Customer Service Representative (Citrus)

Our client in the Citrus industry is seeking an experienced Customer Service Representative to join their team in Port Elizabeth . This is an excellent opportunity for a highly organized and detail-oriented professional with experience in citrus exports, shipping, logistics or fresh produce. The successful candidate will play an important role in managing international customer accounts, coordinating export documentation, monitoring shipments and payments, and ensuring customers receive accurate and timely information throughout the export process.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain weekly shipment reports for Canadian, Far East and Russian customers, including vessel information, ETAs, delays and document status.
• Distribute shipment reports to customers and flag significant delays for claims follow-up.
• Maintain accurate internal planning sheets, customer trackers and retail programs trackers.
• Prepare arrival information, mates data and ETAs for the Canadian desk.
• Prepare and distribute invoices and packing lists to customers and upload documentation to shared folders where required.
• Perform final documentation checks to ensure customers receive complete and accurate document sets, including bills of lading, packing lists and invoices, prior to arrival.
• Upload and verify retailer purchase orders in the company system and prepare manual invoices where required.
• Distribute Quality Control (QC) reports and sales estimates for individual shipments.
• Prepare sales accounts and progress them through to closure once containers have been fully worked.
• Monitor advances and final payments by consignee and follow up on outstanding amounts in line with agreed payment terms.
• Accumulate customer remittance information and reconcile payments against relevant shipments.
• Analyze retailer yield reports and monitor quality claims before closing accounts.
• Prepare information for and participate in regular customer meetings with Canadian, Far East and Russian retail and wholesale customers.
• Manage day-to-day customer queries and requests, working closely with the commercial team where required.
• Collect customer inventory reports, pack-out summaries and availability updates for weekly market reviews.
• Coordinate price confirmations with the internal pricing and administration functions.
• Prepare grower loading and invoicing information.
• Support packhouse and grower registration requirements for relevant export market programs.
• Proactively follow up with customers and other stakeholders regarding recurring documentation and reporting requirements.

Requirements:

• Degree in Logistics, Business Administration or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience within the citrus/agricultural export industry.
• Experience in export administration, shipping, logistics coordination or customer service.
• Previous experience in fresh produce or perishables would be highly advantageous.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including building and maintaining multi-sheet trackers and accurately working with large data sets.
• Strong written English, with the ability to communicate professionally with international customers on a daily basis.
• Exceptional attention to detail, particularly regarding shipping documentation, invoices, customer accounts and payment follow-ups.
• Knowledge of export documentation, including bills of lading, packing lists and phytosanitary/final documentation, would be advantageous.
• Experience working with an ERP or trade management system would be advantageous. Experience with QX and Dropbox-based document sharing would be beneficial.
• Availability to attend scheduled customer meetings across Canadian, Far East and Russian time zones, including occasional early-morning and afternoon/early-evening meetings.