Shipping Coordinator jobs
Import and export can be hugely profitable but they are fraught with legal and logistical mazes that will need to be negotiated if profit is to be maximised. The shipping coordinator will be in charge of making sure all orders are handled, sent and invoiced for and that payments have been received in accordance with the law and company policy.
The shipping coordinator will also be involved with negotiating rates with carriers and constantly pushing for deals that satisfy the budget and customer satisfaction criteria. This will all feed into the overall company profitability and is therefore a key requirement.
Perhaps most important of all, however, is keeping updated with the legal aspects of the job. There are numerous laws surrounding importing and exporting goods, mainly inspired by revenue generation and security considerations, bit of which have undergone a decade of non-stop change, and show no sign of settling in the near future.
Observing the legal requirements and maintaining healthy profitability will be a balancing act that the skilled shipping coordinator will be able to take in his or her stride.
The skills required
An in-depth knowledge of import and export law will be a uppermost in the skill set for this role. Oversights can be costly in terms of impounded goods, fines or even criminal proceedings against the company or individuals. However, being able to profitably coordinate the shipping operation of a busy logistics company while maintaining legality will be a close second. Shipping coordinators lacking in one or the other will suffer.
There will also be a good deal of negotiating with clients and suppliers and dealing with a team of employees. This high-pressure job will suit anyone who can deal with the technical and business critical issues whilst keeping the staff motivated and contented.
Shipping Coordinator Jobs in Hemel Hempstead
After World War 2, the government set about a programme of building New Towns around the UK to re-house those made homeless by the Blitz. One of the towns built for Londoners was Hemel Hempstead, although a village of the same name had existed there since before medieval times. The town is situated 20 miles (33 km) north west of the centre of London and 10 miles (17 km) south of Luton, with St Albans just to the east.
The town has a shopping centre in the middle, and to the north east there is a large industrial complex called the Hemel Hempstead Industrial Estate. The estate came to worldwide prominence in December 2005 when there was a massive explosion at the Buncefield oil storage terminal. The explosion was supposed to be so loud that it was heard on mainland Europe; the sky glowed and a pall of black smoke covered drifted over London; thousands of properties were damaged. As well as being a depot for forecourt tankers, the depot had pipelines going directly to Heathrow Airport, which had to ration fuel and caused some travel disruption.
The depot was such an important part of the nation’s fuel infrastructure that it was ordered to be rebuilt, and it continues to grow as new parts are brought on stream. The rest of the industrial park continues to rebuild, and the town remains an important element in the UK’s supply system. With such good connections to London by road and rail, and with Luton Airport just up the M1, the town is well placed to continue growing. It’s not unusual for Shipping Coordinator jobs to come up in Hemel Hempstead, so it’s worth checking with us if you are looking.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
Candidates approach Cast UK seeking work for many reasons, from looking for more job fulfilment to moving house. Our founder members and our consultants come from the logistics, procurement and supply chain sectors, so we understand the needs of employers and candidates alike. As we only deal with these fields, many employers in the sector come to us first to create a candidate shortlist, so it’s certainly a good idea to register with us if you’re in the logistics sector.
We always have positions from the whole of the UK, so please see what’s available in your region and please do get in touch if you’ve seen something you’re interested in – we might just have the perfect job for you!
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Shipping Coordinator for your business or find you a job as a Shipping Coordinator then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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