Import & Export Manager

We are seeking an experienced Import & Export Manager to manage and coordinate end-to-end international trade operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for import/export documentation, customs clearance, freight coordination, regulatory compliance, supplier and logistics partner management, and ensuring shipments are completed accurately, efficiently, and on schedule. The ideal candidate should have strong practical knowledge of international shipping procedures, customs regulations, Incoterms, freight forwarding, and trade documentation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage end-to-end import and export operations, including air, sea, and land shipments.
• Prepare, review, and verify shipping and customs documentation.
• Coordinate with freight forwarders, shipping lines, airlines, customs brokers, suppliers, and customers.
• Manage customs clearance processes and ensure timely release of shipments.
• Ensure compliance with applicable customs, trade, and regulatory requirements.
• Review commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, Bills of Lading, Air Waybills, and other shipping documents.
• Apply and correctly interpret Incoterms for international transactions.
• Monitor shipment schedules and proactively resolve delays, documentation issues, or clearance problems.
• Negotiate freight rates and service agreements with logistics providers.
• Monitor freight, customs, transportation, and related logistics costs.
• Maintain accurate import/expom lgtrt records and shipment documentation.
• Coordinate with procurement, finance, warehouse, sales, and operations teams.
• Manage duty, tax, and other applicable shipment-related requirements.
• Evaluate freight forwarders and logistics service providers based on cost, reliability, and performance.
• Prepare regular reports on shipments, costs, delays, clearance status, and logistics performance.
• Identify opportunities to reduce logistics costs and improve lead times.
• Maintain strong controls to prevent penalties, demurrage, detention, documentation errors, and unnecessary storage charges.
• Lead and support the import/export or logistics team where applicable.

Requirements

• Bachelor s Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, International Business, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred.
• Proven experience in Import & Export, International Logistics, Freight Forwarding, or Supply Chain Operations.
• Previous experience at managerial or senior supervisory level preferred.
• Strong knowledge of customs clearance and international trade procedures.
• Excellent understanding of Incoterms 2020.
• Strong knowledge of sea freight, air freight, and land transportation.
• Practical experience handling shipping documentation.
• Experience coordinating with customs brokers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, and government/regulatory authorities.
• Strong freight negotiation and cost-control skills.
• Good knowledge of shipment tracking and logistics reporting.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and relevant ERP/logistics systems is preferred.

Benefits

Benefits and employment terms will be discussed with shortlisted candidates during the interview process.

CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

1. Import & Export Experience: How many years of direct import and export experience do you have? Which countries or international markets have you handled?
2. Shipment Management: Explain the complete process you follow for an international shipment from receiving the purchase/order details until final customs clearance and delivery.
3. Incoterms: What is the difference between EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP, and DAP? Give an example of when you would recommend each.
4. Documentation: Which documents do you normally review before an international shipment is dispatched? What are the most common documentation errors you have encountered?
5. Customs Clearance: Describe a difficult customs-clearance issue you personally handled. What caused the problem, and how did you resolve it?
6. Freight Management: What experience do you have managing air, sea, and land freight? Which mode do you consider most challenging and why?
7. Freight Negotiation: How do you compare and negotiate quotations from freight forwarders or shipping lines while ensuring service quality is not compromised?
8. Cost Control: Give an example of how you reduced freight, customs, demurrage, detention, storage, or other logistics costs.
9. Shipment Delays Scenario Question: An urgent shipment is delayed at the port because the commercial invoice does not match the customs declaration. What actions would you take immediately?
10. Compliance Scenario Question: A supplier asks you to declare a lower shipment value to reduce customs duty. How would you handle the request?
11. Operational Planning: How do you monitor multiple international shipments simultaneously and ensure management receives accurate status updates?
12. Performance Management: Which KPIs would you use to measure the performance of an import/export department and its logistics providers?
13. Systems Knowledge: Which ERP, customs, freight, shipment-tracking, or logistics systems have you used? How advanced are your Microsoft Excel skills?
14. Leadership: How do you manage an underperforming team member who repeatedly makes errors in shipping documentation?

Desired Candidate Profile

• Bachelor s Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, International Business, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred.
• Proven experience in Import & Export, International Logistics, Freight Forwarding, or Supply Chain Operations.
• Previous experience at managerial or senior supervisory level preferred.
• Strong knowledge of customs clearance and international trade procedures.
• Excellent understanding of Incoterms 2020.
• Strong knowledge of sea freight, air freight, and land transportation.
• Practical experience handling shipping documentation.
• Experience coordinating with customs brokers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, and government/regulatory authorities.
• Strong freight negotiation and cost-control skills.
• Good knowledge of shipment tracking and logistics reporting.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and relevant ERP/logistics systems is preferred.