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 Weston-super-Mare
Located 18 miles (30 km) south east of Bristol and directly across the Bristol Channel from Cardiff, Weston-super-Mare is a popular seaside resort that benefited hugely when the railways came its way in the 1800s. Its strange name comes from the Anglo-Saxon “west tun” (west settlement) and the Latin “super mare” meaning upon sea. One of the most influential engineers of all time, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, also used to live there, proving that peculiar names must be in the water – and probably explaining why a sleepy village got a railway!
The town did have some industry in the past. The Westland aircraft company, which was based in Yeovil, had its helicopter manufacturing and maintenance plant in Weston-super-Mare. The company is famous for its Wessex, Sea King, Puma and Lynx military, coastguard and rescue helicopter. One of the most famous helicopter pilots in the world (no, not Noel Edmonds), Prince William, pilots Sea Kings. The factory closed down in 2002, and Weston-super-Mare is now home to The Helicopter Museum.
Weston-super-Mare’s economy is mainly focused on tourism, but there is some industry and distribution activity in the area, partly due to its location as the gateway to the South West. Discount supermarket Lidl has its southern distribution centre there, and there is some other light industry in the town. While it may not seem the first place you’d look for a Shipping Coordinator job, they do come up from time to time, and there will always be a demand in nearby Bristol too.
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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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