UK

United Kingdom · Operations · Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Import/Export Coordinator

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.

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  • Experience bandMid-Level (2-5 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toSenior Import/Export Coordinator
  • UK framework levelUsually a coordinator, or early in a professional job

Also advertised as Shipping Coordinator · Logistics Coordinator · Trade Compliance Specialist (Mid-Level) · Freight Operations Specialist

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

Open Awards Level 2 Certificate in International Supply Chain Logistics Open Awards · Level 2 · covers 2 of 10 standards
Open Awards Level 2 Diploma in International Supply Chain Logistics (RQF) Open Awards · Level 2 · covers 2 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Logistics Operations City & Guilds Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
Highfield Level 3 Diploma In Driving Goods Vehicles (RQF) Highfield Qualifications · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. OTHM Qualifications · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards

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

The units you would start with

Introduction to Exporting within Supply Chain Logistics Open Awards Level 2 Certificate in International Supply Chain Logistics
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 Importing and Exporting AIM Qualifications Entry 3 Certificate in Skills for Working in Transport and Logistics Industries
Contract and Financial Management OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

The future skills this job leans on

Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
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Your Plan Illustration

Built for Import/Export Coordinator

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

  1. Introduction to Exporting within Supply Chain Logistics Open Awards · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 2
  2. International road transport operations City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  3. Organise the preparation of documentation for the transportation of goods Highfield Qualifications · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  4. Introduction to Importing and Exporting AIM Qualifications · covers 1 of 10 standards Entry Level
  5. Contract and Financial Management OTHM Qualifications · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
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 Import/Export Coordinator?

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

  • Data Literacy & Basic Analytics for Logistics
  • Basic Automation & Process Optimisation
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

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 Import/Export Coordinator 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.

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3What this role really is

An Import/Export Coordinator manages the movement of goods across borders, handling customs rules, paperwork and delivery timing.

4What you'd actually use

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

SAP S/4HANA (GTS module) or Oracle NetSuite Intermediate

You'll use this daily to enter and track shipment data, update order statuses, and pull standard reports related to inbound and outbound logistics. You'll know your way around the core modules relevant to our operations.

WiseTech Global (CargoWise One) or E2open Intermediate

You'll use this software to prepare and submit basic customs entries and Importer Security Filings (ISF) under the guidance of your Senior Coordinator. You'll be comfortable navigating the interface and understanding key fields.

UK Customs Declaration Service (CDS) Intermediate

You'll navigate and retrieve information from the CDS portal, checking declaration statuses and completing basic declarations directly. You'll know where to find key information and how to submit routine paperwork.

Microsoft Excel Advanced

You'll be proficient with VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, PivotTables, and complex formulas. You'll use Excel to create detailed shipping manifests, track landed costs, reconcile invoices, and perform basic data analysis for your shipments.

Microsoft Teams or Slack Proficient

You'll use these tools constantly for real-time updates on shipment statuses, coordinating with internal teams (warehouse, procurement, sales), and sharing quick information. It's our primary internal communication hub.

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 choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Carrier Selection for Standard Shipments Proposes options to supervisor, supervisor makes final selection. Selects from pre-approved carrier list based on cost/transit time, informs supervisor. Negotiates spot rates, approves carrier selection, informs management.
Customs Documentation Amendments Identifies error, supervisor reviews and approves amendment before submission. Identifies and corrects routine errors, submits amendment, informs supervisor. Resolves complex customs rejections, advises on preventative measures, informs management.
Expenditure Approval (e.g., unexpected charges) Escalates all unexpected charges for approval. Approves minor charges up to £500, escalates anything above. Approves charges up to £2,000, advises on cost mitigation strategies.

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.

Documentation Accuracy Rate
The percentage of customs declarations and shipping documents (e.g., commercial invoices, packing lists) that are submitted without errors or requiring amendments.
Target · Above 98%

If you handle 100 shipments in a month and only two required corrections after submission, you're at 98% accuracy. We're looking for consistent precision here.

On-Time ISF/AES Filing
The percentage of Importer Security Filings (ISF) or Automated Export System (AES) declarations submitted within the required regulatory deadlines.
Target · 100% on-time

Missing an ISF deadline means a £5,000 fine per occurrence in the US, so hitting 100% here is non-negotiable. It's about getting ahead of the clock.

