Sr. Transportation Coordinator

Sr. Transportation Coordinator

Location: Los Angeles, CA 90064
Schedule: Full Time | Monday–Friday | 9:00am–5:00pm
Position Type: 100% Onsite | Contract Role/Direct Hire/Temp to Hire
Compensation: $28.00–$35.00/hr. D.O.E.

Summary

The Senior Transportation Coordinator supports the end-to-end execution of international sales contracts and ensures timely, accurate delivery of products to customers. This role focuses on contract administration, shipment coordination, import/export documentation, freight follow-up, and post-sale service. The position requires strong attention to detail, professional communication with suppliers and customers, and the ability to manage high-volume transactions while reducing delays, preventing documentation errors, and maintaining organized business records.

Responsibilities & Duties

Contract Administration & Execution

• Manage the full lifecycle of each contract once issued by the sales team, including coordinating contract execution, collecting required documentation, verifying accuracy, and maintaining complete contract records.
• Collect, review, organize, and audit documentation from suppliers, customers, freight partners, and internal teams to ensure completeness and minimize errors before shipment or delivery.
• Monitor contract progress, collection schedules, delivery schedules, and shipment milestones; promptly communicate potential delays, missing documents, or exceptions to sales leadership and other stakeholders.
• Conduct routine follow-ups with sales directors and participate in weekly regional contract status meetings to support visibility, accountability, and on-time execution.
• Maintain accurate contract files and ensure proper document archiving for easy retrieval, second-level review, audit support, and operational continuity.
• Support process improvements that reduce documentation errors, prevent shipment delays, and improve consistency across contract execution workflows.

Freight, International Logistics & Shipment Coordination

• Liaise with approved freight forwarders and logistics vendors to obtain quotes, book shipments, confirm schedules, and communicate shipment requirements.
• Coordinate sea, air, courier, small-lot, and container shipments, including chilled and ambient requirements where applicable.
• Follow up on freight activity, container movement, collection and delivery status, and customer requirements to ensure shipments remain on track.
• Prepare, review, and maintain import/export documentation and freight documentation required by customers, freight forwarders, suppliers, and import authorities.
• Work professionally with freight forwarders, suppliers, customers, and internal teams to resolve shipment questions, documentation issues, delays, and schedule changes.
• Update internal pricing models and databases with current freight rates, lane information, freight trends, issues, and opportunities.
• Assist with third-party storage arrangements and occasionally visit warehouses or facilities to observe standards and processes.

Sample Control & Sales Team Support

• Process sample requests from the sales team within 24 hours, including coordinating shipments, preparing required documentation, and tracking delivery.
• Select appropriate shipping methods based on urgency, cost, product requirements, and customer expectations.
• Track sample collection and delivery, keeping the requesting salesperson informed of progress, delays, and any issues requiring follow-up.

Finance, Accounting & Business Documentation Support

• Coordinate with external bookkeeping and accounting partners to support accurate contract financial records and timely financial follow-up.
• Assist Accounts Payable activities in coordination with the General Manager and accounting partners.
• Assist in the implementation, maintenance, and daily use of the company accounting system, including Business Central as applicable.
• Maintain centralized repositories for factory certifications, customer-specific documentation requirements, product images, product specifications, and other business-critical records.
• Ensure documentation is organized, accurate, current, compliant, and easy to access for internal teams, audits, customer requests, and operational needs.

Professionalism, Communication & Operational Expectations

• Demonstrate maturity, reliability, flexibility, and professionalism in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with frequent client and supplier interaction.
• Use polite, respectful, and clear communication when dealing with customers, suppliers, freight forwarders, sales leadership, accounting partners, and internal teams.
• Maintain strong attention to detail through second reviews, documentation checks, audit preparation, and proactive follow-up.
• Adapt to shifting priorities and time-sensitive shipment requirements, including occasional out-of-hours or on-call needs when required.

Minimum Experience & Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in international logistics, import/export coordination, export documentation, contract administration, or a similar logistics coordination role.
• Experience coordinating container shipments and international logistics documentation is required; food industry or food manufacturing logistics experience is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of import/export processes, freight documentation, customer documentation requirements, and shipment coordination with freight forwarders and logistics vendors.
• Familiarity with INCOTERMS is preferred, including understanding how they impact freight costs, cargo insurance, customs clearance obligations, transfer of risk, and delivery location responsibilities.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, tech savvy, and able to handle high-volume transactions, multiple shipments, documentation deadlines, and customer/supplier follow-up.
• Strong communication and documentation skills with the ability to work professionally and respectfully with customers, suppliers, freight forwarders, sales leaders, internal teams, and accounting partners.
• Stable employment history is mandatory.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, or related field preferred.

Software Skills

• ERP/accounting system experience preferred; Business Central experience is a plus.
• Microsoft Office proficiency required, including Excel Pivot Tables, Word, Outlook, and Teams.
• Experience with relevant logistics, documentation, freight, or accounting software is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Written and spoken proficiency in Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Spanish, or Arabic is preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a small, fast-growing international business environment.
• Located in the Los Angeles metro area is preferred.
• Ability to work on call when needed for time-sensitive shipments.