About the Role

As the EU Inbound Transportation Manager, you will own the end-to-end flow of ocean freight imports from China into key UK and European ports, ensuring seamless movement from origin through final delivery. This is a high-impact role blending hands-on logistics execution with commercial freight management, where you’ll oversee container flow, optimize inbound scheduling into multiple Fulfillment Centres, and drive cost efficiency across China–UK/EU lanes. You will partner closely with freight forwarders, carriers, and internal teams to align shipments with demand while maintaining strict adherence to UK/EU customs and trade regulations. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in China-origin imports, strong commercial acumen in rate negotiation and margin optimization, and a data-driven mindset to continuously improve performance across transit times, port dwell, and overall network efficiency.

How you will achieve success

• Own the full lifecycle of ocean freight imports from China into key UK/EU ports, overseeing port operations, customs clearance, and inland distribution while minimizing demurrage, detention, and accessorial costs.
• Coordinate with origin teams, freight forwarders, and warehouses to align China-origin shipments with demand, port capacity, and fulfillment timelines using WMS/TMS tools.
• Manage buy-sell freight across China–UK/EU lanes, leveraging spot vs. contract strategies and market insights to optimize cost and margin.
• Lead relationships with forwarders, carriers, and 3PLs while ensuring all China imports meet UK/EU customs, VAT, and Incoterm requirements.
• Develop SOPs and analyze logistics KPIs (transit time, port dwell, cost per container, carrier performance) to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and drive operational excellence.

What experiences will help you in this role

• 4+ years in international logistics, with a strong focus on ocean freight / containerized imports from China into the UK/EU within a 3PL, freight forwarder, or high-volume importer.
• Deep knowledge of China → UK/EU shipping lanes, Incoterms, customs clearance, and cross-border compliance.
• Proven success managing freight spend, negotiating rates, and owning margin across international lanes.
• Experience with TMS/WMS platforms and logistics data analysis.
• Highly detail-oriented with the ability to manage high shipment volumes in a fast-paced environment.
• Fluent in English; additional European or Mandarin language skills are a plus.

What you can expect from us

• We provide the flexibility to take care of yourself. [Employer hidden] operates in a work culture that promotes results and encourages taking time off when needed. In addition to a generous vacation policy, we also offer paid time-off for your wedding week, paid parental leave and support for parents of growing families.
• We celebrate accomplishments. Each year at [Employer hidden] is a milestone with the opportunity to receive special gifts, swag store credit, or donations to a nonprofit of your choice. We also recognize people pursuing impacts with [Employer hidden] Spotlight Awards.
• We care about your Health & Wellness. [Employer hidden] works hard to enhance the employee experience through benefit programs and perks that provide meaningful support. We offer affordable medical, dental and vision plans with coast-to-coast coverage. We also provide free telehealth and on-demand mental health resources.
• We create the opportunity to revolutionize your community. We encourage [Employer hidden]ers to give back and make a social impact, and we offer paid time off to do it.

In an effort to Make [Employer hidden] Better, we hire people that are aligned with our values and are passionate about pursuing ecommerce excellence. We believe the right person can learn what is needed to succeed in their role, so we encourage job applicants to apply even if you don't meet all the qualifications listed. We are looking for diverse backgrounds and perspectives, so we don’t require college degrees and welcome non-linear career paths. If this role highlights your experience and gets you excited – please apply!

[Employer hidden] is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. [Employer hidden] is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please email [contact hidden].

To qualify for Work Your Way, eligible applicants must reside in one of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Please be aware of scammers. [Employer hidden] will only contact you through Lever or the [Employer hidden].com domain. [Employer hidden] will never ask candidates for money during the recruitment process. Please reach out to [contact hidden] directly if you have any concerns. Emails from @spreetailjobs.com are fraudulent.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.