Freight Forwarding Operations Manager

Position : Freight Forwarding Operations Manager & Founder Mentor

Industry : Shipping, Freight Forwarding & Logistics

Experience : 5–7 Years

Engagement : Full-time

Location : India (Remote)

Start Date : Immediate

Salary : 60K INR (negotiable for strong candidates)

Key Responsibilities

Set up and manage daily freight forwarding operations (import / export – sea, air, and road)

Handle FCL, LCL, air cargo, courier, consolidations , and cross-trade shipments

Prepare, review and manage all shipping & customs documentation (BL, AWB, invoices, packing lists, DOs, manifests, etc.)

Coordinate with shipping lines, airlines, NVOCCs, transporters, customs brokers, overseas agents, and clients

Build and implement SOPs, workflows, and basic KPIs for enquiries, quotations, bookings, execution, and billing

Negotiate freight rates and local charges with carriers and agents to maintain healthy margins

Train and mentor the founder on :

Pricing logic, rate sheets, and margin structures

Incoterms, free time, demurrage / detention, surcharges

How frauds, margin skimming or misuse of contracts can happen – and how to prevent them

Create simple dashboards / reports for shipment status, profit per job, client performance, and vendor performance

Coordinate closely with accounts for billing, collections, and credit control

Support future team building (operations, documentation, and possibly sales) as the business grows

Required Expertise

5–7 years experience in freight forwarding / logistics with a forwarder, NVOCC, or logistics company

Strong knowledge of :

Sea freight (FCL / LCL)

Air freight

Cross-border road freight (preferred)

Solid understanding of :

Incoterms , HS codes, basic customs procedures

Export / import workflows from at least one major region (Middle East / India / Asia / Europe)

Experience in :

Independent operations handling from quotation to delivery

Rate negotiation with carriers and overseas agents

Handling shipment issues (rollovers, delays, space issues, demurrage, detention, short-shipment, etc.)

Prior exposure to UAE / India trade lanes is a plus

⚙️ Technical & Management Skills

Comfortable using freight / logistics ERP, TMS or shipment tracking systems

Strong analytical & problem-solving mindset for cost, routing, and margin optimization

Basic understanding of credit control and risk in freight (credit days, exposure, carrier payment terms)

Knowledge of compliance, documentation accuracy, and regulatory requirements

Ability to design simple SOPs and controls to prevent leakage, kickbacks, or rate manipulation

✅ Ideal Candidate Traits

Proactive operator with strong ownership mentality

Enjoys teaching and explaining – willing to let the founder shadow calls and operations

Hands-on, detail-oriented, and comfortable in a startup, zero-structure environment

Transparent, ethical, and strict about clean dealings & margin protection

Able to run operations independently while building a foundation for future growth