Demurrage & Detention Cost Reduction
The total costs incurred from carrier demurrage (port storage) and detention (container usage) fees, aiming to minimise these charges.
Target · Reduce by 10% year-on-year, or maintain below £X per TEU

If last quarter we paid £1,500 in demurrage, and this quarter it's £1,300, that's a good trend. It shows you're on top of the 'Last Free Day' tracking.

Transit Time Variance
The difference between the estimated transit time provided by the carrier and the actual time taken for a shipment to reach its destination.
Target · Average variance of less than 3 days for ocean, 1 day for air

If a vessel was quoted for 20 days but arrived in 23, that's a +3 day variance. We want to see you picking reliable carriers and managing exceptions.

Proactive Communication & Stakeholder Updates
How effectively and proactively you communicate shipment statuses, potential delays, and resolutions to internal teams (Sales, Procurement, Warehouse).
  • Internal teams consistently report feeling well-informed
  • fewer 'where's my stuff?' emails
  • you're often the first to flag a potential issue, not the last. You provide concise, actionable updates, not just data dumps. People actually read your emails because they know they're important.
Problem Resolution & Issue Management
Your ability to independently identify, troubleshoot, and resolve routine shipment issues (e.g., documentation discrepancies, minor delays, booking errors) without constant escalation.
  • You present solutions, not just problems, to your Senior Coordinator. You've got a track record of successfully rerouting a delayed shipment or getting a customs query resolved quickly. You don't just point fingers
  • you find a way forward. Feedback from freight forwarders often praises your clear instructions and quick responses.
Adherence to Compliance Procedures
Consistently following established internal processes for trade compliance, including record-keeping, HTS classification guidance, and valuation methods.
  • During internal audits, your shipment files are complete and organised. You can clearly explain why you classified a product a certain way. There are no surprises when it comes to customs declarations, and you're not cutting corners to hit a deadline. You ask questions if something doesn't feel right, rather than just pushing it through.

7Would you like it

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

What people enjoy
Solving Complex Puzzles

You'll spend a good chunk of your day figuring out how to get a shipment unstuck, dealing with unexpected paperwork, or finding the most efficient route. It's like a daily logistics challenge.

A vessel is delayed due to bad weather, and you need to quickly find an alternative route or carrier to minimise the impact on a critical production schedule. You love the challenge of piecing together the solution.

Seeing Tangible Results

You'll get a real sense of accomplishment when a critical shipment clears customs smoothly and arrives at the warehouse exactly when expected. Your work has a clear, physical outcome.

Tracking a container from Shanghai to our warehouse in Felixstowe, knowing that the components inside are essential for our next product launch, and seeing it delivered on time because of your efforts.

Being the 'Go-To' Person

Sales and Procurement will come to you for updates, advice on shipping terms, or help with tricky import situations. You'll build expertise that others rely on.

A sales manager asks you about the best Incoterm for a new client in Germany, and you can confidently explain the cost and risk implications, helping them close the deal effectively.

What frustrates people
  • Chasing Documents: Spending 30% of your time hounding procurement or suppliers for a correct commercial invoice that was due three days ago. It's tedious, but essential.
  • The 'Black Hole' of Transshipment: Losing all visibility of a container for 7-10 days when it's being moved between vessels at a massive transshipment hub like Singapore or Rotterdam. You just have to wait.
  • Unannounced Carrier Changes: A carrier unilaterally deciding to skip a port of call or change a vessel's rotation, adding a week to your transit time without warning. It happens.
  • Stakeholder Amnesia: Explaining to the same sales manager for the fifth time why you can't control UK Customs and that air freight costs significantly more than ocean freight. Patience is key.
  • The Tyranny of the Urgent: Having your carefully planned day derailed by an 'emergency' shipment that needs to be quoted and booked immediately, only to have the request cancelled two hours later. Expect it weekly.
What this role does not give you
  • Complete Control: You're dealing with global networks, weather, and government agencies. You won't control everything, and you need to be okay with that.
  • Predictable 9-5: While we aim for work-life balance, urgent issues (like a customs hold) don't always happen during office hours. Sometimes you'll need to jump on things quickly.
  • Zero Repetition: There's definitely routine in the documentation and tracking, even if the problems are always new. If you need constant, brand-new challenges every hour, this might not be it.
  • Instant Gratification: Some issues take days or weeks to resolve. You need to be able to play the long game and keep pushing for a solution.

8Who you work with

This role is fundamental to our operational efficiency and financial health. Your work directly influences inventory availability, customer satisfaction, and our compliance standing with customs authorities. You're essentially the gatekeeper for goods entering and leaving the country, meaning you're critical to keeping our production lines running and our sales pipeline flowing. A smooth import/export process means less capital tied up in transit and fewer headaches for everyone else.

Inside the business
  • Sales Team (for order fulfilment and customer delivery expectations)
  • Procurement Team (for supplier documentation and inbound material tracking)
  • Warehouse & Inventory Team (for inbound receiving and outbound dispatch planning)
  • Finance Team (for duty/tax payments and landed cost reconciliation)
Outside the business
  • Freight Forwarders & Ocean/Air Carriers (for booking, tracking, and issue resolution)
  • Customs Brokers (for declarations and compliance advice)
  • Suppliers (for correct documentation and shipment readiness)
  • Customers (for delivery updates and documentation)

9What you need before you start

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

  • At least 2-3 years of hands-on experience in an import/export, shipping, or logistics coordination role, ideally within a company that deals with physical goods.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and shipments simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
  • A solid grasp of basic maths and keen attention to numerical detail (e.g., checking quantities, values, weights).
  • Experience using an ERP system (like SAP or Oracle) for shipment tracking and data entry.
  • Demonstrable experience in problem-solving routine operational issues independently.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, capable of clear and concise explanations.

10What to practise next

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

Advanced ERP/TMS Functionality

As our systems evolve, you'll need to move beyond basic data entry and tracking. Understanding how to configure specific rules, troubleshoot more complex system discrepancies, and perhaps even pull custom reports will become more important.

Master Data Management · Workflow Configuration · Advanced Reporting

  • This month: Ask your Senior Coordinator or IT team for a deeper dive into one specific module of our ERP/TMS you use daily.
  • Next quarter: Identify one manual data pull you do regularly and try to replicate it with a custom report from the system.
  • Month 4-6: Participate in any internal training sessions for system updates or new features. Be the first to try them out.

Quick win: Find out if there's an internal 'power user' group for our ERP/TMS and join it. Learn from others.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Attend industry webinars and seminars on new trade regulations (e.g., post-Brexit changes, new FTAs).
  • Join professional bodies like the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) for networking and resources.
  • Take online courses on advanced Excel for data analysis or introductory Power BI for logistics dashboards.
  • Seek out opportunities to learn about different modes of transport or specific trade lanes you're less familiar with.
  • Shadow a colleague in Procurement or Sales to understand their perspective on the supply chain.

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.

Data Literacy & Basic Analytics for Logistics

We're drowning in data from carriers, customs, and our own systems. The ability to not just collect data but to actually understand what it's telling you about shipment performance, costs, and delays will become critical. It's about moving from just tracking to actually analysing.

  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  • Data Visualisation (Basic)
  • Identifying Anomalies
  • Data Storytelling

Basic Automation & Process Optimisation

Many of the repetitive tasks you do today will eventually be automated. Your value will shift from doing those tasks to understanding how to make the automation work better, identifying what can be automated, and improving the overall process. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

  • Process Mapping (Basic)
  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Awareness
  • API Integration Concepts (Basic)
  • Identifying Automation Opportunities

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Incoterms® Rules Mastery (2020)
  • Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Classification
  • International Trade Documentation
  • Customs Valuation & Landed Cost Calculation (Basic)
  • Freight Forwarder & Carrier Management

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. 1

    Import/Export Assistant (Level 1)

    1-2 years

    Skills to master

    • Accurate data entry, document collection, basic shipment tracking, understanding of core shipping terminology, effective communication with supervisors.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently accurate data input with minimal errors.
    • Proactively identifies and flags potential documentation issues.
    • Can independently track and provide updates for routine shipments.
    • Demonstrates a solid grasp of Incoterms and basic customs concepts.
  2. 2

    Warehouse/Logistics Administrator

    2-3 years

    Skills to master

    • Inventory management principles, warehouse operations, dispatch coordination, understanding of domestic freight, basic ERP system use, strong organisational skills.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully managed inbound and outbound logistics for a domestic operation.
    • Proficient in using warehouse management systems (WMS) and ERP for inventory.
    • Demonstrates strong attention to detail in stock control and order fulfilment.
    • Has a good understanding of the impact of logistics on overall business operations.
  3. 3

