UK

United Kingdom · International Business Global · Entry Level (0-2 years)

Export/Import Coordinator

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, a real day, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

  • Experience bandEntry Level (0-2 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toExport/Import Specialist
  • UK framework levelUsually someone starting out, or keeping a process running

Also advertised as Junior Logistics Administrator · Shipping Assistant · Trade Operations Support

Built on an analysis of 43,079 real UK job descriptions · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

Start with a free Future Fluency check, tuned to Export/Import Coordinator

Ten quick questions, one per Future Fluency, asked against this role rather than a generic one. About five minutes, and no card.

Start the check, free

1What this role really is

This isn't a job where you're making big strategic calls; it's about getting the basics right, every single time. You'll be the person making sure the paperwork is spot on, the data is entered correctly, and shipments are tracked from A to B. Think of it as the engine room of our global trade efforts. You're learning the ropes, building the foundational knowledge that keeps everything moving.

2What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

ERP / Global Trade Management (e.g., SAP GTS, Oracle NetSuite)Basic

Entering shipment details, pulling standard reports, tracking orders, and updating statuses. It's mostly about accurate data input.

Customs & Compliance Platforms (e.g., E2open, Descartes)Basic

Using established templates to process customs filings and run basic denied party screenings. You'll be guided on what buttons to press.

Freight Forwarder Portals (e.g., Flexport, myKN)Basic

Booking routine shipments, retrieving quotes, and tracking container status. It's about navigating the portal to get the info you need.

Microsoft ExcelIntermediate

Using VLOOKUPs, PivotTables, and basic formulas to organise shipping data, track costs, and create simple reports. You should be comfortable with spreadsheets.

Microsoft Teams / Slack / EmailIntermediate

Responding to requests, providing status updates, and coordinating with internal and external teams. Clear, concise communication is key here.

3What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing inWhere you are nowThe step above
Product Classification (HS Code)Research and propose codes, always with supervisor review and final approval. Escalate any ambiguity.Independently classify routine products, consult supervisor on complex or new items. Final approval by L3/L4.Independently classify all products, defend choices during audits. Approve classifications for L1/L2. Consult L5 on strategic implications.
Shipment Routing/Carrier SelectionFollow established routing guides and use pre-approved carriers. Escalate any deviation requests.Select carriers based on cost/service criteria within established lanes. Propose new options for review.Optimise routing for specific lanes, negotiate rates for smaller shipments. Recommend strategic carrier changes to L5.
Addressing Shipment DelaysIdentify delay, notify supervisor immediately with all available information. Do not contact external parties without guidance.Investigate cause, propose solutions (e.g., alternative transport), communicate to internal stakeholders, and escalate to supervisor for approval on major changes.Lead resolution, negotiate with carriers/brokers for expedited release, communicate impact to all stakeholders, and implement preventative measures.
Customs Documentation ErrorsIdentify error, correct under supervision, inform supervisor. Do not submit revised documents without sign-off.Identify, correct, and submit revised documents for minor errors within guidelines. Escalate major errors or those with financial impact.Manage all error corrections, including post-entry amendments. Conduct root cause analysis and implement training to prevent recurrence.

4How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, honestly: the hard targets, how often each one is actually looked at, and the quiet human signals that never make it onto a dashboard.

Documentation Accuracy
The percentage of customs and shipping documents you prepare that are error-free.
Target · >99.5% error-free

If you prepare 200 documents in a month, we'd expect no more than one error. An error might be a wrong HTS code or an incorrect weight.

On-Time Filing Rate
How often you submit mandatory pre-arrival filings (like ISF for US-bound cargo) before the strict deadlines.
Target · 100% of filings submitted on time

Missing an ISF filing deadline can mean a £5,000 fine per incident. We need you to hit every single one.

Data Entry Speed & Accuracy
The number of shipments you process and the error rate for data entered into our ERP or customs platforms.
Target · Process 20+ shipments per day with <1% error rate

Entering 25 shipments in a day, with no more than one minor typo across all entries. This is about getting faster without sacrificing quality.

Response Time to Internal Queries
How quickly you respond to requests for information or status updates from internal teams like Sales or Warehouse.
Target · Respond to 90% of queries within 4 hours

Sales needs an ETA for a critical order. You check the tracking and get back to them within an hour, even if it's just to say 'I'm checking, I'll update you by lunch'.

Adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
How consistently you follow our established processes for preparing documents, tracking shipments, and communicating updates.
  • Your supervisor will notice if you're consistently using the correct templates, following the checklist for each shipment type, and not skipping steps. We'll see fewer questions from you about 'how to do X' once you've been shown.
Proactive Issue Identification (and escalation)
Your ability to spot potential problems early – maybe a missing document from a supplier or a tracking update that looks off – and bring it to your supervisor's attention.
  • You'll say things like, 'I noticed the supplier hasn't sent the packing list yet, and the vessel sails tomorrow,' or 'The tracking shows this container hasn't moved in three days, should I flag it?' It's about not just doing the task, but thinking about what could go wrong.
Team Support & Collaboration
How well you work with your immediate team, helping out when needed and learning from others.
  • You're asking good questions, offering to help with basic tasks if someone's swamped, and generally being a reliable and positive presence. We'll hear feedback from your peers that you're easy to work with and keen to learn.
Learning & Development Engagement
Your commitment to understanding the complex world of international trade and actively seeking to improve your knowledge.
  • You're asking 'why' things are done a certain way, completing any assigned training modules, and maybe even reading up on Incoterms in your own time. You're showing genuine curiosity about the nuances of the job.

5Would you like it

The honest version. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Learning & Growth

You'll be asking lots of questions, taking notes, and actively trying to understand the 'why' behind each task. You're keen to absorb all the knowledge the team can give you.

After processing a few shipments, you'll ask your supervisor, 'Can you explain why we use Incoterm X for this region, but Incoterm Y for that one?'

Structure & Clear Processes

You'll thrive on having clear instructions and established procedures. You'll feel comfortable knowing exactly what steps to follow for each type of shipment.

You'll appreciate having a detailed checklist for customs documentation and will stick to it rigorously, finding comfort in the routine.

Contributing to a Tangible Outcome

You'll get a real kick out of seeing a shipment you've worked on successfully delivered. You'll feel a sense of accomplishment when you've accurately prepared all the documents for a complex order.

You'll track a container from port to final delivery, feeling satisfied knowing your accurate paperwork helped it get there without a hitch.

What frustrates people
  • Chasing the same person for the same document multiple times.
  • Dealing with vague or incomplete information from suppliers or internal teams.
  • When a shipment gets stuck for reasons completely out of your control, despite your perfect paperwork.
  • The sheer volume of paperwork and the need for meticulous detail on every single piece.
  • Being asked to 'just quickly' process something that actually takes a complex series of steps.
What this role does not give you
  • Immediate decision-making authority on significant matters.
  • A fast track to strategic planning or high-level negotiations.
  • A role where you're constantly innovating new processes from scratch (you'll be following them, mostly).
  • A job where you can make significant errors without consequence.

6Who you work with

Your accuracy and timely processing directly prevent delays and unexpected costs. Get it right, and goods flow smoothly. Get it wrong, and we're looking at missed customer deadlines, storage fees at the port, and potential fines from customs. You're safeguarding our reputation and our bottom line, even at this early stage.

Inside the business
  • Warehouse Operations (getting goods ready)
  • Sales Team (delivery expectations)
  • Finance Team (invoice accuracy, duty payments)
  • Product Team (product descriptions for customs)
Outside the business
  • Freight Forwarders (who move our stuff)
  • Customs Brokers (who clear our goods)
  • Shipping Lines/Airlines (the actual transport)
  • Suppliers (getting their documentation)

7What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • A strong desire to learn about international trade and logistics.
  • Excellent attention to detail – we can't stress this enough.
  • Good organisational skills, even if it's just keeping your own work tidy.
  • Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word).
  • The ability to communicate clearly, both in writing and verbally.
  • A 'can-do' attitude and a willingness to ask questions when you're unsure.

8What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced ERP/GTM System Reporting

You'll move beyond just pulling standard reports. You'll start to understand how to customise reports to answer specific questions, like 'How many shipments went to Germany last quarter?' or 'What was the average duty paid on product X?'

Report Customisation · Data Filtering & Sorting · Basic Data Export & Manipulation

  • This week: Ask your supervisor to show you how they pull a specific report and try to replicate it.
  • This month: Experiment with different filters and sorting options in your ERP system's reporting module.
  • Month 2: Try to answer a simple business question (e.g., 'Which forwarder did we use most for air freight last month?') using only ERP data.
  • Month 3: Document a simple, useful custom report you've built and share it with your team.

