forwarding-manager/references/skills.md

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)

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 %