Logistics Specialist

Logistics Specialist

The Logistics Specialist is the single owner of project freight from vendor to site accountable both financially and physically for every leg of the shipment chain. The role qualifies and manages freight suppliers, plans routes, negotiates rates, manages budgets and DOA approvals, resolves claims, oversees warehousing and staging, and gives Project Managers total visibility into what material is where, in what condition, and at what cost. The role combines hands-on execution with technical mastery of international freight HTS codes, tariff exposure, hazmat protocols, and customs documentation.

The Logistics Specialist owns end-to-end shipments from vendor to site including risk and ownership transfer. The role plans routes, schedules shipments, and obtain spot quotes to meet project timelines while optimizing cost, transit time, and risk; monitors supplier readiness dates to align transportation with procurement and project schedules. The Logistics Specialist confirms project freight/logistics/Brokerage budgets at kickoff and actively manages to beat them. They reconcile freight estimates, POs, and contract rates against carrier invoices to support accurate, on-time payment. The role administers the formal freight approval process.

The Logistics Specialist negotiates freight contracts, lane rates, and service-level agreements; leads contract rate reviews and renewals; identifies opportunities to consolidate shipments and reduce transportation costs. They manage freight claims end-to-end damage, loss, delay, shortage, and demurrage/detention disputes including documentation, carrier/insurer negotiation, and recovery tracking. The role coordinates import and export clearance with freight forwarders and customs brokers; maintains and applies country of origin and harmonized tariff (HTS) codes; monitors tariff/duty exposure and mitigation options.

The Logistics Specialist reviews commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, air waybills, certificates of origin, export documentation, and customs entries for accuracy; confirms Incoterms and documentation requirements with suppliers and internal teams. They coordinate oversized, hazardous, high-value, and temperature-sensitive shipments; ensure hazmat shipments follow proper classification, packaging, and carrier protocols, and that consolidations (in-house or third-party) are properly packaged, labeled, and documented to box-level contents. The role coordinates receiving at all site and Seven Seas warehouse locations, including inbound scheduling, unloading, inspection, and documented transfer of custody.

The Logistics Specialist oversees warehousing, staging, and material flow across all Seven Seas locations by; maintains inventory accuracy through cycle counts and system reconciliation; identifies storage utilization improvements. They provide real-time shipment visibility to Project Managers and site teams; maintain trackers, delivery schedules; communicate proactively on delays, exceptions, and risks with recommended mitigation. The role analyzes and reports logistics KPIs (cost vs. budget, on-time delivery, damage/claims, dwell time, carrier performance, expedited freight); supports continuous improvement of logistics procedures, systems, and document retention.

The Logistics Specialist ensures logistics activities comply with company policies, contractual requirements, trade regulations, safety requirements, and applicable import/export laws.

Qualifications include an associate or bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, International Trade, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered. The role requires 3+ years of hands-on logistics experience, including international freight across air, ocean, and ground modes. The Logistics Specialist should have working knowledge of Incoterms, HTS classification, country of origin, and customs documentation.

The role requires experience qualifying and onboarding freight forwarders, carriers, and customs brokers; proven ability to negotiate freight contracts and spot rates. Familiarity with hazardous materials classification, packaging, and documentation requirements is necessary. Experience managing freight claims (damage, loss, delay, demurrage/detention) is required. The Logistics Specialist should have experience coordinating receiving, warehousing, and material staging at multiple locations. Proficiency reconciling estimates, POs, and contract rates against carrier invoices is required. Proficiency with Microsoft programs and ERP systems is necessary. Strong organizational, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills; high attention to detail; ownership mindset with a bias toward cross-functional collaboration are required.