Imports Controller

Why join us

Joining our team as an Imports Controller provides you with an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic and fast-paced environment, handling one of the largest transport operations in the UK. As part of our Imports BWS Grocery team, you will play a crucial role in delivering exceptional Port to DC service to our business. We value problem-solving skills, resilience, and strong interpersonal abilities in our employees.

Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will have the chance to influence at a senior management level and contribute to the optimisation of operations and efficiencies. You will be supported by comprehensive training, guidance, and career development opportunities, allowing you to thrive in your role and make a tangible impact. We prioritise work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements, empowering our colleagues to excel both professionally and personally.

Here you will be an integral part of the Imports BWS Grocery operations team, collaborating with the Operations Manager to ensure the delivery of a best-in-class Port to DC service for our business. Your main responsibility will be to provide operational expertise to a team of imports coordinators, assisting them in completing container DC bookings in accordance with customer demand and DC capacities.

Additionally, you will play a vital role in supporting the Operations Manager by providing necessary analysis and reports to facilitate the planning of BWS, GNFR (Goods not for re-sale) and food stock flow with internal stakeholders and external service providers. Building strong and effective relationships with various internal stakeholders, such as Logistics planning, Grocery Supply chain analyst team, 3rd Party stakeholders & commercial team, will be crucial in this role.

Given the fast-paced and dynamic nature of our operations, your positive and problem-solving approach, as well as your ability to influence senior management both internally and externally, will be essential to thrive and excel in this role.

You are a highly experienced and commercially aware supply chain and logistics professional with a strong understanding of trading, global sourcing, and FMCG supply chain operations. Your ability to provide operational expertise and support to imports coordinators enables the successful completion of container DC bookings in alignment with customer demand and DC capacities. With your strong analytical and problem-solving skills, you excel in forecasting group-wide import container arrivals and managing container storage requirements to optimise stock flow and reduce costs.

Your exceptional communication skills and ability to build effective relationships allow you to collaborate with internal stakeholders, external service providers, and third-party partners to ensure smooth operations and maximise performance. Your attention to detail, resilience to challenges, and proactive approach empower you to manage daily operational challenges and deliver resolutions. With the drive for personal development and improvement, you contribute to the continuous enhancement of processes while maintaining a positive and flexible approach to work-life balance.

• Able to demonstrate commercial awareness
• Experience of International Supply Chain
• Experience of opening shipping documentation
• Experience of classifying product for customs duty
• Understanding of Trading, Global Sourcing, Secondary and Supply Chain Operations gained in an FMCG environment
• Experience of standard industry import procedures

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working.

When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:

Starting off…