Shipping Manager – permanent Contract to start ASAP!
Location: Smethwick
Salary: £35,000pa - £40,000pa (DOE)
Hours of Work: 8.30am – 5.30pm – Mon – Fri (40hrs)
Job Role:
Own global outbound logistics: Plan and execute daily shipments (parcel, pallet, LTL/FTL, air, courier). Balance speed, cost, and reliability across lanes and service levels.
Carrier strategy & rate management: Build and manage a panel of carriers/forwarders (e.g., DHL, FedEx, UPS, DPD, Royal Mail, freight forwarders). Run RFPs, negotiate contracts/SLAs, implement lane guides, and conduct QBRs.
Person Spec:
5+ years in international shipping/logistics with hands-on trade compliance ownership.
Expert knowledge of HS classification, Incoterms® 2020, duty/VAT frameworks, IOSS, de minimis, country of origin, and customs procedures (UK/EU/US at minimum).
Proven track record running carrier RFPs, building a carrier panel, and negotiating material savings.
Strong documentation: commercial invoices, packing lists, COO/origin statements, licenses/certificates, FDA Prior Notice (or equivalent food/supplement filings), and broker instructions.
Proficiency with shipping/TMS tools and ecommerce/WMS stacks (e.g., Shopify, Metapack, ShipStation, Easyship, Linnworks, Descartes, or similar). Solid Excel/Google Sheets skills for analysis.
Calm, collaborative communicator—great with partners, carriers, and internal teams (Ops, Quality, Supply Chain, CS).
Nice-to-have: CILT/IoE&IT, IATA/FIATA, or customs compliance certification; experience with UK CDS entries and ICS2 readiness.
Trade compliance leadership:
Classify products with correct HS codes; maintain the master data and justification notes.
Apply Incoterms® 2020 correctly (e.g., DDP/DDU/DAP/FCA) per customer/channel.
Calculate and validate duties, taxes, and tariffs; manage IOSS for EU D2C, de minimis thresholds, and duty relief/drawback where eligible.
Ensure accurate country of origin and preferential origin proofs (e.g., EUR.1, statements on origin) where applicable.
Oversee EORI registrations and broker powers of attorney.
Regulatory documentation & filing: Prepare, verify, and archive all export/import documents: commercial invoices, packing lists, commodity codes, COO, MSDS/SDS, CoAs, shipping labels, and prior notices (e.g., US FDA Prior Notice for foods/supplements). Manage customs broker instructions and queries.
D2C shipping excellence: Optimize pick-pack-ship SLAs, label generation, tracking communications, and returns flows. Reduce “where is my order” (WISMO) tickets via proactive exception handling.
Partner & collaborator liaison: Act as primary contact for global partners/customers on shipping, delivery windows, compliance needs, and route-to-market requirements.
Systems, data & automation: Own TMS/label platforms – ShipStation integrations with WMS/Shopify/ERP. Build dashboards for cost per shipment, on-time, damage/loss, and customs hold rates.
Risk & quality control: Minimize damages, temperature/handling risks (where applicable), OTIF misses, and customs delays through packaging specs, carrier SOPs, and pre-clearance workflows. Manage cargo insurance and claims.
Process & continuous improvement: Write SOPs, train teams, run root-cause analyses, and deliver measurable savings and SLA gains.
Budgeting & forecasting: Own freight budget, accruals, and variance analysis. Forecast capacity for peak events, new product launches, and major partner orders.
Success metrics:
On-time delivery (OTD/OTIF): ≥ 98% (by lane and service level)
Cost per shipment: ↓ year-on-year by targeted % while maintaining service
Customs clearance: 85%
D2C SLA: ≥ 95% orders shipped within 24 hours after manufacture (business days)
Partner satisfaction (CSAT/NPS): Year-on-year improvement
Savings delivered: Concrete £ impact from rate cards, mode/lane optimization
Benefits:
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: £30,000 - £40,000 per annum (dependant on experience)
28 days Paid leave per annum
5% salary company pension
75% employee discount for Nourished Products
Dynamic and supportive work environment that fosters accelerated personal and professional growth.
Onsite parking
What is the Recruitment Process?
If this opportunity excites you, please send your CV to or call us at (phone number removed) for more information. This position is available immediately and will include a face-to-face interview at company premises in Smethwick.
Ready to take your skills to the next level? Apply today and become an essential part of the team.
Your Recruiters Limited are an equal opportunity employer, celebrating diversity and committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will receive a response, with detailed feedback provided to those unsuccessful at the interview stage