# Competences — forwarding manager

Source: ESCO v1.2.1 occupation-skill relations (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/39803100-c338-4f01-ad2c-085d488920ca).

## Essential

- **analyse shipping rates** (skill/competence)
- **analyse supply chain trends** (skill/competence)
- **assess carriers** (skill/competence)
- **book cargo** (skill/competence)
- **communicate with shipment forwarders** (skill/competence)
- **coordinate export transportation activities** (skill/competence)
- **coordinate import transportation activities** (skill/competence)
- **develop efficiency plans for logistics operations** (skill/competence)
- **develop transportation cost metrics** (skill/competence)
- **foster relationships with various types of carrier** (skill/competence)
- **implement short term objectives** (skill/competence)
- **inspect carrier documents** (skill/competence)
- **make bids in forward auctions** (skill/competence)
- **manage carriers** (skill/competence)
- **manage freight payment methods** (skill/competence)
- **manage medium term objectives** (skill/competence)
- **non vessel operating common carrier regulations** (skill/competence)
- **oversee cargo storage requirements** (skill/competence)
- **oversee shipment routing** (skill/competence)
- **plan medium to long term objectives** (skill/competence)
- **plan transport operations** (skill/competence)
- **prepare bills of lading** (skill/competence)
- **prepare documentation for international shipping** (skill/competence)
- **supply chain management** (knowledge)

## Optional

- adapt to changing situations (skill/competence)
- administer multi-modal logistics (skill/competence)
- analyse work-related written reports (skill/competence)
- apply procedures to ensure cargo complies with customs regulations (skill/competence)
- communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages (skill/competence)
- control trade commercial documentation (skill/competence)
- create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement (skill/competence)
- create import-export commercial documentation (skill/competence)
- ensure legal accreditation for forwarding agent operations (skill/competence)
- freight transport methods (knowledge)
- handle shipment paperwork (skill/competence)
- implement cost-effective cargo handling strategies on ships (skill/competence)
- keep up-to-date to current customs regulations (skill/competence)
- liaise with transportation services (skill/competence)
- manage contracts (skill/competence)
- negotiate logistics services (skill/competence)
- negotiate price (skill/competence)
- negotiate service with providers (skill/competence)
- principles of cargo stowage (knowledge)
- provide advice to clients in terms of export restrictions (skill/competence)
- provide advice to clients in terms of import restrictions (skill/competence)
- set import export strategies (skill/competence)
- use different communication channels (skill/competence)
- work in a logistics team (skill/competence)

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## Market evidence (job-ad analysis, 7 ads, as of 2026-07-12)

Share of analyzed job ads mentioning the item (threshold ≥ 20 %). Source: JSearch/Adzuna APIs.

### Hard skills

- data analysis — **43 %**
- export operations — **29 %**
- freight forwarding — **29 %**
- regulatory compliance — **29 %**
- regulatory reporting — **14 %**
- shipment coordination — **14 %**
- risk management — **14 %**
- sales forecasting — **14 %**
- pricing strategy — **14 %**
- process improvement — **14 %**
- process optimization — **14 %**
- negotiation — **14 %**
- quotation preparation — **14 %**
- rate filing — **14 %**
- shipment execution — **14 %**
- trade compliance — **14 %**
- trade management — **14 %**
- financial analysis — **14 %**
- forecasting — **14 %**
- export sales — **14 %**
- duty drawback administration — **14 %**
- import operations — **14 %**
- inventory management — **14 %**
- inventory planning — **14 %**
- key account management — **14 %**
- logistics coordination — **14 %**
- logistics management — **14 %**
- market development — **14 %**
- export business development — **14 %**
- logistics — **14 %**
- performance management — **14 %**
- distributor management — **14 %**
- customs clearance — **14 %**
- customs compliance — **14 %**
- compliance — **14 %**
- compliance management — **14 %**
- contract negotiation — **14 %**
- air export — **14 %**
- bid response — **14 %**
- budget development — **14 %**
- budget management — **14 %**
- budgeting — **14 %**
- business planning — **14 %**
- cargo handling — **14 %**
- cargo optimization — **14 %**
- bonded warehouse management — **14 %**

### Methods

- audit-ready records — **14 %**
- performance management — **14 %**
- joint business planning — **14 %**
- duty reconciliation — **14 %**
- structured reviews — **14 %**
- variance analysis — **14 %**
- supply chain management — **14 %**

### Responsibilities

- team leadership — **29 %**
- shipment coordination — **29 %**
- issue resolution — **29 %**
- key performance indicator maintenance — **14 %**
- kpi tracking — **14 %**
- escalation resolution — **14 %**
- export strategy execution — **14 %**
- freight negotiation — **14 %**
- performance monitoring — **14 %**
- pricing policy communication — **14 %**
- market monitoring — **14 %**
- customs clearance — **14 %**
- distributor performance review — **14 %**
- cost reduction analysis — **14 %**
- customer account management — **14 %**
- customer relationship management — **14 %**
- contract compliance — **14 %**
- compliance assurance — **14 %**
- brand positioning — **14 %**
- client assistance — **14 %**
- commercial proposal evaluation — **14 %**
- communication with clients — **14 %**
- cargo roll direction — **14 %**
- business review leadership — **14 %**
- cargo coordination — **14 %**
- cargo delivery coordination — **14 %**
- bonded inventory control — **14 %**
- annual budget development — **14 %**
- relationship building — **14 %**
- sales target management — **14 %**
- record maintenance — **14 %**
- profitability monitoring — **14 %**
- team supervision — **14 %**
- shipment execution — **14 %**
- shipment management — **14 %**
- shipping document preparation — **14 %**
- staff supervision — **14 %**
- vessel contribution monitoring — **14 %**
- monthly report distribution — **14 %**
- supplier coordination — **14 %**
- trade profile dissemination — **14 %**

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