Import Coordinator
Thousands of manufacturing businesses in the UK rely on a smooth and uninterrupted flow of imports to ensure productivity is maximised. The same applies to retailers and wholesale companies too. Warehousing can take up some of the slack, but in many cases, wherever imports are optimised and storage is minimised, efficiency is at its peak. Ensuring all this happens is the import coordinator (no pressure then).
The import coordinator will be in constant contact with suppliers all around the world, making sure stocks and production levels are adequate for the projected needs of their employer. And that’s just the start of the journey – import coordinator jobs tend to require oversight of the freight import process, and that means being on the ball with transportation, usually via third party carriers.
Many import coordinator jobs will also require a degree of understanding of the paperwork and customs requirements to bring goods into the country from the various jurisdictions they deal with, although the job is often purely logistical, with the legals being covered by other specialists.
The skills required
Import coordinator job descriptions often ask for accomplished jugglers – people who can have dozens of ongoing tasks at any moment and retain a firm grasp on all of them. While you’ll usually be helped in this with software and a team of import assistants, you’ll be expected to know exactly what is coming in and how they tally with your employer’s demands.
Language skills will often be required, particularly if the employer deals with a single country. But even if your native tongue is enough to excel, you’ll still need advanced communication skills to make sure your instructions are understood – your business relies on it.
Some employers are looking for specialists in road, rail, air or sea imports, as the logistics, speed, volumes and regulations are often specific to that mode of freight transportation. Always check the description carefully.
Import Coordinator Jobs in Basildon
Situated in Essex, around 25 miles from central London, Basildon was established as a new town in 1948. Since then it has been a popular choice for those who commute to the capital on a daily basis, and it is one of the most populated regions in the county. It also offers a range of options for those seeking Import Coordinator vacancies.
Basildon is first mentioned in the Domesday Book, but it remained a fairly small settlement until the 19th century when railway services connected it to other parts of Essex. It wasn't until after the end of WWII that it really began to grow, incorporating nearby Laindon and Pitsea as part of the new town.
These days, Basildon is classified as part of the Thames Gateway and is thus undergoing significant regeneration, with the construction of new homes and work being carried out to town centre and road infrastructure. In 2010, Basildon's own version of the Hollywood sign was erected and the local council is working on a scheme for developing the industrial areas.
For the most part, Basildon's economy relies on retail and the service sector, with the largest employer being the local council. However, a number of larger companies are based here or have large facilities in the region, including IFDS Financial, Ford, SELEX, MK Electric, Konica Minolta and Gardner Aerospace.
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Jobs and candidates incoming at Cast UK
If you’re looking for the perfect import coordinator, we at Cast UK specialise in transport and logistics, and have fantastic talent pools with diverse skill sets in our networks & database with diverse skill sets. Why not give us a call on 0333 121 3345?
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