Logistics & Inbound Operations Coordinator

Michael Malul•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The Logistics & Inbound Operations Coordinator manages inbound and international shipments, including ocean freight, air freight, and container movements. The role serves as the main point of contact among vendors, freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers, and warehouse teams to help ensure products arrive on time, on budget, and in full. The coordinator plans and tracks shipments from vendors and overseas suppliers through final delivery; coordinates container scheduling, pickup, drayage, and warehouse or distribution-center delivery; and addresses delays and other disruptions. The position supports customs compliance and documentation, supplier and logistics-partner coordination, freight procurement and invoice auditing, and alignment of inbound shipments with inventory requirements and launch dates. It also maintains shipment records and dashboards, reports on freight spend, transit performance, and landed cost, and uses ERP, WMS, and TMS systems to manage order and shipment data.

Requirements

At least 1 year of experience in logistics, import operations, or supply chain.
Hands-on experience with ocean and air freight and international shipping documentation.
Working knowledge of Incoterms, customs clearance, and import/export processes.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple shipments and deadlines at once.
Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets.

Nice To Haves

Experience with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and 3PL partners.
Experience in beauty, fragrance, consumer goods, or retail supply chains.
Knowledge of landed cost calculation and freight cost optimization.
Familiarity with FDA, CBP, or other regulatory requirements.
Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics, business, or a related field.
Additional language skills.

Responsibilities

Plan, book, and track inbound shipments from vendors and overseas suppliers through final delivery.
Manage ocean freight, including FCL and LCL, and air freight, selecting modes based on cost, lead time, and urgency.
Coordinate container scheduling, pickup, drayage, and delivery to warehouses and distribution centers.
Monitor shipments in transit and proactively resolve delays, port congestion, rolling, and other disruptions.
Work with customs brokers to prepare and verify import documents, including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and airway bills.
Ensure compliance with import regulations, tariff classifications, duties, and trade requirements.
Handle documentation for dangerous goods, cosmetics, or regulated products as applicable.
Maintain accurate records for audits and compliance reviews.
Communicate with vendors about purchase orders, production timelines, shipping readiness, and booking details.
Confirm ship dates, packaging, labeling, and palletization meet requirements.
Follow up on delays or discrepancies and hold suppliers accountable to agreed schedules.
Build working relationships with overseas suppliers and logistics partners.
Request quotes, compare rates, and negotiate with freight forwarders, ocean carriers, airlines, and trucking providers.
Evaluate carrier performance, including on-time delivery, transit times, and damage rates.
Audit freight invoices and resolve billing discrepancies, demurrage, and detention charges.
Coordinate with purchasing, planning, and warehouse teams to align inbound shipments with inventory needs and launch dates.
Provide ETAs and shipment status updates to internal teams, including sales, customer service, and finance.
Support receiving, reconcile shipments against purchase orders, and support claims for shortages or damage.
Identify opportunities to reduce costs, shorten lead times, and improve processes.
Maintain shipment tracking logs and logistics dashboards.
Report on freight spend, transit performance, and landed cost.
Use ERP, WMS, and TMS systems to manage orders and shipment data.