DHL Global Forwarding, Freight (DGFF), the DHL Group’s air, ocean, and road freight specialist, is looking for an Ocean Freight Export Senior Specialist to join its team in Dubai. This is a customer-facing operations role for someone who can take charge of shipment execution, build strong client relationships, and protect profitability without losing sight of service. As Export Senior Specialist, you’ll be the primary point of contact for customers on shipment information, exceptions, complaints, and claims; coordinate bookings, documentation, and local and international transport; manage routing and shipment assignment to meet service commitments while maximizing profit; prepare accurate invoices and resolve invoice disputes; ensure regulatory compliance for commodities and locations; visit customers to understand their needs and spot upselling opportunities; resolve recurring issues and supplier performance problems; and train and guide less experienced colleagues. The role calls for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and more than two years of experience.
About DHL Global Forwarding — Connecting People Across 220 Countries
Company: DHL Global Forwarding, Freight (DGFF), part of DHL Group
Reach: Operations in more than 220 countries
Services: Air, ocean, and road freight, with standardized and end-to-end solutions
Network: The largest global forwarding network, with more than 30,000 employees
Values: Respect and Results. Mission: Excellence. Simply Delivered.
Export Senior Specialist Role — Ocean Freight Execution & Client Partnership
Department: Ocean Freight Export Operations
Primary Focus: Shipment execution, customer relationships, routing and profitability
Scope: Ocean freight export shipments from Dubai
Mission: Delivering reliable service and strong customer trust
Export Senior Specialist Position Overview
The Export Senior Specialist role in DHL Global Forwarding’s ocean freight team sits between the customer and the shipment. You’ll lead the execution of dedicated shipments from the moment a booking arrives to the point of delivery, coordinating the documents, transport, and handovers that each consignment needs. Customers look to you as their first contact, so you’ll give them clear and timely information about where their goods are, handle exceptions and complaints promptly, and manage claims with fairness and speed. Good service and good business go hand in hand here. You’ll plan routing and shipment assignments so that service commitments are met while profitability is protected, and you’ll prepare accurate invoices and resolve disputes when they arise. Relationships matter just as much. You’ll visit customers, learn about their needs, and identify where additional services could help them, while working to keep them loyal over the long term. Compliance runs through every shipment, so you’ll put the right regulatory procedures in place for each commodity and destination. Beyond the day-to-day, you’ll look for ways to make ocean freight operations more effective and efficient, studying recurring problems, proposing solutions for supplier performance, and sharing improvement ideas through continuous improvement reviews. Mentoring is also part of the job: you’ll guide newer colleagues, answer their questions, and help them build confidence in the work.
As Export Senior Specialist, you’ll build deeper expertise in ocean freight operations, customs and export documentation, and the commercial side of forwarding, while developing the leadership skills that come with owning a customer file. The ideal candidate holds a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification and has more than two years of experience in ocean freight, export operations, or a related logistics role. Strong customer service, clear communication, and the judgment to balance service with profit are essential. Accuracy in invoicing and documentation, an organized approach to multiple shipments, and the ability to resolve issues calmly are also important. Confirming transport orders, controlling import and export paperwork, and updating customs records are part of the wider remit. For export professionals in Dubai who want to lead shipments and grow client relationships within a global forwarding network, this role offers a strong platform.
Why This Role Matters: As Export Senior Specialist at DHL Global Forwarding in Dubai, you keep customers’ cargo moving on schedule across the world’s largest forwarding network, become the trusted point of contact for clients, protect profitability through smart routing and accurate invoicing, resolve complaints and claims with care, help colleagues grow, and advance a career in ocean freight and international logistics.
Key Responsibilities & Shipment Duties
Shipment Execution & Coordination
- Lead dedicated shipment execution activities
- Receive and process customer bookings
- Coordinate documentation requirements for each shipment
- Arrange local and international transport
- Confirm transport orders and optimize bookings
- Control the distribution of import and export documents
Customer Relationship & Service
- Serve as the first point of contact for shipment information
- Address customer concerns promptly and clearly
- Handle exceptions, complaints, and claims
- Build close business relationships with existing customers
- Conduct customer visits to understand needs
- Identify upselling opportunities and achieve retention targets
Routing, Invoicing & Profitability
- Manage shipment routing and assignment
- Balance service commitments with profit maximization
- Prepare accurate invoices and supporting documentation
- Resolve invoice disputes efficiently
- Own the profitability of assigned customer files
- Use strategic routing to improve margins
Compliance & Customs
- Implement regulatory compliance procedures for commodities
- Apply compliance rules for each shipment location
- Update customs shipment information and status
- Resolve customs-related customer issues and incidents
- Maintain accurate compliance records
- Keep documentation aligned with regulatory requirements
Process Improvement & Supplier Performance
- Study and resolve day-to-day delivery issues
- Implement best practices for ocean freight operations
- Resolve recurring issues and suggest process enhancements
- Identify and address supplier performance issues
- Propose solutions to improve supplier performance
- Contribute to process improvement reviews and Gemba walks
Team Guidance & Training
- Provide functional guidance to less experienced colleagues
- Train and advise newer team members
- Answer questions and resolve issues raised by the team
- Share improvement ideas proactively with management
- Help allocate resources efficiently across the team
- Support productivity improvements in ocean freight
Qualifications & Requirements
Education
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and qualification
Experience
- More than 2 years of experience in ocean freight, export operations, or logistics
- Experience handling customer shipments and documentation
- Experience with invoicing and dispute resolution (advantage)
Professional Skills
- Strong customer service and relationship skills
- Clear and effective communication
- Accuracy in invoicing, documentation, and records
- Ability to manage multiple shipments and priorities
- Calm and effective handling of complaints and claims
Technical Knowledge
- Understanding of ocean freight operations
- Knowledge of customs and export documentation
- Familiarity with regulatory compliance for shipments
Career Development & Growth Opportunities
Professional Advancement
- Possible further career development within DHL Group
- Pathway toward Ocean Freight Manager or Customer Team Lead roles
- Opportunity to manage larger customer accounts
- Exposure to a global forwarding network across 220 countries
Learning & Development
- Hands-on experience with ocean freight execution
- Development of commercial and account management skills
- Experience in process improvement and continuous improvement
- Opportunity to coach and develop newer colleagues
Benefits & Work Environment
- Competitive salary
- Opportunities in a global company
- DHL Top Employer certification environment
- Focus on personal and professional development
About DHL Global Forwarding — The Logistics Company for the World
DHL Global Forwarding, Freight is the DHL Group’s air, ocean, and road freight specialist, serving customers across a wide range of industries worldwide. Part of a group that has pioneered cross-border express shipping since 1969 and operates in more than 220 countries, the business combines standardized transport with specialized end-to-end solutions. Its purpose is connecting people and improving lives, guided by values of respect and results.
Career Excellence in Ocean Freight: Join the world’s most international logistics group, lead export shipments from Dubai, build lasting customer relationships, protect profitability through smart routing, improve processes across ocean freight operations, and grow a career in global forwarding with DHL.
Who Should Apply?
- Ocean Freight Coordinators: Ready for a senior specialist role
- Export Documentation Specialists: Seeking a customer-facing role
- Freight Forwarding Professionals: With two or more years of experience
- Customs and Compliance Specialists: Moving into shipment operations
- Logistics Account Managers: Looking to grow in ocean freight
- Bachelor’s Graduates in Logistics: With practical export experience
Recently Opening Job👇
