United Kingdom · International business · Lead (8-12 years)

Export/Import Manager

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, 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.

Start my Export/Import Manager plan, free

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

Keep this job description

Where should we send it?

One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

Upskilling a team in this role? Talk to us

Experience bandLead (8-12 years)
Direct reports3-5 reports
Reports toSenior Manager, Global Trade
UK framework levelUsually a manager, or the deepest specialist in a team

Also advertised as Trade Compliance Lead · Global Logistics Operations Manager · Customs and Trade Manager

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. OTHM Qualifications · Level 5 · covers 1 of 12 standards

AIM Qualifications Entry 3 Certificate in Skills for Working in Transport and Logistics Industries AIM Qualifications · Entry Level · covers 1 of 12 standards

City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Logistics Operations City & Guilds Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 12 standards

Highfield Level 3 Diploma In Driving Goods Vehicles (RQF) Highfield Qualifications · Level 3 · covers 1 of 12 standards

Open Awards Level 2 Certificate in International Supply Chain Logistics Open Awards · Level 2 · covers 2 of 12 standards

Open Awards Level 2 Diploma in International Supply Chain Logistics (RQF) Open Awards · Level 2 · covers 2 of 12 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Contract and Financial Management OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

Introduction to Importing and Exporting AIM Qualifications Entry 3 Certificate in Skills for Working in Transport and Logistics Industries

International road transport operations City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Logistics Operations

Organise the preparation of documentation for the transportation of goods Highfield Level 3 Diploma In Driving Goods Vehicles (RQF)

Introduction to Exporting within Supply Chain Logistics Open Awards Level 2 Certificate in International Supply Chain Logistics

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner

Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision

AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly

Frontier Fluency the next wave, beyond mainstream AI

Foresight Fluency seeing round the corner

Start my Export/Import Manager plan, free

Your Plan Illustration

Built for Export/Import Manager

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

Contract and Financial Management OTHM Qualifications · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 5
Introduction to Importing and Exporting AIM Qualifications · covers 1 of 12 standards Entry Level
International road transport operations City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 12 standards Level 3
Organise the preparation of documentation for the transportation of goods Highfield Qualifications · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 3
Introduction to Exporting within Supply Chain Logistics Open Awards · covers 2 of 12 standards Level 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.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as an Export/Import Manager?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

AI-Driven Trade Optimisation & Scenario Planning
Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability & Compliance

Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluencyworking with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluencyturning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluencyusing AI responsibly
Frontier Fluencythe next wave, beyond mainstream AI
Foresight Fluencyseeing round the corner

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

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Export/Import Manager plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Start my Export/Import Manager plan, free Ready to pay? Subscribe for £70 a month

3What this role really is

An export/import manager makes sure goods move across borders on time, legally, and without unexpected costs.

4What you'd actually use

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

Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN) / E2open Advanced

Configuring workflows, managing user permissions, building custom reports for tracking shipments and compliance, and auditing system data for accuracy. You'll also be training junior staff on its use.

SAP S/4HANA (GTS module) / Oracle NetSuite Expert

Troubleshooting ERP-GTM integration issues, defining requirements for system enhancements with IT, auditing master data integrity (HTS codes, country of origin), and leading data cleansing projects. You're the go-to person for trade data in the ERP.

Flexport / Kuehne+Nagel myKN / Expeditors.com (or similar forwarder portals) Advanced

Managing carrier allocations and performance scorecards within these portals. You'll analyse lane data to negotiate rates, optimise our carrier mix, and ensure service levels are met.

Power BI / Tableau Advanced

Connecting to various data sources (GTM, ERP, forwarder portals) to build and maintain dashboards for tracking landed costs, carrier performance, customs clearance times, and compliance metrics. You'll turn raw data into actionable insights for leadership.

Descartes Visual Compliance / WCO Trade Tools / Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE Expert

Using these research platforms to interpret complex regulations, classify difficult products, perform advanced denied party screening, and ensure our compliance policies are robust. You're the expert on how to use these tools to mitigate risk.

Microsoft Excel (Advanced) Expert

For ad-hoc analysis, complex calculations, and data manipulation when other tools aren't flexible enough. Think advanced pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, INDEX/MATCH, and basic macros. Yes, we still use Excel; it's essential for quick, dirty analysis.

