Ocean Operations Agent I
About The Position
The Ocean Operations Agent I coordinates the day-to-day ocean import and export of international freight-forwarding shipments out of the USA, based on customer requests. The role qualifies customer shipping requirements, gathers the details and documentation needed for quotations and operations, and prepares accurate, profitable quotations. It manages shipments through CargoWise, including data entry, pickup and delivery scheduling, AES entry, bookings, routing, and operational milestone updates. The agent tracks shipments and coordinates with customers, cartage agents, international partners, and local sales teams to keep freight moving as scheduled, resolve issues, and arrange recovery or delivery when plans change. The position also supports customer service, operations, and billing; follows customer SOPs and company KPIs and guidelines; and ensures shipments are billed within company guidelines and timelines. Other duties may be assigned as business demands require.
Requirements
- Work well with others and treat teammates respectfully.
- Demonstrate a strong work ethic and take ownership, independence, accountability, and autonomy in the role.
- Have a growth mindset, seek opportunities to improve, and remain open to change.
- Maintain a customer-service focus and build relationships with internal and external customers.
- Demonstrate basic math and geography skills.
- Analyze numerical data, understand relationships, identify patterns, and draw conclusions.
- Use or learn to use CargoWise.
- Learn freight movement, ocean vendors and space configurations, container loads, special loading constraints, regulatory requirements, pricing, service routings, AIT product offerings, equipment types, Incoterms, and shipment profitability.
- Learn country regulations and AIT policies and procedures that minimize risks to customers and the company.
- Perform arithmetic using currency, weight, volume, and distance measurements.
- Read, analyze, and interpret verbal and written requests and directions.
- Communicate and interact effectively with a variety of people and present information in one-on-one settings.
- Manage time effectively to meet customer deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume work environment.
Nice To Haves
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- 0–2 years of freight forwarding experience preferred.
- Basic knowledge of CargoWise preferred.
Responsibilities
- Work with customers to qualify shipping requirements and obtain the regulations, certificates, documentation, and other details needed for shipment quotations and operations.
- Prepare accurate, profitable quotations.
- Complete the shipment process in CargoWise, including data entry, pickup and delivery scheduling, AES entry, bookings, routing, and operational milestone updates.
- Coordinate day-to-day ocean import and export shipments, including reviewing orders and documents.
- Track and communicate delays, damages, and other problems, and work to resolve customer issues.
- Handle ocean import and export operations, including customer service, shipment data entry, operations, and billing.
- Track shipments to ensure they move as scheduled and update the system immediately upon verification.
- Identify shipments that have deviated from schedule and coordinate recovery or delivery schedules with cartage agents and international partners.
- Partner with local sales teams to communicate problems to customers, international partners, and other stations as needed.
- Follow customer SOP instructions and ensure AIT KPIs and guidelines are met.
- Ensure shipments are billed within company guidelines and timelines.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as business demands require.
Benefits
- Potential bonus based on business and/or individual performance metrics, depending on position.
- Medical and prescription benefits.
- Health Savings Account.
- Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- Life and AD&D insurance.
- Disability coverage.
- Supplemental health coverage.
- Employee Support.
- Paid parental leave.
- Pet insurance.
- 401(k).
- Tuition reimbursement.
- 10 to 20 days of vacation, depending on tenure.
- 2 personal days.
- 1 floating holiday.
- 5 sick days.
- 5 volunteer hours.
- 6 company holidays annually, plus Veterans Day for veterans.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
