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What does an import export manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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Import export manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real import export manager resumes:

  • Manage importation of LCL and FCL shipments via air, ocean and express services.
  • Manage OEM exports throughout Europe for a veterinary equipment manufacturer.
  • Correspond and establish operational procedures with freight forwarders, U.S.
  • Review and approve import documentation for adherence to payment terms and CBP rules and regulations.
  • Work with forwarders to ensure proper documentation is presented per international requirements.
  • Implement advanced shipment notification process with EDI technology providing improve visibility of purchase order status.
  • Establish and enforce company policy, to include government guidelines and regulations with regards to international and domestic supply chain logistics
  • Direct inbound or outbound logistics operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, or logistics quality management.
  • Implement advanced shipment notification process with EDI technology providing improve visibility of purchase order status.

Import export manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Import Export Managers are proficient in Import Export, Customer Service, and Logistics. They’re also known for soft skills such as Management skills, Problem-solving skills, and Time-management skills.

We break down the percentage of Import Export Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Import Export, 16%

    Represent Mondel?z International at the GMA Import Export Certification Committee.

  • Customer Service, 14%

    Conducted the recruiting, training and supervising accounting and customer service staff; implemented performance evaluations.

  • Logistics, 12%

    Established and enforced company policy, to include government guidelines and regulations with regards to international and domestic supply chain logistics

  • Export Compliance, 5%

    Developed audit process for internal export compliance reviews to ensure proper record-keeping.

  • Forwarders, 4%

    Worked with forwarders to ensure proper documentation is presented per international requirements.

  • Customs Brokers, 4%

    Coordinated communication between customs brokers and FDA/USDA.

Common skills that an import export manager uses to do their job include "import export," "customer service," and "logistics." You can find details on the most important import export manager responsibilities below.

Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling import export manager duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." According to an import export manager resume, here's how import export managers can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "provided efficient and compliant international logistics and supply chain solutions. "

Time-management skills. import export managers are also known for time-management skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to import export manager responsibilities, because "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." An import export manager resume example shows how time-management skills is used in the workplace: "administered all import and export of goods and ensured customer orders were delivered on time as outlined in their respective contracts. "

Communication skills. For certain import export manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "communication skills." The day-to-day duties of an import export manager rely on this skill, as "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what import export managers do: "coordinate and organize all documentation and customer information skills used communications, logistics, analysis, attention to details. "

Leadership skills. Another common skill required for import export manager responsibilities is "leadership skills." This skill comes up in the duties of import export managers all the time, as "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." An excerpt from a real import export manager resume shows how this skill is central to what an import export manager does: "develop leadership skills including planning, distribution, logistics, transportation, and customer operations. "

See the full list of import export manager skills

The three companies that hire the most import export managers are:

Compare different import export managers

Import export manager vs. Manager/partner

A manager/partner or managing partner is an individual who manages the daily activities of a company as well as guides its overall strategic business direction. Managing partners must cooperate with other executives, board members, and employees to implement organizational goals, procedures, and policies. They are responsible for the hiring and managing of employees and should follow the executive committee guidelines and federal and state laws and regulations. Managing partners must also maintain positive client relationships and lead the drive for new business acquisitions.

The annual salary of managers/partner is $24,575 higher than the average salary of import export managers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between import export managers and managers/partner are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer service, government agencies, and inventory control.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, import export manager responsibilities require skills like "import export," "logistics," "export compliance," and "forwarders." Meanwhile a typical manager/partner has skills in areas such as "project management," "client facing," "account management," and "partner relationships." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Managers/partner tend to reach similar levels of education than import export managers. In fact, managers/partner are 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Import export manager vs. Relief manager

As line managers, they oversee other employees and the business operations while reporting to a higher manager. They play a significant role in the operation of the business from supervising and managing workers daily and acting as a link to upper management and employees. It is part of their responsibility to recruit and hire talent to fill team positions, provide training and learning to new hires, and ensuring that the employees are doing their jobs effectively and efficiently.

On average, relief managers earn a $32,407 lower salary than import export managers a year.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that import export manager responsibilities requires skills like "import export," "logistics," "export compliance," and "forwarders." But a relief manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "reservations," "customer satisfaction," "bank deposits," and "collection calls."

In general, relief managers achieve lower levels of education than import export managers. They're 12.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Learn more about import export managers vs line managers.

Import export manager vs. Line manager

A lead manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the progress of a particular office or department. Although the responsibilities will vary depending on their industry, it will typically revolve around producing progress reports, reviewing documentation and transactions, managing the budget, procuring supplies, and devising strategies to generate leads and reach goals faster. Furthermore, as a lead manager, it is essential to spearhead projects and encourage staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

An average line manager eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of import export managers. The difference in salaries amounts to line managers earning a $14,401 lower average salary than import export managers.import export managers and line managers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "iso," "fda," and "inventory control," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an import export manager is likely to be skilled in "import export," "customer service," "logistics," and "export compliance," while a typical line manager is skilled in "client facing," "continuous improvement," "service line," and "customer satisfaction."

Line managers typically earn lower educational levels compared to import export managers. Specifically, they're 6.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Learn more about import export managers vs lead managers.

Import export manager vs. Lead manager

Lead managers tend to earn a higher pay than import export managers by an average of $31,076 per year.According to resumes from import export managers and lead managers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "customer service," "logistics," and "iso. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. An import export manager uses "import export," "export compliance," "forwarders," and "customs brokers." Lead managers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "safety procedures," "sales floor," "gross margin," and "pet. "In general, lead managers earn the most working in the retail industry, with an average salary of $115,262. The highest-paying industry for an import export manager is the technology industry.In general, lead managers hold lower degree levels compared to import export managers. Lead managers are 6.3% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of import export manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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