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 Plymouth
It is impossible to separate the Devon city of Plymouth with its naval heritage. With a seafaring history dating back to before Roman times, it would go on to become a key military port in the Spanish Armada attack and has played a part in most naval battles in British history owing to our nation’s fractious relations with its southern neighbours. It is also the place from where the Pilgrims set off for the New World in the early 1600s, hence the name Plymouth Rock that marks their landing place.
The city had a good Industrial Revolution, with industry growing around the port, ideal for import and export, and nearby Devonport became a shipbuilding centre. The port’s success and importance did have a drawback, however. The city and its docks were heavily damaged by German bombers in World War II, and much of what stands in the centre of Portsmouth today is of post-war origin.
While seafaring still plays a part in the culture of Plymouth, and connected industries still exist in the area, its importance as a naval and commercial maritime centre have diminished somewhat since the 1980s. There has been a growth in hi-tech industries, with establishments such as the Tamar Science Park providing innovation opportunities.
The city is also in the top 20 by population in the UK, which, together with its overseas trading opportunities, make it the kind of transport hub where Shipping Coordinator jobs often show up.
Popular locations
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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