Operational Specialist

About the Role

We seek a meticulous and outcome-focused Operations Specialist to oversee daily freight and logistics activities, guaranteeing timely and efficient shipment flow from origin to destination. Candidates should possess in-depth practical experience in freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, and transportation, coupled with a sound grasp of air, sea, and land freight operations.

Key Duties

• Manage and coordinate comprehensive freight and logistics processes, from booking shipments to final delivery and documentation handling.
• Supervise air, ocean, and road freight shipments ensuring punctual transport and arrival.
• Collaborate with shipping lines, airlines, trucking companies, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and warehousing partners.
• Prepare, review, and maintain critical shipping and logistics paperwork including commercial invoices, packing lists, Bills of Lading, Air Waybills, delivery orders, and customs-related documents.
• Track shipment statuses, estimated arrival times, customs clearances, releases, and delivery completions.
• Work alongside customs clearance teams to provide necessary documentation ensuring smooth customs processing.
• Address operational challenges such as delays, discrepancies in documentation, customs holds, damages, or delivery difficulties.
• Ensure strict compliance with customs laws, Incoterms, transportation standards, and internal company policies.
• Liaise with Sales, Pricing, Finance, Warehouse, and Compliance internal departments to guarantee seamless delivery of services.
• Keep customers regularly informed of shipment progress, documentation needs, potential delays, and operational updates.
• Arrange transportation and delivery logistics involving authorized carriers and service providers.
• Monitor shipment expenses and operational costs while maintaining accurate invoicing documentation.
• Maintain meticulous records of shipments, operational actions, costs, and support documents.
• Generate operational reports, shipment progress summaries, KPIs, and performance dashboards for leadership review.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and suggest enhancements to boost efficiency, minimize delays, and elevate customer satisfaction.
• Assist in onboarding new customers, guaranteeing operational requirements are effectively implemented.
• Foster robust relationships with customers, suppliers, carriers, customs agents, and logistics collaborators.
• Conduct all operations in line with corporate policies, safety protocols, and relevant legal standards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Transportation, or related discipline.
• Minimum four years of direct experience in freight forwarding, logistics, third-party logistics (3PL), customs clearance, or related fields.
• Comprehensive knowledge of air, ocean, and road freight movement.
• Proven track record managing shipments from booking stages through final delivery.
• Well-versed in customs processes, shipping documentation, Incoterms, and applicable regulatory norms.
• Hands-on experience collaborating with carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and warehouse teams.
• Strong capabilities in shipment monitoring, stakeholder coordination, and resolving logistics challenges.
• Skillful in managing multiple priorities in high-pressure, deadline-sensitive contexts.
• Effective communicator with stakeholder coordination expertise.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel; familiarity with ERP, Transport Management Systems (TMS), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), or equivalent logistics software is preferred.
• Competent in preparing operational analyses, KPIs, and shipment performance reports.
• Keen attention to detail ensuring accuracy in documentation.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with clients and internal multidisciplinary teams.
• Fluency in applicable languages according to operational region.
• Flexibility to travel or adjust working hours as operational demands dictate.

Preferred Experience and Certifications

• Background in freight forwarding firms, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCC), freight brokerage, or 3PL providers.
• Experience with multimodal shipments combining air, sea, and land transport.
• Practical knowledge of customs clearance and import/export documentation.
• Familiarity with digital freight platforms and integrated logistics technologies such as TMS/WMS.
• Expertise in cost management, freight invoice reconciliation, and cost-to-serve analytics.
• Understanding of Saudi and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) customs and transport regulations when relevant.
• Certifications like CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport), CCLP (Certified Customs Logistics Professional), or similar credentials.