Job Title: Commercial Operations ExecutiveLocation: Southampton | Department: OperationsReports to: Operations Manager / Branch ManagerSalary: £30,000 £38,000 + bonus, DOE | Type: Full-time, office-based with hybrid flexibility About UsOur client are a leading UK freight forwarder with 20+ years moving air, sea, road and project cargo worldwide known for service-first operations and smart commercial thinking. The Southampton office is a key UK gateway, handling 8,000+ TEU annually across retail, automotive, and industrial clients. We need a Commercially Minded Operations Executive who owns shipments end-to-end and spots opportunities to improve margin, win revenue, and keep clients sticky. Wheres the risk? Operational Excellence 60%- Manage full lifecycle of air/sea/road shipments: booking, documentation, customs, tracking, POD- Liaise daily with overseas agents, shipping lines, hauliers, airlines, and UK ports mainly Southampton, Felixstowe, London Gateway- Ensure HMRC/CHIEF/CDS compliance and accurate customs entries. Clients hear solutions, not problems- Maintain data integrity in [CargoWise/Wisetech/operational system] your numbers drive our reporting Commercial Performance 30%- Protect margin: Query rate discrepancies, challenge unnecessary charges, optimize routing- Grow accounts: Team & Compliance 10%- Mentor junior ops coordinators on best practice- Adhere to AEO, ISO, BIFA standards and internal SOPs- Support out-of-hours cover on rota freight doesnt sleep Essential:- 2-4 years freight forwarding ops experience sea freight preferred, air/road a bonus- Commercial acumen: CargoWise/BluJay/Debitoor or similar + strong Excel vlookups, pivot tables- Customs knowledge: Desirable:- BIFA qualified or working towards- Experience with retail, automotive, or hazardous cargo- Established carrier/agent relationships out of Southampton- Knowledge of bonded warehousing, ETSF, or 4PL models 2+ existing accounts buy new services because you spotted the gap3. What We Offer- Base: £30k-£38k based on experience + performance bonus tied to GP retention/growth- Progression: Clear path to Senior Ops, Key Account Manager, or Trade Lane Manager- Development: BIFA training, Customs Academy, leadership courses we pay- Benefits: 25 days holiday + bank hols, pension 5% matched, healthcare cash plan, staff forwarder rates- Culture:
Locations
PortsmouthHampshire
