Job Title: Ocean Freight Forwarding Specialist

Department: Ocean Freight / Export Operations

Reporting To: Ocean Export Operations Manager

Experience: 3–8 years in ocean export freight forwarding

Location: Chennai

Languages: Fluency in Tamil, English and Hindi is mandatory.

Relevant hands-on experience in ocean export freight forwarding is essential for this role.

Job Purpose To manage end-to-end ocean export freight forwarding operations, ensuring timely shipment execution, accurate documentation, cost-effective freight solutions, compliance with customs and shipping regulations, and high levels of customer satisfaction. The role involves coordination with customers, shipping lines, customs brokers, transporters, overseas agents, and internal teams to ensure smooth cargo movement from origin to destination.

Key Responsibilities

A. Ocean Export Operations

- Handle end-to-end ocean export shipments for both FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load).
- Receive and process customer booking requests and coordinate with shipping lines for space and equipment availability.
- Obtain freight rates, negotiate with shipping lines and co-loaders, and provide competitive quotations to customers.
- Coordinate cargo pickup, container planning, stuffing, transportation, and delivery to the port or container freight station (CFS).
- Monitor shipment milestones, vessel schedules, cut-off dates, and estimated time of departure (ETD).
- Ensure timely submission of shipping instructions and shipping bills, and coordinate with relevant stakeholders for customs clearance.
- Follow up on vessel departures and obtain final shipment confirmations and transport documents.
- Coordinate with overseas agents for pre-alerts, arrival information, and destination requirements.

B. Documentation and Customs Compliance

- Prepare, verify, and process export documentation, including:
- Shipping instructions (SI)
- Bill of Lading (BL) drafts and final BLs
- Commercial invoices and packing lists




- Shipping bills and supporting export documents

Certificates of origin and other applicable certificates
- Coordinate with customs brokers and exporters to ensure timely filing and clearance of export cargo.
- Ensure compliance with applicable Indian customs regulations, shipping line requirements, port procedures, and international trade documentation standards.
- Verify documentation accuracy, cargo particulars, HS codes as applicable, weights, measurements, and consignee details.
- Track and resolve documentation discrepancies before vessel departure.

C. Customer and Stakeholder Coordination
- Act as the primary point of contact for customers regarding shipment bookings, status updates, documentation, and operational queries.
- Coordinate with shipping lines, transporters, CFS operators, customs brokers, overseas agents, and internal departments.
- Provide timely shipment updates and proactively communicate schedule changes, delays, and operational challenges.

D. Cost Control and Billing
- Monitor shipment-related costs, including ocean freight, origin charges, transportation, documentation fees, CFS charges, and other applicable expenses.
- Identify opportunities to reduce operational costs and improve profitability.
- Ensure timely submission of job files and closure of shipment records.
- E. Performance Management and Reporting
- Monitor shipment turnaround time (TAT) and adherence to agreed service-level agreements (SLAs).
- Maintain shipment trackers, booking records, operational reports, and documentation files.
- Ensure timely completion of shipment milestones and minimize delays, errors, and additional costs.




- Escalate operational risks and service failures to the reporting manager.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.

Required Skills and Competencies

- Strong knowledge of ocean export freight forwarding procedures and documentation.
- Practical experience handling FCL and LCL shipments.
- Ability to prioritize multiple shipments and work under tight deadlines.
- Proficiency in MS Excel, Outlook, and freight forwarding software or logistics management systems.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently as well as within a team.
- Mandatory fluency in Tamil, English and Hindi.

1. Educational Qualifications and Experience

• Graduate in any discipline; a qualification in logistics, supply chain management, international trade, or a related field is preferred.
- 3–8 years of relevant experience in ocean export freight forwarding operations.
- Experience dealing with shipping lines, customs brokers, transporters, and overseas agents is preferred.
- Familiarity with FCL/LCL documentation, export customs clearance, and freight billing is desirable.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Shipment execution: Timely and accurate processing of export shipments.
- TAT and SLA compliance: Adherence to agreed operational timelines.
- Documentation accuracy: Minimum documentation errors and rework.
- Cost control: Avoidance of unnecessary costs and penalties.
- Customer satisfaction: Timely communication and effective issue resolution.
- Billing and job closure: Timely and accurate invoicing and shipment closure.
- Compliance: Adherence to applicable customs and shipping procedures.
- Operational productivity: Productive handling of assigned shipment volumes.

How to Apply

Interested candidates meeting the experience and language requirements may send their CV at [email protected].

Email subject: Application – Ocean Freight Forwarding Specialist – Chennai

📌 Ocean Freight Forwarding Specialist (Chennai)
🏢 DREWES Group
📍 Chennai