Freight Import Manager Salary: Up to £55,000 Location: Christchurch Hours: Monday-Friday

Are you an experienced import professional ready to take ownership of a high-performing multimodal operation? We're recruiting for an Freight Import Manager to lead a busy, customer-focused department within a well-established freight forwarder. With a strong emphasis on ocean freight, this role is ideal for someone with proven senior-level experience - whether you're an Import Manager, Operations Manager, or Branch Manager looking for your next challenge.

What You'll Be Doing

In this leadership role, you will oversee the full import cycle across sea, air, and road, ensuring shipments move smoothly from origin to final delivery. You'll manage day-to-day operations, support a skilled team, and act as the main point of contact for key accounts.

Your responsibilities will include:

Managing all aspects of the import process, with a strong focus on LCL/FCL ocean freight.

Overseeing customs clearance, documentation, scheduling, and domestic transport arrangements.

Optimising workflow

Providing exceptional service to customers, offering solutions, updates, and guidance on best practices and routing options.

Approve freight invoices, verify charges, track job profitability. Ensure correct billing to customers and update cost sheets.

Ensuring full compliance with UK customs regulations and international trade requirements.

Training, coaching, and developing the import team to maintain high standards of accuracy and service.

Monitoring KPIs, reporting performance, and suggesting process improvements to increase efficiency and profitability.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking someone who can bring structure, leadership, and commercial awareness to a growing import department. The ideal candidate will have:

Strong background in import operations within freight forwarding (sea freight essential).

Experience managing a team or running a department - Import Manager, Ops Manager, or Branch Manager.

Solid understanding of customs procedures, trade regulations, and Incoterms.

Confident communication skills and the ability to build strong customer and supplier relationships.

Proven ability to solve operational issues quickly while keeping costs under control.

Experience using freight systems, TMS/ERP platforms, and customs software.

Why Join?

Opportunity to lead a well-established import function with autonomy.

Work with a reputable forwarder with strong global networks.

Competitive salary up to £55k.

A role where your decisions genuinely shape the department's performance and future growth.

WR Logistics are the #1 recruitment partner for all vacancies in the logistics industry. We recruit in the UK & USA for permanent jobs.

WR is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy