Senior Ocean Freight Forwarder (Team Lead)

Location: Rotterdam (Waalhaven)

Employment: Full-time

Salary: Market-based and negotiable (up to €6,500 gross per month, depending on level and experience).

Extras: 13th-month payment, workplace setup, training opportunities, and more.

Are you an experienced freight forwarder with a passion for international logistics and ocean freight? Would you like to work in a dynamic environment where you are responsible for complex logistics processes and play an important role in further optimising our services? Then we are looking for you!

What will you do?

As a Senior Ocean Freight Forwarder, you are responsible for organising, coordinating and managing international ocean freight shipments from A to Z.

You act as the central link between customers, shipping lines, carriers, customs authorities, international agents and internal departments. With your expertise, you ensure the efficient, timely and cost-effective handling of both import and export shipments.

You monitor the progress of shipments, maintain an overview of multiple files at the same time and ensure that customers can rely on excellent service and the seamless execution of their logistics processes.

Thanks to your problem-solving skills and commercial insight, you are able to respond quickly to operational challenges and actively contribute to improving processes, service levels and results.

Key responsibilities include:

Operational Leadership

• Coordinating and managing international ocean freight shipments from A to Z;
• Booking transport with shipping lines, carriers and logistics partners;
• Planning and following up on pick-ups, deliveries, and pre- and onward carriage;
• Monitoring delivery times, lead times and operational processes;
• Identifying and resolving operational bottlenecks and delays;
• Processing and managing bookings in the TMS and/or CargoWise system;
• Ensuring that shipment information in CargoWise is up to date and accurate.

Customs and documentation

• Collecting, checking and processing all required transport and customs documentation;
• Coordinating customs formalities with the internal customs department;
• Ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, AEO and ISO guidelines.

Customer management & service

• Act as a key escalation point for customers, ensuring service levels and contractual obligations are consistently met;
• Build strong working relationships with multiple customers, understanding their requirements and adapting operations accordingly;
• Deliver a customer-centric culture across all operations.

Commercial & Financial Accountability

• Maintaining strong relationships with customers, suppliers, carriers and international agents;
• Acting as the first point of contact for operational and logistics-related matters;
• Handling complaints and ensuring appropriate solutions.

Financial administration

• Ensuring correct job costing and margins per file;
• Responsible for the timely and accurate invoicing of shipments;
• Checking and processing supplier invoices;
• Ensuring that COD payments have been received before goods are released;
• Checking that customs and VAT invoices have been paid before cargo is released;
• Monitoring file results and contributing to a healthy departmental margin.

What do you bring?

• A completed MBO or HBO qualification in logistics, transport or international trade.
• Experience in ocean freight, freight forwarding or transport planning is an advantage.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills;
• Good command of Dutch and English, both spoken and written;
• Ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers;
• Knowledge of customs clearance processes and documentation;
• Ability to resolve customer issues and complaints efficiently;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, etc.);
• Familiarity with CargoWise is an advantage;
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

What do we offer?

• A responsible position with a high degree of independence;
• A market-based salary, negotiable and based on experience;
• An easily accessible location at Waalhaven with parking facilities;
• A 13th-month payment;
• 28 days of annual leave;
• Non-contributory pension;
• A new and modern office overlooking the port;
• Plenty of opportunities for your development;
• Working in a small, friendly team (approx. 10 people) where everyone knows each other.

Who are we?

• Uniserve Netherlands is the Dutch branch of GB Global, one of the largest logistics service providers in the United Kingdom. With offices in Hoofddorp and Rotterdam and our own warehouse, we offer a complete range of logistics services, ranging from ocean and air freight to e-commerce logistics. Within our growing organisation, collaboration, customer focus and a pleasant working environment are central, with our teams in Rotterdam making a difference for customers worldwide every day.
• Four core values are central to everything we do: operational excellence, customer satisfaction, employee engagement and innovation. We believe in a good balance between working hard and having fun. We encourage a positive, open working environment with room for initiative, enjoyment and development. We expect a proactive attitude from all our colleagues: contributing ideas, looking ahead and working together to achieve the best results.