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 South Yorkshire
Situated in the region of England known as Yorkshire and the Humber, South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county that was established in 1974. It shares borders with Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, as well as West and North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Those seeking Import Coordinator positions in the region will have various options to consider, as it is home to a number of large settlements, including Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham.
For much of the region's modern history, South Yorkshire has been known for its mining industry - particularly coal - and steel production. Innovations in the 17th and 18th centuries included crucible steel and stainless steel and during the Industrial Revolution, the region was extremely prosperous.
The local economy went into steep decline during the latter half of the 20th century, but over the last two decades it has seen a significant amount of redevelopment.
Today, South Yorkshire has a thriving retail and service sector, while a number of business parks, manufacturing facilities and innovation centres have also sprung up in recent years. Just some of the companies that can be found in the area include Ronseal, confectioners A.L Simpkin & Co, Plusnet and the Ardagh Glass Group.
What's more, a number of warehousing and distribution centres are located in the region - these are operated by firms like Next, IKEA, Tesco and Amazon.com.
Popular locations
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?
If you’re experienced in import coordination at managerial or executive level, we want to hear from you to help you make contact with businesses looking for your skills. Click the link below to register with us – your next career move could be closer than you think.
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