Shipping Manager - Birkenhead

Shipping Manager jobs

With goods being transported all over the world, it is important to stay on top of a shipping operation, particularly with regard to the legal paperwork and invoicing. This will be the job of a shipping manager. He or she will see through to delivery and will be entrusted with making sure all such paperwork is in order and flagging up any potential problems.

The shipping manager will oversee a team, probably made up of staff with expertise in dealing with a range of jurisdictions, especially when the company exports and imports widely. The specific understanding of a handful of nations’ customs law is enough to occupy a small team, let alone dozens of countries’. Reporting to the senior management, the shipping manager will have to deal with the day to day running of the department but also implement new strategies as they arise.

The role will also require a good deal of budget management, and part of the job will be to maintain efficiency and introduce new measures to improve efficiency. With fuel costs skyrocketing, this is more important than ever.

The skills required

A good knowledge of international import and export law will be an advantage, whether general or focused on the specific jurisdictions the company deals with. The shipping manager might well have to oversee or build a team around him or her to ensure that all legal bases are covered.

Successful shipping managers often come from backgrounds involved with international shipping rather than general managership, as the skill set required is focused on the technical side rather than the personnel management, important though this is. Likewise, a history of deep involvement with the products being distributed could help more than experience of management, as different products are regulated by different departments and require specific paperwork to stay on the right side of the law.

Shipping Manager Jobs in Birkenhead

While Birkenhead has always lived in the shadow of the world-famous port city of Liverpool just across the Mersey, it has a maritime history that is of huge importance to the region and the nation. The town has a history of shipbuilding, and although the industry has had its ups and downs, with particular lows in the 1980s, it seems to be on the up again, with the Cammell Laird shipyard getting back up to speed after collapse and buy-out. The shipyard has an illustrious history, being the birthplace of HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Ark Royal (the 1938 incarnation) and RMS Mauretania to name but a few. The famous Mersey ferry (actually three boats) sails from Birkenhead to Liverpool daily.

Although the town of Birkenhead is home to just over 80,000 people, it forms part of a sprawling conurbation along the east of the Wirral Peninsula that takes in New Brighton, Bebington, Wallasey and, of course, Tranmere. Taken together, the population is well over 300,000, the size of a small city.

Luckily, the ferry isn’t the only way across the Mersey. Two road tunnels and a rail tunnel connect Birkenhead to Liverpool, which in combination with the M53 running up the spine of the Wirral, make it a particularly well connected town. This large population and the re-emerging shipyard make Birkenhead a good place to look for Shipping Manager jobs in the North West of England.

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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities

As our founders come from the logistics, procurement and supply chain sectors, and our consultants also come from the same fields, Cast UK understand the needs of employers and candidates alike. As we only deal with these connected fields, we have become a go-to recruitment consultancy form many employers, many of whom trust us to create a shortlist through our in-house personnel management.

Candidates approach us looking for work for a range of reasons, from seeking fulfilment to moving house to looking for a promotion. The positions we offer cover the whole of the UK, so please check out what’s available in your region and feel free to get in touch if you’ve seen something you’re interested in – we might just have the perfect job on offer.

To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Shipping Manager for your business or find you a job as a Shipping Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.

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