5What 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 choice	Coming in	Where you are now	The step above
Freight Forwarder / Broker Selection & Contract Negotiation	Researches options, provides data for manager's review. No authority to commit.	Recommends preferred partners, may negotiate terms within pre-approved limits. Manager approves final contract.	Negotiates and recommends contracts up to £50K. Consults Director on strategic partners or higher value contracts.
Customs Classification (HS/ECCN)	Classifies routine products using established guides. Escalates complex items to a senior specialist.	Independently classifies most products. May provide guidance to juniors. Escalates highly ambiguous items.	Owns classification for a product line or region. Makes final technical classification decisions. Consults legal on high-risk items.
Responding to Customs Inquiries / Audits	Gathers requested documents, provides to manager. Does not communicate directly with authorities.	Prepares initial responses, drafts communication for manager's review. May participate in calls with manager present.	Manages routine inquiries, drafts and submits responses. Consults Director on complex or high-risk audits.
Team Member Hiring & Performance Management	No direct reports. No involvement in hiring beyond perhaps an informational interview.	No direct reports. May provide informal feedback on junior colleagues.	No direct reports, but mentors junior staff. Provides input on performance reviews for mentees.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Customs Delay Reduction

The average time our shipments spend held up in customs or at ports due to documentation issues or inspections.

Target · Reduce average delay time by 15% year-on-year for your assigned business unit.

If our average customs hold time was 3 days last year, we'd expect to see it closer to 2.55 days this year. You'd track this by reviewing clearance reports from our brokers.

Landed Cost Accuracy

How close our initial estimates for the total cost of a product (including freight, duties, insurance, etc.) are to the actual, final costs.

Target · Ensure initial landed cost estimates are within 5% of final audited costs for 90% of shipments.

You estimated a £100,000 landed cost for a batch of components. If the final cost came in at £103,000, that's a 3% variance – well within target. Anything over £105,000 would be a flag.

Broker/Forwarder Performance

How well our key logistics partners (freight forwarders and customs brokers) are meeting their agreed-upon service levels and KPIs.

Target · Maintain >95% KPI achievement across key performance indicators (e.g., on-time document submission, invoice accuracy, transit time adherence) for primary partners.

Our customs broker submitted 96 out of 100 customs entries on time and with zero errors last quarter. That's a 96% achievement, hitting the target.

Duty & Tax Optimisation Savings

Actual cost savings achieved through strategic duty management, such as duty drawback programmes, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) utilisation, or tariff engineering.

Target · Identify and realise £100,000 - £200,000 in annual duty and tax savings.

By implementing a new duty drawback process for re-exported goods, you recover £150,000 in previously paid duties over the year. That's a direct saving.

Proactive Risk Mitigation

Your ability to identify potential supply chain disruptions or compliance risks before they become major problems, and to put solid plans in place.

You're regularly presenting contingency plans for potential port strikes or new regulations. We see you identifying alternative routes or suppliers before a crisis hits. You're not just reacting
you're thinking three steps ahead, and your plans actually work when tested.

Stakeholder Communication & Influence

How effectively you communicate complex trade issues to non-experts (like Sales or Finance) and how well you get them on board with necessary changes or processes.

Business unit leads consistently praise the clarity and timeliness of your updates during disruptions. They actually listen to your advice on shipping terms or documentation. You can explain why an HS code matters to someone who only cares about the product's colour, and they get it.

Team Development & Mentorship

Your success in developing and guiding your direct reports, helping them grow their skills and take on more responsibility.

Your team members are visibly growing, asking more insightful questions, and taking initiative on complex tasks. We'll see them successfully handling issues that used to require your direct intervention. They'll tell us you're a great manager, frankly.

Compliance Programme Strength

The robustness and effectiveness of the trade compliance processes and controls you oversee.

Internal audit results consistently show high compliance rates and few findings. There are clear, up-to-date SOPs for all key trade activities. When external auditors come knocking, your documentation is impeccable and there are no nasty surprises. We're not just compliant
we're demonstrably so.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy

Solving Complex Puzzles

You genuinely enjoy untangling complex shipping issues, figuring out why a shipment is stuck, or finding the optimal route through a geopolitical crisis. The more variables, the better. You get a real kick out of seeing a solution come together.

A critical component is stuck at a congested port with no clear ETA. You'll be the one researching alternative ports, checking rail connections, and calling every contact you have to find a way to get it moving, rather than just waiting for an update.

Being the Guardian of Compliance

You feel a deep, almost personal responsibility to keep the company out of trouble with customs authorities. The idea of fines or penalties genuinely bothers you, and you're driven to build bulletproof processes to prevent them. You're the company's shield.