Quick win: Identify one report you use regularly and see if you can add a new filter or column that makes it more useful for you.

9Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Completing internal training modules on Incoterms, HS classification, and customs procedures.
  • Shadowing more experienced team members to understand the end-to-end shipment process.
  • Attending webinars or online courses on global trade basics (e.g., from the IOE&IT).
  • Reading industry news and publications to stay informed about changes in global trade regulations.

10How the AI economy is changing work like this

Before we ask anything of you, here's what we can already say about AI and work of this kind:

The new skill this role is being asked for: Prompt Engineering & AI Tool Navigation

AI tools are getting better at helping with document review, drafting communications, and even suggesting classifications. Knowing how to ask these tools the right questions ('prompt engineering') will make you significantly more efficient.

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

Your PlanIllustration

Built for Export/Import Coordinator

3 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Exporting Goods within Supply Chain LogisticsOpen Awards · covers 4 of 10 standardsLevel 3
  2. Import or Export Products or ServicesSFEDI Enterprises Ltd. T/A SFEDI Awards · covers 2 of 10 standardsLevel 3
  3. Introduction to Exporting within Supply Chain LogisticsOpen Awards · covers 2 of 10 standardsLevel 2
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Prompt Engineering & AI Tool Navigation

AI tools are getting better at helping with document review, drafting communications, and even suggesting classifications. Knowing how to ask these tools the right questions ('prompt engineering') will make you significantly more efficient.

  • Clear & Concise Prompting
  • Output Validation
  • Contextual Input

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Basic Incoterms® Understanding
  • Harmonized System (HS) Classification Fundamentals
  • Landed Cost Awareness
  • Trade Compliance Basics
  • Documentary Credit Familiarity

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Office Administrator / Support Role

    1-2 years

    Skills to master

    • Organisational skills, attention to detail, basic computer proficiency, clear communication, managing multiple tasks.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently accurate data entry and document management.
    • Reliable in meeting deadlines for administrative tasks.
    • Proactive in asking questions and seeking to understand processes.
    • Positive feedback from colleagues on teamwork and support.
  2. 2

    Warehouse / Logistics Assistant

    1-2 years

    Skills to master

    • Understanding of inventory, shipping processes, physical movement of goods, documentation associated with dispatch/receipt.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Strong understanding of the physical flow of goods and associated paperwork.
    • Ability to identify discrepancies in shipments or documentation.
    • Good grasp of health and safety regulations in a logistics environment.
    • Demonstrated reliability and efficiency in logistics operations.
  3. 3

    Customer Service Representative

    1-2 years

    Skills to master

    • Problem-solving, communication (written and verbal), managing customer expectations, data entry, attention to detail in order processing.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Excellent communication skills, especially in handling queries and issues.
    • Ability to de-escalate situations and find practical solutions for customers.
    • Strong organisational skills in managing customer records and follow-ups.
    • Proven ability to learn and apply complex product or service information.

11Where this role leads

The long view:Starting as an Export/Import Coordinator is a fantastic way to get your foot in the door of international business. It's a challenging but incredibly rewarding field, and we're committed to helping you build a long and successful career here at Zavmo. Your journey starts with getting the basics right, every single time.

Pay & demand

Pay and demand for this role will appear here, each figure traced to a named authoritative source (e.g. the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, under the Open Government Licence). We don’t show numbers we can’t attribute.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Export/Import Coordinator is actually changing. In about two minutes, the free confidence check asks where you stand on each of the ten. That's the whole check, and it's what makes the plan yours rather than generic.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

12The team that's yours

No two people are taught the same way. This is one-to-one, not one-to-many.

Zavmo is a hyper-personalised AI learning platform. Twelve virtual tutors, each with a different way of teaching, and one orchestration agent that picks the right one for the moment. So every single lesson is shaped around you, your role, and the way you learn. Not a course everyone sits through. A conversation built for you, and no one else.

…and nine more, matched to you after your first chat. Meet all twelve

Start free and meet yours

13What it feels like

A conversation, not a course

Because your tutor knows your role, your projects and your last session, learning sounds like this. And it's different for every single person:

Exporting Goods within Supply Chain LogisticsLevel 3

Applied to your work in Export/Import Coordinator

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to understand the processes and regulations involved in exporting goods within supply chain logistics. Learners will identify commonly exported goods, understand the associated regulations and requirements, explain the role of Customs authorities, describe customs clearance processes, and understand how to calculate duty on exported goods.

