Description
New role available with a well established specialist Time Critical Multi Modal Forwarder.
Role will involve leading and managing day-to-day activity within a busy, fast-paced time-critical freight forwarding environment. The ideal candidate must be a hands-on operator with strong operational knowledge, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to deliver excellence under pressure. This position requires a confident decision-maker with extensive experience managing time-sensitive shipments, coordinating complex logistics movements, and motivating a high-performing operations team.
Key Responsibilities
Operations Management
• Oversee and coordinate all aspects of the company’s time-critical freight operations, ensuring on-time performance and service excellence.
• Manage and supervise the daily activities of the operations team, ensuring compliance with company standards, customer SLAs, and industry regulations.
• Act as an escalation point for complex or high-priority shipments, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
• Maintain close control of key shipments, from booking through to delivery, including continuous customer communication and issue resolution.
• Develop, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure operational consistency and efficiency.
Team Leadership & Performance
• Lead, mentor, and motivate the operations team, creating a culture of accountability, professionalism, and customer focus.
• Set, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), implementing corrective actions where necessary to drive continuous improvement.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and ensure appropriate training and development plans are in place.
Customer & Supplier Relations
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and subcontractors, ensuring exceptional service delivery.
• Ensure transparent communication with customers throughout the logistics chain, particularly in time-critical and emergency scenarios.
• Support the sales and customer service teams with operational input for quotations and service proposals.
Compliance & Administration
• Ensure full compliance with customs, security, and transport regulations, including DG (Dangerous Goods) and Aviation Security procedures.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation, including ATA Carnets, shipment files, and customs paperwork.
• Manage and document a five-year checkable work history for all direct reports in compliance with security vetting requirements.
Essential Experience and Requirements
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in freight forwarding, with at least 3 years in a time-critical or emergency logistics environment.
• Proven hands-on operational capability.
• Demonstrable experience in European dedicated road transport and cross-border time-sensitive freight management.
• Strong supervisory experience with a proven ability to lead, train, and develop a team.
Desirable Skills and Experience
• Event logistics / event forwarding experience, including the ability to raise and process ATA Carnets and manage full end-to-end project logistics.
• Experience in setting and managing KPIs, with a strong understanding of continuous improvement methods and team performance management.
• Knowledge of European and international transport compliance, including CMR, ADR, and customs procedures.
• Ability to thrive in a time-critical, customer-driven environment with strong commercial awareness.
Qualifications
• Dangerous Goods (DG) and Aviation Security (Air Cargo Security) training valid and current.
• Professional logistics or management qualifications (e.g. FIATA, CILT, or IATA) advantageous.
Role will involve leading and managing day-to-day activity within a busy, fast-paced time-critical freight forwarding environment. The ideal candidate must be a hands-on operator with strong operational knowledge, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to deliver excellence under pressure. This position requires a confident decision-maker with extensive experience managing time-sensitive shipments, coordinating complex logistics movements, and motivating a high-performing operations team.
Key Responsibilities
Operations Management
• Oversee and coordinate all aspects of the company’s time-critical freight operations, ensuring on-time performance and service excellence.
• Manage and supervise the daily activities of the operations team, ensuring compliance with company standards, customer SLAs, and industry regulations.
• Act as an escalation point for complex or high-priority shipments, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
• Maintain close control of key shipments, from booking through to delivery, including continuous customer communication and issue resolution.
• Develop, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure operational consistency and efficiency.
Team Leadership & Performance
• Lead, mentor, and motivate the operations team, creating a culture of accountability, professionalism, and customer focus.
• Set, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), implementing corrective actions where necessary to drive continuous improvement.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and ensure appropriate training and development plans are in place.
Customer & Supplier Relations
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and subcontractors, ensuring exceptional service delivery.
• Ensure transparent communication with customers throughout the logistics chain, particularly in time-critical and emergency scenarios.
• Support the sales and customer service teams with operational input for quotations and service proposals.
Compliance & Administration
• Ensure full compliance with customs, security, and transport regulations, including DG (Dangerous Goods) and Aviation Security procedures.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation, including ATA Carnets, shipment files, and customs paperwork.
• Manage and document a five-year checkable work history for all direct reports in compliance with security vetting requirements.
Essential Experience and Requirements
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in freight forwarding, with at least 3 years in a time-critical or emergency logistics environment.
• Proven hands-on operational capability.
• Demonstrable experience in European dedicated road transport and cross-border time-sensitive freight management.
• Strong supervisory experience with a proven ability to lead, train, and develop a team.
Desirable Skills and Experience
• Event logistics / event forwarding experience, including the ability to raise and process ATA Carnets and manage full end-to-end project logistics.
• Experience in setting and managing KPIs, with a strong understanding of continuous improvement methods and team performance management.
• Knowledge of European and international transport compliance, including CMR, ADR, and customs procedures.
• Ability to thrive in a time-critical, customer-driven environment with strong commercial awareness.
Qualifications
• Dangerous Goods (DG) and Aviation Security (Air Cargo Security) training valid and current.
• Professional logistics or management qualifications (e.g. FIATA, CILT, or IATA) advantageous.