Export Operations Specialist

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Ocean Import/Export Operations Specialist to manage ocean freight shipments, quotations, and existing customer relationships. This position will coordinate closely with overseas teams, ocean carriers, customs brokers, trucking companies, warehouses, and other U.S. service providers. The ideal candidate is highly organized, commercially minded, and capable of independently managing shipments while delivering responsive customer service.

Responsibilities

• Ocean Import and Export Operations

• Manage assigned ocean import and export shipments from booking through final delivery.

• Coordinate with ocean carriers, overseas agents, customs brokers, trucking companies, warehouses, and CFS facilities.

• Handle import documentation review, ISF coordination, customs clearance and exams, cargo release, drayage, delivery, and empty-container returns.

• Coordinate export bookings, empty-container pickup, container loading and gate-in, cutoffs, SI/VGM submissions, AES/ITN filings, and bill of lading review and release.

• Proactively update shipment status and ensure timely handoffs between internal and external teams.

• Quotations and Cost Management

• Request and compare rates based on trade lane, equipment type, cargo details, transit time, and service requirements.

• Calculate total shipment costs and expected gross profit.

• Prepare customer quotations covering ocean freight, destination charges, drayage, chassis, warehousing, and other applicable fees.

• Clearly communicate rate validity, free time, and potential accessorial charges.

• Exception Handling

• Monitor last free day, free time, demurrage, detention, and per diem exposure.

• Resolve shipment delays, release issues, billing disputes, and other operational exceptions.

• Assess risks and costs, recommend solutions, and escalate issues when necessary.

• Customer Service and Account Development

• Maintain strong relationships with existing customers and understand their shipment volumes, trade lanes, and delivery requirements.

• Follow up on quotations and service feedback.

• Identify opportunities for trial shipments, repeat business, and account growth.

• Partner with sales and product teams while balancing service quality, operational feasibility, customer experience, and profitability.

• Billing and Cross-Functional Coordination

• Maintain accurate shipment records and operating systems.

• Review vendor invoices and customer receivables and retain supporting documentation for accessorial charges.

• Support finance with billing reconciliation and collection follow-up.

• Coordinate clearly with teams in the United States, China, and other parts of Asia regarding responsibilities, shipment status, deadlines, and next steps.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of ocean freight experience with a U.S.-based freight forwarder or NVOCC.
• Hands-on experience with both ocean imports and exports.
• Ability to independently manage the full process in at least one direction, with practical knowledge of key milestones and risks in the other.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. ocean freight operations and related documentation.
• Experience coordinating with carriers, ports, customs brokers, trucking companies, warehouses, and other service providers.
• Experience preparing customer quotations, calculating costs and margins, and explaining rate components and accessorial charges.
• Direct customer management experience, including examples of retaining business, increasing repeat shipments, expanding service scope, or growing account share.
• Strong English communication skills by phone and email.
• Ability to work effectively with Chinese-speaking teams; Mandarin proficiency is strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize multiple active shipments, communicate proactively, and escalate issues promptly.
• Proficiency in Excel, Outlook, freight management systems, and carrier and terminal tracking tools.
• Ability to work full-time on-site in Los Angeles or Houston.

Preferred Skills

• Ability to independently manage both ocean imports and exports from beginning to end.
• Experience coordinating across U.S. and Asia time zones.
• Familiarity with trans-Pacific trade lanes, multiple U.S. ports, and door-to-door delivery.
• Demonstrated success in vendor negotiations, customer account growth, or operational process improvement.