Import Manager (Ocean Freight)

About Yusen Logistics
Yusen Logistics is working to become the world’s preferred supply chain logistics company. Our complete offer is designed to forge better connections between businesses, customers and communities – through innovative supply chain management, freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution services. As a company we’re dedicated to a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring everyone who works with us is committed, connected and creative in making us the world’s preferred choice.
www.yusen-logistics.com/

We are looking for an Ocean Freight Import Manager in our Rainham office. The position will be a hybrid role with Wednesdays and Fridays being the office days (subject to business requirements) and the working hours of 8:30-17:30 with 1 hr lunch break.

Role Overview
As an Ocean Freight Import Manager you will lead and develop the Import Operations team to deliver a high performing, customer centric, digitally enabled service that consistently meets operational, financial, and compliance targets.
You will ensure the department achieves efficient and accurate end to end execution of import shipments, supporting the business through its growth strategy to establish the OFF business as in excess of 25k TEU p/a, and deliver a market leading customer experience.

Key responsibilities:

Operational
• Plan business activity and delegate workloads across the operations teams through effective team and individual engagement.
• Ensure Standard Operating Procedures and Service Level Agreements are in place, and complied with, for all business handled by the branch.
• Review and develop existing process standards and KPI’s to improve operational efficiency.
• Act as escalation point for the customer and network, ensuring any issues are raised with the Branch Manager
• Provide timely and accurate reports to Management as required.

Team Leadership
•To ensure all team members receive the required level of training and development to succeed within their current and future roles, managing and monitoring levels of performance through the annual PDR process, objective setting and any other mechanisms as appropriate, providing appropriate levels of mentoring and support.
•Ensure that departmental organisation charts and job descriptions are maintained and accurate.
•Ensure all team members are aware of key business outcomes, processes and expectations, delivering all company communications in a consistent and timely manner, providing feedback as appropriate.
•Promoting and supporting employee engagement activities, ensuring tangible outcomes are identified, implemented and measured.
•Ensuring due attention is provided to employee welfare, identifying and signposting areas of support where necessary, ensuring functional arrangements are in place to protect the wellbeing of all employees.
•Ensure all company procedures are managed in a consistent and fair manner, including but not exclusively holidays, PDR, absence, performance, disciplinary. Supporting with business investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes across the organisation as necessary

Commercial
• Monitor performance & cost of all external suppliers to the branch.
• Ensure all department administrative and accounting functions are completed within agreed timescales and deadlines, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and practice.
• Ensure successful implementation of all new network and BDM business. Attend client visits as required.

Compliance
• Ensure all company procedures, including absence, performance, holiday, etc are managed and adhered to at all times, raising any non-compliances or concerns at the earliest opportunity
• Review the training and development needs of employees, providing mentoring and support is provided to ensure best practice at all times
• Ensure all company briefings and communications are carried out in a timely manner
• Continuously look to improve processes and procedures to drive efficiency in business operation and customer service

Key requirements:
Proven experience in ocean freight import operations within a freight forwarding
Strong understanding of international freight forwarding processes and ocean carrier operations.
Comprehensive knowledge of UK import customs procedures and trade compliance.
Experience managing teams and leading operational performance.
Proficiency with Cargowise
Excellent customer service and stakeholder management skills
Proactive and flexible approach
Ability to prioritise and work under pressure
Attention to detail
Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)

What we offer
• Salary range of £44,000-55,000
• Individual health cover
• 25 days holiday (excluding bank holidays)
• Company Pension Scheme
• Employee benefits i.e. Discount schemes including E-vouchers and gift cards, gym membership as well as a recognition platform
• Critical Illness Cover
• Tailored development and career opportunities
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced pay for overtime
• Employee Wellness initiatives – WeCare - includes 24/7 online GP, mental health support service, get fit programme and more

Why Join Us?
At Yusen Logistics you will have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects, work alongside talented professionals, and grow your career in an environment that values innovation, accountability, and collaboration.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those under consideration will be contacted.

Please note, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

At Yusen Logistics, we understand the value of utilising AI and other technologies to support the application process. However, we encourage candidates to use these tools to enhance their application rather than replace their own effort and authenticity. During the interview process, we expect responses to reflect your own experience, thinking and capabilities.

As a ‘Disability Confident’ Employer, to encourage disabled applicants to apply and to provide an opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent, and abilities; Yusen Logistics commit to offer disabled people an interview, if they meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable, or appropriate, to interview all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, we may limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.