    Supply Chain Intern/Graduate Programme

    1-2 years

    Skills to master

    • Exposure to various supply chain functions (procurement, planning, logistics), project management basics, data analysis skills, cross-functional collaboration, understanding of business processes.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Completed rotations in relevant departments with positive feedback.
    • Successfully delivered on internship projects, demonstrating analytical and problem-solving skills.
    • Has a broad theoretical understanding of supply chain principles and a desire to specialise.
    • Proactively seeks out learning opportunities and demonstrates initiative.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to trade compliance or logistics analyst roles, and on to managing an international logistics operation.

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 Import/Export Coordinator is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

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 Introduction to Exporting within Supply Chain Logistics, worked against Import/Export Coordinator.

Introduction to Exporting within Supply Chain Logistics Level 2

Applied to your work in Import/Export Coordinator

This unit aims to provide learners with a foundational understanding of exporting within supply chain logistics. Learners will explore the principles and requirements associated with exporting goods, including documentation, customs regulations, and payment methods.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 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.

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See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Import/Export Coordinator
  • Incoterms® Rules Mastery (2020)
  • Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Classification
  • International Trade Documentation
  • Customs Valuation & Landed Cost Calculation (Basic)
  • Freight Forwarder & Carrier Management
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

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

  1. Senior Import/Export Coordinator (Level 3)

    3-5 years in this role

    You'll move from managing standard shipments to handling complex, non-routine cases, resolving significant customs issues, and mentoring junior colleagues. You'll also take on more project-based work aimed at process improvement.

    • Expertise in specific trade compliance areas (e.g., hazardous materials, temporary imports, duty drawback).
    • Ability to conduct internal compliance audits and identify risks.
    • Leading small process improvement projects (e.g., optimising documentation flow).
    • More in-depth use of data analytics for performance reporting.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Imagine getting through your mountain of paperwork faster, predicting delays before they hit, and keeping everyone in the loop without endless emails. That's not sci-fi; it's what AI can do for you right now as an Import/Export Coordinator. We're not talking about replacing you, but about giving you superpowers to focus on the interesting, problem-solving parts of your job.

In Operations, especially with import/export, a huge chunk of your day is spent on repetitive tasks: data entry, tracking, drafting updates, and classifying goods. AI tools are getting incredibly good at taking these off your plate, freeing you up to tackle the trickier stuff like resolving customs holds or optimising complex shipping routes. Think of AI as your super-efficient, always-on assistant.

Automated Document Processing

Use AI with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to automatically extract key data (like PO numbers, quantities, values, HTS codes) from commercial invoices, packing lists, and Bills of Lading. This pre-populates fields in our TMS or customs software, cutting down on manual data entry errors and saving you loads of time.

Predictive Transit Time Analysis

Imagine knowing a shipment might be delayed before the carrier tells you. AI models can analyse historical carrier data, current port congestion, weather patterns, and even holidays to give you far more accurate ETAs than standard carrier schedules. It can flag high-risk shipments so you can act proactively.

HTS Code Suggestion Engine

For new products, an AI tool can analyse the product description, material composition, and intended use, then suggest the top 3-5 most likely HTS codes. It'll even provide supporting rationale and links to binding rulings, accelerating the classification process and reducing the chance of costly misclassifications.

Smart Status Communication

An AI agent can automatically draft and send milestone-based shipment status updates (e.g., 'Vessel departed', 'Arrived at port', 'Cleared customs') to relevant internal distribution lists. This means fewer 'where's my stuff?' emails for you and consistently informed stakeholders, all without you lifting a finger.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become an Import/Export Coordinator?

Common routes in include Import/Export Assistant (1-2 years), Warehouse/Logistics Administrator (2-3 years) and Supply Chain Intern/Graduate Programme (1-2 years). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can an Import/Export Coordinator progress to?

This role can lead on to Senior Import/Export Coordinator (3-5 years in this role), depending on the skills you build.

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

Increasingly, Data Literacy & Basic Analytics for Logistics and Basic Automation & Process Optimisation. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 3

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

 More jobs in operations

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

The skills used in this role apply across most industries that move physical goods, including manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals and technology. Global trade runs through all of them, so this experience carries weight wherever goods cross borders.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth 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. Start my Import/Export Coordinator 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.