Location: Basildon, Essex
Salary: £32,000 – £35,000
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
The Opportunity
An established freight and logistics business is looking for an experienced Import Operations Clerk to join its Import department.
Working as part of a close-knit team of four, you will take responsibility for sea freight import shipments from start to finish, coordinating with overseas partners, customers, customs, and delivery providers to ensure shipments are handled accurately and efficiently.
This is an office-based position and requires someone with previous sea/ocean freight operations experience who is comfortable managing their own workload and delivering excellent customer service throughout the import process.
The Role
You will manage the day-to-day administration and coordination of sea freight imports, taking ownership of shipments from receipt of the initial pre-alert through to final delivery and invoicing.
You'll regularly communicate with overseas partners and customers, obtain the documentation required for clearance, update internal systems, and coordinate deliveries.
Key Responsibilities
Manage sea freight import shipments from start to finish
Receive and process pre-alerts from overseas partners
Book shipments and maintain accurate information within internal systems
Liaise directly with customers to obtain documentation and shipment information
Prepare documentation required for customs clearance
Coordinate deliveries and keep customers informed of progress
Complete invoicing accurately and within required timescales
Manage multiple shipments and priorities while maintaining high levels of accuracy
Provide professional and responsive customer service throughout the shipment lifecycle
About You
Minimum 2 years' experience within sea/ocean freight operations – essential
Previous experience managing import shipments from start to finish
Strong understanding of freight documentation and import processes
Excellent customer service and communication skills
Highly organised with strong attention to detail
Comfortable working independently while contributing to a small operational team
Able to manage multiple shipments and deadlines within a busy freight environment
Knowledge of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and experience processing customs entries would be advantageous
Please note: Candidates whose freight experience is predominantly road or air freight without relevant sea/ocean freight experience will not meet the requirements of this position.
What's On Offer
The role offers a salary of £32,000 – £35,000, working Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, alongside 20 days' annual leave plus bank holidays. The business is actively interviewing and can accommodate both candidates available immediately and those working a standard one-month notice period.
Applications from experienced sea freight professionals are encouraged as the recruitment process is moving quickly
Salary description
£32000.00 - £35000.00 per year