Logistics Coordinator

 Role Overview

Tensator is seeking a highly skilled and action-oriented Logistics Co-Ordinator with proven expertise in international freight operations, customs compliance, and export documentation. This role has full ownership of end-to-end logistics execution across road, sea, and air freight, ensuring compliant, cost-effective, and on-time delivery across UK, European, Far East, and Middle East markets.

The successful candidate must demonstrate advanced, hands-on mastery of International Commercial Trade Terms (Incoterms), with proven ability to apply, challenge, and optimise Freight Prepaid and Freight Collect structures across international shipments. This role requires commercial confidence to challenge freight pricing between sellers, buyers, and forwarders, alongside practical experience creating commercial invoices, managing Chamber of Commerce portals, calculating customs duties, and executing shipments through freight forwarder platforms.

This position plays a critical role in protecting Tensator’s global supply chain integrity, financial accuracy, and customer satisfaction.

Main Responsibilities

Transport, Freight & Distribution Operations

·         Plan, execute, and control international shipments across road, sea, and air freight, managing volumes across domestic, European, and global routes.

·         Create, validate, and issue commercial invoices independently, ensuring full accuracy of:

–          Commodity codes (HS codes)

–          Country of Origin (COO)

–          Customs values

–          Incoterms (EXW focus)

–          Currency, freight, and insurance elements

·         Own the end-to-end export declaration process, covering all required customs export declarations, with full responsibility for data accuracy, regulatory compliance, and proactive resolution of any customs clearance issues..

·         Navigate and operate Chambers of Commerce portals, including:

–          Certificate of Origin (COO) application

–          Document legalization

–          Amendments and tracking

·         Liaise daily with freight forwarders (e.g. UPS, DHL, and other carrier portals) to:

–          Book shipments

–          Compare rates

–          Negotiate improved commercial terms

–          Optimise cost vs. transit time

·         Ensure Incoterms are applied correctly, with a strong operational knowledge.

Customs Compliance, Duties & Regulatory Control

·         Calculate and verify customs duties and charges, including:

–          Customs Duty

–          Excise Duty (where applicable)

–          VAT thresholds

–          Additional customs fees and surcharges

·         Ensure commodity codes are correctly assigned and validated, reducing risk of penalties, delays, or audits.

·         Maintain accurate Country of Origin declarations for all imports and exports, ensuring full compliance with customs authorities.

·         Monitor and apply international trade regulations, Incoterms, and customs legislation across all shipping lanes.

·         Act as the first point of escalation for customs queries, audits, holds, or discrepancies.

·         Manage post-Brexit UK–EU customs procedures, including import and export declarations, duty and VAT treatment, and border documentation.

·         Ensure compliance with post-Brexit regulatory requirements, including EORI (UK and EU), Incoterms application, and customs valuation rules.

Dangerous Goods & Special Shipments

·         Coordinate dangerous goods shipments, including lithium-ion batteries and regulated items, ensuring:

–          Correct classification

–          MSDS documentation

–          Carrier acceptance

–          Compliance with IATA, IMDG, and ADR regulations

–          Work proactively with forwarders to mitigate risks, delays, or non-compliance.

Reverse Logistics

·         Manage and control returned goods processing, ensuring:

–          Correct classification

–          Customs re-import documentation (where applicable)

–          Inventory reconciliation

Cross-Functional Collaboration

·         Work closely with Production Planning to align shipment schedules with manufacturing output.

·         Communicate transparently with Sales, Purchasing, Finance, and Customer Service on:

–          Freight costs

–          Delivery timelines

–          Customs implications

·         Review Purchase Orders and freight invoices, validating transport charges and resolving discrepancies.

Traceability, KPIs & Continuous Improvement

·         Ensure full shipment traceability from order creation to final delivery.

·         Maintain and report on logistics KPIs, including:

–          On-time delivery performance

–          Freight cost efficiency

–          Documentation accuracy

–          Proof of Export (POE) and Proof of Delivery (POD) acquisition

·         Actively manage and challenge external logistics suppliers, including third-party delivery companies and air freight providers, to negotiate improved commercial terms, reduce transport costs, and identify more competitive freight forwarding solutions.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

·         On-Time Delivery Rate (%)

·         Export & Import Freight Cost Variance

·         Accuracy & Timeliness of Shipping Documentation

·         Customs Compliance & Audit Readiness

·         Internal & External Customer Satisfaction Scores

Qualifications & Experience

·         Minimum 5 GCSEs (Grade C or above) including English and Mathematics (or equivalent).

·         Proven, hands-on experience in logistics, international shipping, or supply chain coordination.

·         Demonstrated experience exporting to Far East and Middle East markets.

·         Strong working knowledge of:

–          Commercial invoices

–          Export declarations

–          Chambers of Commerce portals

–          Customs duties and thresholds

–          Commodity codes and COO requirements

–          International Commercial Trade Terms

·         Experience using ERP systems and freight forwarder portals.

·         Demonstrable logistics and customs experience operating under post-Brexit UK–EU trade regulations.

Skills & Attributes

·         Highly action-oriented with the ability to independently execute complex logistics tasks.

·         Exceptional attention to detail with zero-tolerance for documentation errors.

·         Confident communicator across internal teams and external partners.

·         Commercially aware, cost-focused, and solutions-driven.

·         Comfortable managing multiple shipments and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

·         Advanced user of Microsoft 365, including:

–          Excel (data analysis, cost tracking)

–          Word (documentation)

–          PowerPoint (reporting)

–          OneDrive (document control)

·         The ability to be forward-thinking and make projections, project manage and implement strategic planning.

·         Excellent people, communication and negotiation skills.

 This is not intended as a complete or definitive statement of all duties or responsibilities of the job but as a record of the principal elements.

Supplementary Information

Confidentiality

To respect information obtained in the course of professional practice and refrain from disclosing such information without the consent of the employee/customer, or person entitled to act on his/her behalf, except where disclosure is required by law or by the order of a court, or is necessary in the public interest. Breaches of confidence will result in disciplinary action, which may involve dismissal.  You should also be aware that regardless of any action taken by this company, a breach of confidence could result in a civil action for damages.

Data Protection

If required to do so, to obtain, process and/or use information held on computer in a fair and lawful way.  To hold data only for the specific registered purposes and not to use or disclose it in any way incompatible with such purpose.  To disclose data only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed.

Equal Opportunities

It is the aim of the company to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment irrespective of sex,  marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, disability, social background or sexual orientation and/or HIV status is not placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.  To this end the company has an Equal Opportunities policy and it is for every employee to contribute to its success.

Health and Safety

To comply at all times with any regulations issued by the company especially those governing health and safety at work and to report/ensure that any defect which may affect safety at work is brought to the attention of the appropriate manager.

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 or equivalent local Health and Safety related legislation to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for all employees and visitors.  The job holder has a duty of care to themselves and to others with whom they come into contact in the course of their work as laid down in the above legislation and any subsequent amending legislation.

No Smoking Policy

All company offices are smoke free environments.  All main entrances to the buildings are also smoke free areas.  Staff should only smoke in the designated area and use containers supplied for extinguishing cigarettes.  Staff who fail to comply with the policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

Review

This job description reflects the present/immediate requirements of the job.  As the company develops and restructures and reviews in the future, so the job description will also be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the job holder.

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