How the thinking builds
  1. Remember
  2. Understand
  3. Apply
  4. Analyse
  5. Evaluate
  6. Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

One to one, not one to many

No two people run this the same way

A course is written once and handed to everyone. This is assembled around you, and keeps changing as it learns you. Five things it reads, and what each one changes.

  1. Your actual work Every lesson is taught against a live piece of your own work, not a worked example from a textbook.
  2. What you already know The first conversation finds your starting point, so you skip what you can already do and spend the time on what you cannot.
  3. The conditions you learn under Not a learning-styles quiz. The evidence does not support those. The dimensions the research does back, read once and used to shape the plan.
  4. How far you got last time It picks up mid-thought. The tutor knows what you said, what you struggled with, and what it asked you to try.
  5. Which tutor suits the moment Twelve of them, each for a different kind of thinking. The one who walks you through a first idea is not the one who stress-tests it.

See how you learn, free. Eight questions, no sign-up. A directional taster; the diagnostic inside Zavmo goes deeper and keeps adapting.

DemonstrateIllustration

Evidenced on your work in Export/Import Coordinator

You do not finish by watching something. You finish by showing it on the work you already do, against the measures this job is judged on.

  • Documentation AccuracyThe percentage of customs and shipping documents you prepare that are error-free.If you prepare 200 documents in a month, we'd expect no more than one error. An error might be a wrong HTS code or an incorrect weight.>99.5% error-free
  • On-Time Filing RateHow often you submit mandatory pre-arrival filings (like ISF for US-bound cargo) before the strict deadlines.Missing an ISF filing deadline can mean a £5,000 fine per incident. We need you to hit every single one.100% of filings submitted on time
  • Data Entry Speed & AccuracyThe number of shipments you process and the error rate for data entered into our ERP or customs platforms.Entering 25 shipments in a day, with no more than one minor typo across all entries. This is about getting faster without sacrificing quality.Process 20+ shipments per day with <1% error rate
  • Response Time to Internal QueriesHow quickly you respond to requests for information or status updates from internal teams like Sales or Warehouse.Sales needs an ETA for a critical order. You check the tracking and get back to them within an hour, even if it's just to say 'I'm checking, I'll update you by lunch'.Respond to 90% of queries within 4 hours
These are this job's own measures, with its own targets. Nothing is marked evidenced, because nobody has started this yet. Yours would fill in from the work you bring.

Your passport

This isn't a certificate you file away. It's a passport to the life you're designing.

Every credit you earn and every fluency you build adds up: evidence where it counts, carried with you. Zavmo keeps the map: where you are, where you're heading, and the next step, at your pace, around your life. From Export/Import Coordinator to Export/Import Specialist (Level 002), and whatever you decide comes after.

Level 2 · in progressAI Fluency→ Export/Import Specialist (Level 002)→ your design
Where this takes you

Starting as an Export/Import Coordinator is a fantastic way to get your foot in the door of international business. It's a challenging but incredibly rewarding field, and we're committed to helping you build a long and successful career here at Zavmo. Your journey starts with getting the basics right, every single time.

See Your Progress GrowIllustration
Export/Import Coordinator
  • Basic Incoterms® Understanding
  • Harmonized System (HS) Classification Fundamentals
  • Landed Cost Awareness
  • Trade Compliance Basics
  • Documentary Credit Familiarity
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

14The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Export/Import Coordinator is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Export/Import Specialist (Level 002)

    2-3 years (from Coordinator)

    You'll move from executing tasks under supervision to independently owning the end-to-end lifecycle of routine shipments. You'll resolve common issues yourself and become the go-to person for specific lanes or product types.

    • Advanced Incoterms Application: Advising on Incoterm choices for routine shipments.
    • Complex HS Classification: Independently classifying a wider range of products.
    • Landed Cost Calculation: Performing basic landed cost calculations for quotes.
    • Trade Compliance Interpretation: Understanding and applying more complex regulations.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, a lot of this job involves repetitive tasks and digging through mountains of information. But what if you could cut down on the grunt work and focus on the interesting stuff? That's where AI comes in. We're not talking about robots taking over, but smart tools that help you get your job done faster and more accurately.