You'll spend extra hours researching a new regulation, not because you have to, but because you want to be absolutely certain we're compliant, and you'll proactively update SOPs and train your team on it.

Optimising and Finding Savings

You get genuine satisfaction from finding ways to save the company money on duties, taxes, or freight costs. You're always looking for efficiencies, whether it's through a new Incoterm, a Free Trade Agreement, or negotiating better rates. You see every pound saved as a win.

You're constantly reviewing our product classifications, identifying opportunities for duty drawback, or challenging carrier invoices, often unearthing significant savings that others missed.

What frustrates people

The 'Where's my stuff?' Fire Drill: Constantly being treated like a human tracking number by Sales, Marketing, and Manufacturing, who just don't grasp the complexities of global transit times. You're the one getting the urgent calls, even if the delay is a typhoon.
Chasing Paperwork: Begging the engineering team for product specs to determine an HS code, or hounding a supplier for a commercial invoice that was due three days ago. You are 100% dependent on others for the documents you are 100% responsible for.
The Black Box of Freight Rates: Trying to explain to Finance why a container from Shanghai to LA cost £3,000 last month and £12,000 this month. You are at the mercy of market volatility that you cannot control but must explain.
The Last-Minute Change: A salesperson changes an order from sea freight to air freight on a Friday afternoon, expecting you to perform miracles to get it on a weekend flight without understanding the cost or documentation implications. And yes, they'll expect you to say 'yes'.
Inheriting Past Sins: Discovering during a customs audit that your predecessor misclassified a key product for five years, exposing the company to millions in back-duties and penalties. You'll be the one cleaning up the mess.
The Scapegoat Syndrome: When a production line shuts down due to a delayed component, everyone looks at you, even if the delay was caused by a port strike, a natural disaster, or a supplier who shipped late. You're often the first to blame, regardless of control.

What this role does not give you

A quiet, predictable 9-to-5: Urgent issues often pop up outside normal hours, especially with global time zones.
Complete control over outcomes: You're highly dependent on external partners and unpredictable global events.
Constant praise for preventing problems: When things run smoothly, it's often taken for granted, not celebrated.
A static, unchanging set of rules: Regulations are always evolving, so you'll need to keep learning.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts our ability to deliver products to global markets, influences our landed costs, and is absolutely critical for maintaining our regulatory compliance standing. Get it right, and we save millions and keep our reputation solid. Get it wrong, and we face significant financial penalties, operational delays, and potential damage to our brand.

Inside the business

Business Unit Leads (Sales, Operations, Finance)
Legal & Compliance Teams
Procurement & Supply Chain Planning

Outside the business

Customs Authorities (HMRC, CBP, EU Customs)
Freight Forwarders & Carriers (e.g., DHL, Maersk, Flexport)
Customs Brokers
Suppliers & Customers (for documentation)

9What you need before you start

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

Roughly 8-12 years of hands-on experience in international trade, with at least 3-5 years in a senior or lead capacity, managing complex import/export programmes.
Demonstrable experience leading and mentoring a small team of trade specialists or coordinators.
A proven track record of reducing landed costs and ensuring trade compliance, with examples of specific projects or initiatives.
Experience managing relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and directly with customs authorities.
Strong analytical skills, including advanced Excel and experience building dashboards in Power BI or Tableau.
The ability to translate complex regulations into clear, actionable advice for non-experts.

10What to practise next

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

GTM & ERP System Integration Mastery

As our business grows and becomes more complex, the seamless flow of data between our Global Trade Management (GTM) platform and our ERP system becomes absolutely critical. You'll need to move beyond troubleshooting to designing and optimising these integrations to prevent data silos and ensure real-time compliance.

API Management & Data Orchestration · Master Data Governance · System Audit & Validation

This month: Deep dive into the technical documentation for our GTM and ERP systems' integration points. Understand the data mapping.
Month 2: Work closely with our IT team on any upcoming system enhancements or integration projects, offering your trade expertise.
Month 3-4: Propose and lead a project to clean up a critical piece of trade-related master data in our ERP.
Month 5-6: Take an advanced course on ERP or GTM configuration, focusing on integration best practices.

Quick win: Document a clear data flow diagram for a key import/export process, showing exactly how data moves between our core systems. You'll likely spot inefficiencies immediately.

