_{11th November, 2026}

Assistant Sea Freight Manager, Colnbrook, Monday to Friday,  £45-50k

Are you an experienced sea freight professional who enjoys being involved in the day-to-day operation, supporting colleagues and keeping shipments moving? If you have strong sea freight export experience, a good working knowledge of imports and a practical approach to leading a team, this could be your next step.

We are recruiting for an Assistant Sea Freight Manager to join an established international freight forwarding business in Colnbrook. Working closely with the Sea Freight Manager, you will help oversee the import and export teams, manage operational challenges and ensure customers receive a reliable, responsive service.

This is a hands-on role where your operational knowledge will be just as important as your people skills. You might already be a supervisor or team leader ready for more responsibility, or an experienced Assistant Sea Freight Manager looking for a new opportunity.
 
What will you be doing?

As Assistant Sea Freight Manager, you will help keep the department running smoothly, balancing customer requirements, team workloads and commercial priorities. Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the day-to-day management of the sea freight import and export teams, allocating workloads and ensuring appropriate cover.
• Providing practical guidance, coaching and training to colleagues, helping them develop their knowledge and confidence.
• Overseeing shipments from booking through to final delivery, stepping in with complex movements, queries and escalations.
• Working closely with shipping lines, overseas offices, agents, hauliers and ports to resolve issues and keep shipments progressing.
• Ensuring customers receive clear, proactive updates, particularly when delays or changes arise.
• Supporting key customer relationships, service reviews and the resolution of complaints or service failures.
• Monitoring job costing, supplier charges and file closure, helping the department maintain accuracy and profitability.
• Assisting with quotations, rate enquiries and supplier relationships.
• Maintaining accurate shipment records and ensuring operations follow company procedures and relevant customs and freight compliance requirements.
• Supporting staff development and people management alongside the Sea Freight Manager and HR.
• Identifying improvements to processes, productivity and service delivery.
• Deputising for the Sea Freight Manager when required.

What experience will you need?

To succeed as Assistant Sea Freight Manager, you will bring:

• Extensive, practical experience in sea freight export operations, together with substantial working knowledge of sea freight imports.
• A sound understanding of the full shipment process, documentation and the coordination needed between customers, carriers and overseas partners.
• Experience supervising, coaching or supporting colleagues within a freight forwarding operation.
• The confidence to handle escalations, make operational decisions and manage competing priorities.
• Good commercial awareness, including an understanding of freight costs, job margins and accurate billing.
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Confidence using freight forwarding systems, with accurate and timely record keeping.
• A calm, organised approach and the willingness to take ownership when something needs resolving.

Previous experience as a sea freight team leader, supervisor or assistant manager would be particularly relevant. Knowledge of UK customs procedures and experience supporting staff performance and development would also be useful.
If you enjoy combining hands-on freight forwarding with supporting a team, we would welcome a conversation about this Assistant Sea Freight Manager opportunity.

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