Export Manager

Location: Harford County | Fully onsite
Employment Type: Direct Hire
Salary: $80,000-$90,000, with some flexibility based on experience
Schedule: Monday-Friday, approximately 40-45+ hours per week, including rotating Sunday coverage for a few hours to support international customer communication

Position Overview

A established internation distribution company is seeking an Export Manager to oversee international orders from placement through delivery. This hands-on leadership role combines order management, customer communication, freight coordination, and supervision of a three-person documentation and support team.

The Export Manager will oversee approximately 50 or more active orders at different stages, coordinating the people, timelines, and documentation needed to move each order forward. Working alongside the Operations Manager and other department leaders, this person will resolve obstacles, maintain clear customer expectations, and improve order turnaround times.

The company servesInternational business customers across multiple markets, with most customers located in the Middle East.

Key Responsibilities

Export Order Management

• Oversee the full export order lifecycle across international customer accounts, from order placement through delivery.
• Manage multiple concurrent orders with varying levels of complexity, maintaining visibility into deadlines, outstanding requirements, and next steps.
• Review order confirmations and supporting information for accuracy and completeness.
• Coordinate with sales, operations, warehouse, production, labeling, and quality assurance teams to keep orders progressing.
• Identify delays and competing priorities, establish action plans, and follow through with the appropriate teams.
• Improve order tracking, internal handoffs, and scheduling to help shorten turnaround times.

International Customer Communication

• Serve as the primary customer contact after orders are placed.
• Provide proactive updates on order status, loading dates, shipping schedules, estimated arrival times, and delivery changes.
• Set realistic expectations and communicate issues clearly, including proposed solutions and next steps.
• Build productive relationships with international customers while navigating time zones and different business practices.
• Resolve escalated customer concerns and coordinate internal responses.

Team Leadership

• Supervise a three-person documentation and support team, assigning work and establishing daily priorities.
• Monitor accuracy, deadlines, and follow-through across the team's responsibilities.
• Provide training, coaching, and feedback to strengthen performance and consistency.
• Support the team with complex orders, urgent requests, and competing deadlines.
• Develop clear procedures and accountability while maintaining a collaborative working environment.

Freight and Shipment Coordination

• Coordinate ocean and air freight bookings with carriers and freight partners.
• Review routing, feeder vessel connections, schedules, capacity, and costs to support shipment requirements.
• Manage carrier contract details, shipment allocations, and free-time negotiations.
• Maintain current freight rate information for the sales team.
• Coordinate shipment requirements for frozen, chilled, and dry products.
• Address booking changes, transit disruptions, and other freight-related issues.

Documentation and Compliance Coordination

• Oversee the accuracy and timely completion of export documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, and applicable health, halal, and origin certificates.
• Ensure required documents reach customers and banks within the appropriate timelines.
• Work with quality assurance and compliance staff to address product, shipment, and destination requirements.
• Identify and resolve documentation discrepancies before they delay shipment or delivery.

Issue Resolution and Continuous Improvement

• Investigate order discrepancies, shipment delays, damaged goods, and other service issues.
• Oversee freight claim submissions, track progress, and communicate resolutions.
• Maintain visibility into recurring problems and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor order milestones, documentation accuracy, and service performance.
• Partner with leadership and other departments to improve the reliability and efficiency of the export order process.

Required Qualifications

• Relevant experience in export management, international order management, freight forwarding, international logistics, or a related field.
• Practical knowledge of ocean freight, export documentation, and international shipment coordination.
• Experience owning orders or shipments from initiation through delivery, including direct customer communication.
• Experience managing a substantial workload of concurrent orders with competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervising employees, directing workflows, training team members, or coordinating shared priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to handle difficult customer conversations professionally.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and follow-through.
• Ability to work across departments and keep multiple parties accountable for next steps.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, particularly Excel, and experience with ERP, order management, or logistics systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with food exports, foodservice distribution, or refrigerated and frozen shipments.
• Experience supporting customers or coordinating shipments in Middle Eastern markets.
• Familiarity with air freight, carrier contracts, freight negotiations, and claims management.
• Experience improving order turnaround times, documentation accuracy, or internal workflows.
• Bachelor's degree in business, logistics, supply chain, or a related field preferred; relevant experience will also be considered.

Work Environment and Schedule

This position works fully onsite in Belcamp, Maryland, in a business casual environment. The role requires close collaboration with a small team and the ability to adjust priorities as customer and shipment needs change.

Rotating Sunday coverage for a few hours is required to communicate with international customers. Additional hours may occasionally be necessary to address urgent shipment issues.

About the Opportunity

• Lead a small team and take ownership of the international export order process.
• Build relationships with customers and freight partners across global markets.
• Work directly with leadership and contribute practical improvements to business processes.
• Join a privately owned company serving the international restaurant and foodservice industry.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.