Shipping & Freight Executive

Import/Export & Freight Optimisation

Primary Role 
Independently manage end-to-end import and export shipping activities, ensuring shipments are executed accurately, cost-effectively and according to required delivery timelines. The role will also partner with management on freight optimisation initiatives, including freight rate analysis, shipment consolidation, forwarder evaluation and identification of cost-saving opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Shipping Operations

• Independently manage end-to-end import and export shipments from shipment planning through final delivery.

• Coordinate with suppliers, overseas principals, freight forwarders, carriers, couriers, transporters and warehouses on shipment arrangements.

• Determine appropriate shipping mode and routing based on cost, urgency, cargo characteristics and delivery requirements.

• Monitor shipments proactively and resolve delays, documentation issues, customs matters and other shipment exceptions.

• Coordinate inbound and outbound shipment schedules with internal stakeholders to support inventory availability and customer fulfilment requirements.

• Maintain accurate shipment information, schedules, freight costs and supporting documents in the relevant systems and trackers.

Freight Optimisation

• Work closely with management to review and optimise freight arrangements across air, sea, courier and other transportation modes.

• Analyse freight quotations and recommend the most cost-effective shipping option based on total cost, transit time and service requirements.

• Identify opportunities for shipment consolidation, routing optimisation, mode conversion and better shipment frequency planning.

• Conduct freight cost comparisons across forwarders and shipping lanes.

• Support freight rate negotiations, quotation exercises and periodic review of freight service providers.

• Track freight expenditure and identify abnormal or avoidable freight charges.

• Develop and maintain freight cost analysis to measure savings and optimisation opportunities.

• Review shipment patterns and recommend changes that can reduce freight cost without compromising business requirements.

• Monitor freight forwarder performance, including cost competitiveness, service reliability, responsiveness and delivery performance.

Shipping Documentation & Compliance

• Prepare, review and verify shipping documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, delivery orders, airway bills/bills of lading, certificates and other import/export documents.

• Ensure shipping documents are complete and accurate before shipment execution.

• Ensure shipments comply with applicable import/export requirements, customs regulations and internal procedures.

• Coordinate permit applications and customs clearance requirements where applicable.

• Maintain proper shipment and freight records for operational, financial and audit purposes.

Operational Ownership

• Manage daily shipping activities with minimal supervision and independently prioritise urgent or critical shipments.

• Anticipate potential shipment issues and take corrective action before they affect delivery.

• Escalate significant cost, service or compliance issues with clear analysis and recommended actions rather than only reporting the problem.

• Work cross-functionally with Supply Planning, Customer Care, Inventory/Delivery, Finance and other relevant teams to resolve shipment-related matters.

• Support continuous improvement of shipping processes, controls and freight management practices.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience in import/export shipping, freight forwarding, logistics or a similar role.

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple international shipments simultaneously.

• Practical experience working directly with freight forwarders, carriers, couriers, customs agents and overseas suppliers/principals.

• Good working knowledge of air freight, sea freight, courier shipments, Incoterms and shipping documentation.

• Experience obtaining, evaluating and comparing freight quotations.

• Able to analyse freight cost and recommend practical cost-saving alternatives.

• Strong Excel skills for freight comparison, cost analysis and shipment tracking.

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to manage shipment exceptions independently.

• Detail-oriented with strong documentation and follow-up discipline.

• Able to communicate effectively with both internal stakeholders and external logistics partners.

• Knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP Business One.