Advanced Data Storytelling & Visualisation

It's not enough to just build dashboards; you need to tell a compelling story with data. As you move into more strategic roles, you'll need to present complex trade insights to senior leadership and even the board. This means making data accessible, impactful, and actionable.

Dashboard Design Principles · Narrative Building with Data · Executive-Level Reporting

This month: Review our existing trade dashboards. Identify 3-5 ways they could be improved for clarity or impact.
Month 2: Take an online course on advanced Power BI/Tableau techniques, focusing on storytelling and executive reporting.
Month 3-4: Volunteer to present a complex trade analysis to a cross-functional team, explicitly seeking feedback on your data storytelling.
Month 5-6: Redesign a key quarterly report, transforming it from a data dump into a compelling narrative with clear recommendations.

Quick win: When you present data, always start with the 'so what?' question. What's the single most important takeaway? Build your visualisation around that.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up

Regularly attend industry webinars, conferences (e.g., Multimodal, IOE&IT events), and trade association meetings to stay abreast of regulatory changes and best practices.
Subscribe to key trade publications and government customs updates (e.g., HMRC notices, World Customs Organisation newsletters).
Actively participate in professional networks and forums dedicated to international trade and logistics. Learning from peers is invaluable.
Seek out opportunities to cross-train in other areas of the supply chain (e.g., procurement, warehousing) to broaden your perspective.
Consider taking courses in data analytics or business intelligence if you don't already have advanced skills in these areas – they're becoming non-negotiable.

12The rising capability

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.

AI-Driven Trade Optimisation & Scenario Planning

Beyond just using AI for basic tasks, the real game-changer is using it to proactively identify new duty savings opportunities, predict disruptions with greater accuracy, and model complex 'what-if' scenarios. Competitors are already exploring this, and we need to be there too.

Predictive Analytics for Supply Chain Risk
Generative AI for Policy & Strategy Drafting
Optimisation Algorithms for Network Design
Automated FTA Eligibility & Documentation

Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability & Compliance

While still maturing, blockchain offers the promise of immutable, transparent records for product origin, movement, and compliance. This could revolutionise how we verify ethical sourcing, combat counterfeiting, and streamline customs processes, especially as regulators start exploring its use.

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)
Smart Contracts in Logistics
Digital Identity for Trade Participants
Traceability for ESG & Compliance

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

Harmonized System (HS/HTS) & ECCN Classification
Incoterms® 2020 Application
Landed Cost Calculation & Optimisation
Customs Valuation & Transfer Pricing
Supply Chain Risk Management & Mitigation
Trade Finance Instruments (L/C, SBLC, Documentary Collections)

14The pathway

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
Senior Trade Compliance Specialist (Internal L3)
3-5 years in previous role
Skills to master
- Deep expertise in specific trade compliance areas (e.g., HS classification for a product line, duty drawback), leading complex projects, mentoring junior staff, and managing relationships with key external partners.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the go-to expert for a specific region or product category.
- You've successfully led projects that resulted in significant cost savings or compliance improvements.
- You're regularly asked to mentor or train new team members.
- You've demonstrated an ability to manage external partner relationships effectively and independently.
2
Export/Import Manager (from a smaller company)
5-8 years of overall experience, with 2-3 years in a managerial role
Skills to master
- Adapting to a larger, more complex organisational structure, managing a bigger budget, and leading a larger team (even if it's just 3-5 people). You'll need to scale your existing management skills.
You're ready to move on when
- You've already managed an entire import/export function, even if it was for a smaller scale.
- You're comfortable with full P&L accountability for your area (even if it's a small P&L).
- You've successfully built and maintained relationships with multiple freight forwarders and customs brokers.
- You're eager to take on more complex regulatory environments and a larger operational footprint.
3
Customs Brokerage or Freight Forwarding Operations Lead
8-10 years in the industry, with 2-3 years in a lead role
Skills to master
- Transitioning from a service provider mindset to an importer/exporter mindset. You'll need to learn our internal business processes, product specifics, and how to manage internal stakeholders rather than external clients.
You're ready to move on when
- You have extensive hands-on experience with customs declarations, regulations, and managing large volumes of shipments.
- You've led a team of operations specialists and are adept at problem-solving under pressure.
- You understand the intricacies of carrier and customs broker operations from the inside.
- You're keen to apply your operational expertise to an in-house role, focusing on one company's unique challenges.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to positions such as director of global trade compliance or VP of global logistics and trade, overseeing trade strategy and risk across a wider supply chain.

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 Manager is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Contract and Financial Management, worked against Export/Import Manager.

