Airfreight Operations Team Leader

Woodland Group are recruiting an Airfreight Operations Team Leader. The Airfreight Operations Team Leader will lead and support a small, fast-paced airfreight operations team, ensuring exceptional service delivery to customers, clients, and agents. This role requires hands-on involvement in daily import operations, problem-solving, compliance with HMRC/BF regulations, and fostering a high-performance team environment.

Woodland Group are recruiting an Airfreight Operations Team Leader. The Airfreight Operations Team Leader will lead and support a small, fast-paced airfreight operations team, ensuring exceptional service delivery to customers, clients, and agents. This role requires hands-on involvement in daily import operations, problem-solving, compliance with HMRC/BF regulations, and fostering a high-performance team environment.

About us:

Would you like to work for a company where you can make a difference, Woodland Group is more than just a logistics and supply chain company. Independently owned, we continuously challenge ourselves and our teams to innovate and adapt, provide expert solutions and create opportunities for clients, team members, partners and communities. Our culture thrives on a drive for excellence and innovation, collaboration, agility through independence, opportunities to learn and develop, our diversity and relationship building, and our desire to bring skills and passion to a quickly changing and fast-paced environment.

About the role

• Lead and motivate a small airfreight operations team to deliver work to high standards.
• Coach, mentor, and train team members, including on regulatory and internal procedural updates.
• Allocate and oversee daily workload; ensure coverage during absences (holidays/sick leave).
• Conduct daily and weekly team meetings; escalate issues to management as needed.
• Support a collaborative, proactive, and solutions-driven team culture.
• Manage and monitor airfreight import shipments from start to finish.
• Ensure compliance with ETSF procedures and HMRC/BF regulations.
• Monitor arrivals, trigger points, discrepancies, amendments, and claims.
• Perform regular warehouse walk-throughs and bond checks; document and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain and update customer and supplier records in internal systems.
• Participate in and lead cross-departmental meetings with Transport, Warehouse, and
• Provide high-level customer service through clear, professional communication.
• Handle inquiries and resolve issues from suppliers, customers, and agents.
• Ensure efficient communication practices within the team and with external parties.
• Develop and implement SOPs for specific customer needs.
• Conduct monthly audits on ETSF paperwork and customs entries.
• Keep the team updated with all HMRC/BF regulation changes.
• Maintain dashboards and internal records to reflect up-to-date shipment and compliance data.
• Ensure all procedural changes and updates are logged and communicated effectively.

Personal Specification

• 3-5 years' experience in airfreight imports operations
• Strong understanding of customs processes and entries
• Knowledge of ETSF and HMRC/BF regulations
• Team leadership or supervisory experience
• Proficient in MS Office and internal logistics systems

Why you'll love working for us:

We have a new UK benefits programme based on what our staff asked us for! This includes

• Generous holiday allowance which rises with service.
• Recognition awards and Incentives.
• Length of service incentives
• Enhanced occupational maternity pay
• Profit share scheme
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Health cash plan
• Mental health and stress hotline
• Retail discounts and awards
• Discounted health club membership
• Real career opportunities
• Team bonding opportunities and events
• To be part of a fast-moving exciting company with a great team of people.
• And much more

We look forward to you joining our world where WE CARE, WE CONNECT, WE DELIVER.