We're building an 'AI Productivity Hub' to give you access to the latest tools that can help with everything from drafting emails to checking documents. Think of it as having a super-efficient assistant that handles the boring bits, freeing you up to learn more, solve trickier problems, and really understand the trade compliance landscape.

Automated HTS Code Suggestion

Instead of manually sifting through product descriptions and classification rules, AI tools can scan engineering specs and suggest the most likely Harmonized System (HS) codes. You'll still review and confirm, but it cuts down the initial legwork significantly. It's like having a super-fast research assistant.

Intelligent Document Extraction & Verification

Imagine AI automatically pulling key data (like PO numbers, values, quantities) from supplier invoices and packing lists. It then cross-references this against our purchase orders, instantly flagging any discrepancies. No more manual data entry errors or endless cross-referencing.

AI-Assisted Email & Report Drafting

Need to send a status update to Sales or draft a quick report on a shipment delay? AI can help you get a solid first draft in minutes, ensuring clarity and accuracy. You'll just need to add the specific details and your personal touch. It's a huge time-saver for routine comms.

Smart Compliance Research

When you need to understand a new regulation or check a specific trade rule, AI can quickly summarise complex legal texts and pull out the most relevant information. It's like having a legal library at your fingertips, making learning about compliance much quicker.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become an Export/Import Coordinator?

Common routes in include Office Administrator / Support Role (1-2 years), Warehouse / Logistics Assistant (1-2 years) and Customer Service Representative (1-2 years). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can an Export/Import Coordinator progress to?

This role can lead on to Export/Import Specialist (Level 002) (2-3 years (from Coordinator)), depending on the skills you build.

What level is an Export/Import Coordinator in the UK?

This role aligns to RQF Level 2 on the UK framework, a guide to the depth of qualification it maps to, not a hard entry bar.

What new skills matter most for an Export/Import Coordinator?

Increasingly, Prompt Engineering & AI Tool Navigation. These are the areas where the higher-paid, future-proof work is heading.

The honest bit

You’ve started things before

Most of them were built for a room full of people who aren’t you. A cohort moves on whether or not your week allowed it, and by the third week the thing you’re behind on becomes the reason you stop opening it.

There’s no cohort here, and no timetable to fall behind. Before anything starts, Zavmo asks when you’re sharpest and how long you can realistically sit down for, then builds the sessions around those answers. A bad fortnight changes your pace. It doesn’t put you behind.

And you only pay once you start learning. Searching and planning are free, and you can cancel any time — so the cost of finding out is an afternoon, not a year.

What it costs

Less than one coaching session. Every month.

A single career-coaching hour costs more than a month of this, and it ends when the hour does. Zavmo doesn't. It's £70 a month, about £2.30 a day, for a companion that knows an Export/Import Coordinator, works on the job you actually do, and keeps going at your pace rather than a timetable's.

  • Searching and planning stay free. You only pay when you start learning.
  • Your credits are yours. Regulated, and they don't vanish when a subscription ends.
  • Cancel any time and billing stops. No notice period, no minimum term.

Your path, personalised

You have the map. Walking it is the part we do together.

This route runs to 10 national skill standards. That is a real journey.

Zavmo shapes a learning experience as unique as you are. It fits how you learn, your pace and the work you already do. Every step stays benchmarked to recognised national standards. That’s the plan for becoming an Export/Import Coordinator: personal to you, and it still counts. The first steps are free.

Independent research finds well-designed intelligent tutoring performs nearly as well as one-to-one human tutoring: VanLehn (2011), Educational Psychologist.

A private tutor in the UK averages £35–40 an hour . Zavmo is £70/month.

A real plan on learn.zavmo.ai: Ofqual-regulated units, credits, and a three-month run at your own pace.
Start free No commitment. See your first steps free.

15Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 2

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

Other roles in International Business Global

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills you'll gain here – understanding global supply chains, international regulations, and logistics – are highly transferable. You could move into broader supply chain roles, procurement, international sales support, or even specialise in trade compliance for a consulting firm or government agency. The world of global trade is vast.

Not sure this is the right direction?

Work out what you actually want from work first, then come back and see which roles fit it. Takes about ten minutes.

This role profile is © 2026Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Build my plan, free Here's the first ten minutes: a 2-minute confidence check → your personalised roadmap → meet the tutors matched to you. No card, cancel any time. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.