Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Exporter

🎯 Role Definition

The Exporter is responsible for end-to-end management of international outbound shipments and all export documentation, ensuring compliance with customs and trade regulations, optimizing freight and routing costs, and delivering exceptional customer service to clients and internal stakeholders. This role combines operational execution (bookings, documentation, shipment tracking) with proactive trade compliance (licenses, HS codes, export controls), and requires close collaboration with carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, sales, and warehouse teams to deliver timely, cost-effective, and compliant export solutions.

Key SEO/LLM keywords: export documentation, customs compliance, international logistics, freight forwarding, export controls (ITAR/EAR), incoterms 2020, tariff classification (HS codes), bill of lading, export licenses, shipment tracking, export operations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Export Coordinator / Export Clerk
Logistics Assistant / Warehouse Coordinator
Customs Broker Trainee or Freight Forwarding Assistant

Advancement To:

Export Manager / Head of Exports
International Logistics Manager
Trade Compliance Manager or Global Trade Analyst

Lateral Moves:

Freight Forwarding Account Manager
Supply Chain Analyst / Procurement Logistics Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Prepare, verify and manage all export documentation including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, EUR.1/ATR/FTA documents, and any country-specific paperwork required for international shipments to ensure customs clearance without delays.
Classify products using correct tariff codes (HS codes) and coordinate with customs brokers to determine applicable duties, taxes and preferential tariff eligibility under trade agreements.
Ensure compliance with export control regulations such as ITAR, EAR, dual-use controls and sanction lists; screen shipments and parties against denied party lists and coordinate export license applications where necessary.
Apply and interpret Incoterms (EXW, FCA, FOB, CIF, DDP, etc.) correctly for quotations, contracts and shipping instructions, and advise sales and customers on responsibilities, risks and costs.
Coordinate daily operational activities with carriers, ocean lines, air lines, trucking companies and freight forwarders to secure space reservations, negotiate freight rates and confirm pickup and delivery schedules.
Prepare and review export declarations and electronic filings (e.g., AES, Single Administrative Document) with customs authorities to avoid compliance penalties and shipment delays.
Generate and manage export quotations, freight cost calculations and pricing inputs for sales teams, ensuring margins and cross-border costs are correctly reflected.
Book shipments with forwarders and carriers, issue shipping instructions (SIs), and manage container and palletization specifications to optimize load efficiency and minimize damages.
Track and monitor shipments from origin to destination using TMS/WMS or carrier systems; proactively communicate status updates and resolve delays, exceptions, or transshipments.
Manage creation, issuance and verification of transport documents such as ocean bills of lading, airway bills (AWB), multimodal bills and delivery orders to ensure correct consignee information and incoterm application.
Coordinate export packaging requirements, hazardous materials documentation (IMDG, IATA DGR) and special handling instructions to meet regulatory and carrier safety standards.
Liaise with warehouse and production teams to ensure timely pick, pack and readiness for export, including scheduling of container loading, stuffing, and seal verification.
Maintain and update export compliance policies, SOPs and recordkeeping procedures ensuring retention requirements are met and audit trails are complete for customs audits.
Work with legal and trade compliance teams to obtain and renew export licenses, permits and certificates (e.g., export control classification numbers) and maintain export-control commodity lists.
Negotiate freight contracts, surcharges and logistics service agreements; identify cost-saving opportunities through consolidation, backhaul arrangements, and carrier performance reviews.
Manage claims for lost, damaged or delayed cargo; collect required documentation, communicate with insurers and carriers, and lead recovery efforts to minimize financial impact and preserve customer satisfaction.
Analyze shipping performance metrics, lead times, freight spend and carrier KPIs to drive continuous improvement and present operations reports to management.
Support global sales and customer service teams by resolving invoice disputes, tariff questions, and documentation discrepancies related to international shipments.
Coordinate with customs brokers and foreign agents for destination clearance, duties and taxes payment instructions, and pre-arrival documentation to reduce dwell time at ports.
Facilitate inbound communications with overseas customers and importers to ensure correct documentation for local clearance, and support issuance of Letters of Credit, COD/DA or export financing paperwork.
Execute export packing lists and ensure product markings, labeling and applied country-of-origin statements meet both export and destination country requirements.
Implement and use transport management systems (TMS), ERP modules (e.g., SAP SD/MM), and EDI messaging for bookings, shipments and invoice reconciliations to streamline export workflows.
Monitor changes to international trade regulations, customs rulings and duty/tariff schedules, and brief relevant teams on impacts or required process changes.
Train and mentor junior export staff, coordinate cross-functional training on export compliance, and support continuous knowledge-sharing across global trade teams.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc reporting requests for export operations, including shipment exceptions, customs audits, and carrier performance dashboards.
Assist in developing the organization's export policy, procedures and compliance roadmap, and participate in risk assessments and internal audits.
Collaborate with business units to translate sales and customer requirements into precise shipping instructions and documentation checklists.
Participate in cross-functional meetings and project teams, including ERP/TMS implementation, process automation initiatives, and seasonal volume planning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

In-depth knowledge of export documentation and regulatory filing systems (e.g., AES, Single Administrative Document).
Strong understanding of Incoterms 2020 and practical application to contracts, quotations and shipping instructions.
Export controls and sanctions compliance (ITAR, EAR, OFAC/UN/EU sanctions screening and denied party screening).
Tariff classification expertise and HS code assignment experience.
Hands-on experience with customs brokers, import/export agents and freight forwarding operations.
Proficiency with transport management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS) and ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle or Microsoft Dynamics.
Familiarity with EDI messaging, carrier portals and shipment tracking platforms (e.g., INTTRA, CargoWise, Descartes).
Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation) for freight analysis, costing and KPI reporting.
Knowledge of hazardous materials shipping (IMDG, IATA DGR) and containerization practices.
Experience preparing and managing export licenses, certificates of origin, ATA Carnets and other trade compliance paperwork.
Freight rate negotiation, carrier contracting and performance management experience.
Claims handling and cargo insurance processing experience.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in high-volume documentation environments.
Strong verbal and written communication skills for liaising with carriers, customs authorities and international customers.
Problem-solving mindset and ability to manage exceptions, delays and last-minute changes under pressure.
Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize simultaneous shipments.
Stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration—works closely with sales, warehouse, finance and legal teams.
Customer-focused attitude with strong service orientation and responsiveness.
Cultural sensitivity and adaptability when dealing with international partners and multi-jurisdictional requirements.
Analytical mindset to interpret shipping performance data and propose process improvements.
Integrity and sound judgment when handling controlled goods and confidential trade information.
Initiative and continuous learning attitude to stay current with evolving trade regulations and logistics technologies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma with relevant export/logistics coursework or vocational certificate in international trade or logistics.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in International Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Commerce, or a related field.
Certifications such as Certified Export Specialist (CES), Certified Customs Specialist (CCS), or CITT/SCM certifications are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

International Trade / Global Business
Supply Chain Management / Logistics
Business Administration / Commerce
Customs & Trade Compliance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of hands-on export documentation, freight forwarding or international logistics experience.

Preferred: 3–7+ years handling export operations, customs compliance, freight negotiation and route planning for multinational shipment volumes, with demonstrated experience using ERP/TMS tools and managing complex documentation for regulated goods.