Contract and Financial Management Level 5

Applied to your work in Export/Import Manager

This unit aims to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of contract and financial management within the logistics sector. Learners will explore the principles of contract management, the processes involved in managing contracts effectively, and the fundamentals of financial management in logistics operations. Furthermore, learners will understand how finances are managed within a logistics organisation, including budgeting and cost control.

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.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

Start my Export/Import Manager plan, free

See Your Progress Grow Illustration

Export/Import Manager

Harmonized System (HS/HTS) & ECCN Classification
Incoterms® 2020 Application
Landed Cost Calculation & Optimisation
Customs Valuation & Transfer Pricing
Supply Chain Risk Management & Mitigation
Trade Finance Instruments (L/C, SBLC, Documentary Collections)

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.

16The 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 Manager is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

Senior Manager, Global Trade (Internal L5)
3-5 years in the Export/Import Manager role

This is a significant step up, moving from managing processes and a small team to directing an entire function, managing managers, and setting broader trade compliance policy across the organisation.
- Global trade policy development Crafting and implementing enterprise-wide trade compliance policies.
- Strategic vendor management Managing relationships with global GTM software providers and large-scale freight contracts.
- Advanced trade risk modelling Developing sophisticated models to assess and mitigate enterprise-level trade risks.
- M&A due diligence (trade aspects) Assessing trade compliance risks and opportunities during mergers and acquisitions.
Head of Logistics Operations (Internal L5/L6)
4-6 years in the Export/Import Manager role

This path broadens your scope beyond just trade compliance to encompass the entire physical movement and storage of goods, including warehousing, domestic transport, and inventory management.
- Warehouse management system (WMS) expertise.
- Transport management system (TMS) implementation and optimisation.
- Demand forecasting and supply planning integration with logistics.
- Cold chain logistics (if relevant to our products) and specialised handling requirements.

Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, a lot of your day is spent on repetitive tasks, digging through documents, or trying to predict the unpredictable. What if you could offload a significant chunk of that to smart AI tools? We're not talking about replacing you; we're talking about giving you superpowers.

Imagine spending less time on manual classification, chasing regulatory updates, or drafting routine emails. Our AI Productivity Hub is designed to free you up from the mundane, so you can focus on the high-impact strategic work that truly matters – like optimising our global network or building bulletproof compliance programmes. This isn't future-gazing; these tools are available now and ready to make your life easier.

Automated HS Classification

Use an AI tool, trained on our product catalogue and previous customs rulings, to suggest and validate HS codes for new products. It'll flag ambiguous items for your expert review, cutting down hours of manual research time.

Predictive Disruption Alerts

Leverage AI that analyses weather patterns, port labour sentiment, and geopolitical data to predict potential port congestion or closures 2-3 weeks in advance. This means you can proactively reroute shipments, avoiding weeks of reactive fire-fighting.

Regulatory Change Summariser

Deploy an AI agent to continuously monitor customs agency websites and trade publications globally. It'll provide a daily or weekly digest of proposed rule changes that specifically impact our trade lanes and products, saving you hours of dense reading.

Smart Communication Drafter

Use AI to generate standardised, multi-lingual emails for common scenarios. Think requesting missing documents from suppliers, providing shipping instructions to forwarders, or giving consistent status updates to internal stakeholders. It cleans up your inbox and ensures consistent messaging.

Common questions

How do you become an Export/Import Manager?

Common routes in include Senior Trade Compliance Specialist (Internal L3) (3-5 years in previous role), Export/Import Manager (from a smaller company) (5-8 years of overall experience, with 2-3 years in a managerial role) and Customs Brokerage or Freight Forwarding Operations Lead (8-10 years in the industry, with 2-3 years in a lead role). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can an Export/Import Manager progress to?

This role can lead on to Senior Manager, Global Trade (3-5 years in the Export/Import Manager role) and Head of Logistics Operations (4-6 years in the Export/Import Manager role), depending on the skills you build.

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

Increasingly, AI-Driven Trade Optimisation & Scenario Planning and Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability & Compliance. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

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. Start my Export/Import Manager plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. 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.

Export/Import Manager

Where should we send it?

Two short quizzes about you

Will AI change your work as an Export/Import Manager?

What's rising in its place

AI-Driven Trade Optimisation & Scenario Planning

Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability & Compliance

Skills this role draws on

Technical

How you actually get there, here

Senior Trade Compliance Specialist (Internal L3)