International Operations Manager – Logistics & Customs USA

About Us

We are a specialty chemicals manufacturing company with a full stack solution from R&D to manufacturing and global supply chain of chemicals to 26+ countries. Headquartered in Bengaluru, India we cater to pharmaceutical, agrochemical, industrial chemicals, food, nutraceuticals and animal nutrition industries.

Our B2B fulfillment platform supports businesses globally in developing and manufacturing chemicals from lab to commercial scale. With a team of in-house R&D experts and scientists, we offer custom synthesis and route scouting services to support manufacturers in product development.

We are VC backed - here is a read. We are 450+ people strong and have entities in India, Japan, USA, UAE and Indonesia. We are currently exporting to over 17 countries from India.

Read to learn more

• https://lnkd.in/gd7brT8S

Role Overview

This is a hands-on, relationship-driven operations role - not a desk-based analytics or reporting role. We are looking for someone who owns first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery end-to-end, has real working relationships with local and global logistics vendors, and is comfortable being on the ground at ports, warehouses, and vendor sites, not just behind a screen.

This person will be the operational point of contact between our international Sales team and India-based Exim/Operations team, and will build and manage a reliable network of US Customs Brokers, freight forwarders, 3PLs, carriers, and warehouse partners to keep shipments, samples, inventory, and customer deliveries moving smoothly and cost-effectively.

Key Responsibilities

First-Mile & Last-Mile Operations

• Own first-mile pickup (from vendors, factories, and ports) and last-mile delivery (to customers) end-to-end, coordinating directly with truckers, drayage providers, and carriers.
• Be the go-to person on the ground for transportation and warehousing issues - able to visit ports, warehouses, and vendor sites as needed.
• Manage and coordinate inbound and outbound logistics operations, including transportation and warehousing.

Vendor & Customs Relationships

• Build and maintain established, personal working relationships (not just system access) with local and global logistics vendors - truckers, drayage providers, 3PLs, freight forwarders, and licensed US Customs Brokers - with the ability to pick up the phone and get problems solved.
• Ensure smooth and compliant customs clearance for imports and exports, including required documentation such as commercial invoices, bills of lading, certificates of origin, etc.
• Work with internal teams and external partners to ensure shipments comply with applicable US trade and customs requirements.
• Negotiate with suppliers, logistics partners, carriers, and customers to improve service levels and reduce costs.

Sales & Customer Liaison

• Serve as the primary point of contact (POC) between the Sales team and Logistics/Exim for customer-facing shipment, delivery, and operational matters.
• Coordinate order fulfillment and customer deliveries with Sales, warehouses, and logistics partners, ensuring shipments are delivered accurately and on time.
• Resolve issues related to transportation, imports, exports, warehousing, shipments, and customer deliveries.

International Sales Costing

• Prepare freight and landed-cost estimates to support pricing and quotations for international sales.
• Work with freight forwarders and Customs Brokers to obtain accurate and competitive quotes for costing purposes.

Sample Logistics Management

• Manage the end-to-end movement of international product samples, including dispatch, tracking, customs clearance, and on-time delivery.
• Coordinate with carriers, Customs Brokers, and logistics partners to resolve delays or clearance issues on sample shipments.

Warehouse & Inventory Coordination

• Coordinate warehouse and distribution center activities to ensure accuracy, productivity, cost efficiency, and timely deliveries.
• Coordinate with 3PLs and warehouse partners for inventory receiving, storage, transfers, releases, and customer deliveries.
• Maintain visibility on inventory held across warehouses and 3PL locations and coordinate timely movement, release, and delivery of materials.

Tracking & Continuous Improvement

• Track shipment and delivery status closely and flag issues early, before they become customer problems.
• Maintain basic process documentation and shipment records; share regular status updates with India management.
• Identify practical ways to improve turnaround time, reduce cost, and streamline vendor processes.

Team Management

• Manage and guide logistics team members, planners, and coordinators.

Required Qualifications

• 3 - 5 years of hands-on experience in logistics, freight, or international trade operations - ideally including US import/export shipments, first-mile pickup, and last-mile delivery.
• Existing, established relationships with US Customs Brokers, freight forwarders, and local trucking/logistics vendors - this is a relationship-driven role, not a systems/reporting role.
• Solid working knowledge of US customs procedures, import/export documentation, and Incoterms.
• Experience liaising directly with sales teams and customers on operational matters.
• Comfortable being on the ground - visiting ports, warehouses, and vendor sites as needed; this is not a remote/desk-only role.
• Experience working with 3PLs, warehouses, carriers, and other logistics service providers.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to resolve issues quickly by working the phones and vendor relationships, not just by pulling reports.
• Strong communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work daily across India-US time zones.
• Comfortable using Excel and ERP/TMS systems for day-to-day tracking (this is an operations role, not a data/analytics role).
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, International Business, or a related field (preferred, not mandatory with relevant hands-on experience).

Good to Have

• Prior experience working with an Indian HQ / exporting-from-India setup.
• Exposure to HS classification, tariff/duty research, customs valuation, or Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) operations.
• Supply chain certifications such as CSCP, CLTD, or CPIM.
• Prior experience managing or mentoring a small logistics/coordination team.
• Familiarity with SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, TMS, or other supply-chain platforms