts to deliver service with compliance and performance.
• Coordinate cargo pick up/transfer and monitor status.
• Communicate with authorities, customers and suppliers to ensure efficient operations.
• Manage/update carrier/vendor rates and obtain spot rates when necessary.
• Communicate with overseas agents and clients regarding pre alerts, rate requests, and shipment status.
• Track shipments and update customers/agents on status.
• Create and maintain customer files and handle invoicing.
• Audit files for accuracy and completeness.
• Interact professionally with coworkers.
• Complete US Customs AES filings or CHB for imports.
• Manage KPIs for JAS operations and customers.
• Assist other departments as needed.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

MS Office

Attention to detail

Self-motivated

Customs knowledge

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Cargowise (C1) experience

Freight forwarding industry experience

US Exports Compliance knowledge

Multilingual language skills a plus

Tools

Cargowise (C1)

Job description

JAS is an international, non-asset-based supply chain services and solutions company. Our services include air and ocean freight forwarding, contract logistics, customs brokerage, distribution, inbound logistics, truckload brokerage and other supply chain management services, including consulting, the coordination of purchase orders and customized management services.

Responsible for facilitating the movement of Government & Defense related products/equipment/materials in/out of the country, via air freight, in accordance with organizational policy and procedure, and within compliance of relevant local, country and international laws and processes. To provide customer service to exporting customers: bookings, rates, document production, accounting, agent interaction, and problem resolution.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Prepare/coordinate the necessary documentation for the efficient, cost-effective and lawful execution of air transportation activities.

• Knowledge/experience with ITAR and licensed commodities, to include regulations and restrictions.

• Coordinate with US federal agencies (US Dept of Defense, US Dept of State, etc), as well as Foreign Militaries and Defense Contractors for their specific needs.

• Work under requirements of various federal, international, and commercial contracts to deliver exceptional service and proactive communications, while maintaining compliance and contract minimum performance.

• Coordinate cargo pick up/transfer. Monitor status.

• Communicate with appropriate authorities, and customers and suppliers, in all relevant territories and countries, as necessary to ensure efficient, positive and lawful relations, support and activities.

• Manage/update carrier/vendor rates. Obtain spot rates when necessary.

• Communicate/correspond with overseas agents and clients in a timely manner. To include pre alert, rate requests, shipment status.

• Track shipments and update customers/agents of status.

• Create and maintain customer files.

• Customer invoicing and payable approval.

• Audit files to ensure accuracy and completion.

• Interaction with coworkers in a professional and courteous manner.

• Completion of US Customs AES filings and/or submission to CHB team for Import entry filings.

• Managing JAS operational and customers (KPIs) Key Performance Indicators.

• Assist other departments/divisions as needed, or when requested by department or branch manager.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office suite.

• Detail oriented, able to multitask and meet deadlines.

• Self-motivated, able to work in a team and independently.

• Knowledge of all customs laws, practices and procedures.

• Able to perform the essential duties of this position without posing a “direct threat” to the health or safety of self or others.

• Able to interact positively and effectively with co-workers, subordinates and supervisors.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or GED.

• Additional languages are a plus.

• Geographical knowledge preferred.

• Cargowise (C1) experience is a plus.

• Experience in freight forwarding industry is preferred.

• Knowledge of US Exports Compliance is preferred.

• Minimum 2 years’ experience handling Air freight shipments or a combination of education and expertise required.

ENVIRONMENT:

• 100% performed in climate-controlled internal office environment working under normal office conditions. Travel will be (up to__ %) required in support of the position’s responsibilities.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers to feel and handle, reach with arms and hands, talk and hear. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to stop, kneel and crouch, lift weight or exert a force up to a maximum of 25 pounds. This position requires employee to frequently work in a fluid, fast paced environment.

ADDITIONAL:

The responsibilities associated with this job will change from time to time in accordance with the Company’s business needs. More specifically, the incumbent may be required to perform additional and/or different responsibilities from those set forth above.

The above declarations are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job described, nor are they intended to be such a listing of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Rather, they are intended only to describe the general nature of the job.

DEFINITIONS: (if any abbreviation, the meaning needs to be inserted)

Management retains discretion to add or change duties of this position at any time.

JAS Forwarding (USA), Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Where required by state law and/or city ordinance; this employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

JAS USA IS A CUSTOMS BROKER, GOVERNED BY FEDERAL REGULATION. FEDERAL REGULATIONS PROVIDE THAT JAS MAY HAVE IT BROKERAGE LICENSE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED IF IT “KNOWINGLY EMPLOYED, OR CONTINUES TO EMPLOY, ANY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY, WITHOUT WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THAT EMPLOYMENT FROM THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER.” JAS WILL PERFORM A BACKGROUND CHECK TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY AND IF SO, ABSENT SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU WILL NOT BE HIRED OR WILL BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY.