Posted 28 July, 2026
Ocean Freight Apprentice
DHL Global Forwarding (Ireland) Limited
Dublin,Leinster,Ireland
Full Time
Reference: 137_610565_AV-359447
Organisational Background Information
Role Title Ocean Operations Apprentice
Business UnitDHL Global Forwarding
LocationCedar Drive, Dublin
Scope of Role
Booking LCL and FCL shipments with shipping lines / agents / overseas offices
Organising pickups and deliveries
Ensures customer requirements are met & documents are completed in a timely & efficient manner
Shipment tracking
Customer complaint handling
Resolving invoice queries
Reports toOceanfreight Operations Manager
Dotted Reporting lineN/A
Direct Line ReportsN/A
Days & Hours of Work4 days office based, one day in university 9.00 - 17.30 during academic year, and Monday to Friday 9.00 - 17.30 otherwise
Role ProfilerHead of Oceanfreight
Accountabilities
Key activities
Key AccountabilitiesKey Deliverables:
Maintains excellent relationships with suppliers (internal/external), as appropriate
Responsible for compliance with CDZ regulations as part of Export / Import process
Management of accounts payable invoices
Ensure full compliance re: managing & achieving local & regional KPIs
Responsible for opening, invoicing, closing & filing all shipments in line with standard procedure
Manage customer specific billing & EDI invoicing processes
Manage 3rd party shipments / billings where appropriate.
Advise Ocean Operations Manager / Product & Customer Service re: performance issues of suppliers & proposes solutions to improve/correct performance
Participate in the implementation of operational processes and perform work to the standards of Good Distribution practice (GDP) for Life Science business, as required.
Ensure operational compliance to all revenue and international trade legislative requirements, in addition to all DGF IE policies and procedures (H&S, Quality, Environmental, HR, etc), and work in a manner that supports the Company environment programme
Customer Deliverables:
Be familiar with & ensure all customer requirements are understood, documented, and implemented on a daily basis.
Be the first point of contact with customer for any bookings, queries, quotations or concerns in relation to their shipments.
Responsible for managing all door-to-door activities relating to all shipments booked by assigned customers
To ensure all exceptions are managed and communicated to the customer in a speedy and timely fashion.
Work closely & collaboratively with all internal teams (transport, product, finance, GSC,) to ensure customer requirements are met and escalate where necessary.
Work closely with all overseas teams to ensure all expectations are met and escalate where necessary.
Work with assigned customers to be open, honest, and build long term, strong relationships.
To ensure all written correspondence made with the customer reflects an excellent command of the English language
Setting high standards of service deliverables and communication for assigned customers.
Have an in-depth knowledge of the different modes of transport and proactively offer service solutions to customer.
Ensure all complaints raised by the customer are fully investigated, with root cause and corrective action documented on GCCS
Ensure all operational irregularities are document on GCCS
Listen to the customer and manage customer complaints in a calm and non-confrontational manner
Ensure operational compliance to all revenue and international trade legislative requirements, and all requirements under Data Protection Legislation in addition to all DGF IE policies and procedures (H&S, Quality, Environmental, HR, etc), and work in a manner that supports the Company environment programme
File ownership:
Ensure correct operator ID is included on files handled.
Ensure the Station Metrics Widget and LCL (Life Cycle Monitor) are checked and processed accurately in a timely manner.
Manage and update your shipments via CW1 search grids & tasks
Monitor Timestamp Completeness & timeliness to identify issues
Ensure exceptions are logged in CW1 and managed.
Ensure our service promise is maintained and build good working relationships with clients.
Ensure autorating and autocosting are completed and accurate invoices issued.
Drive and ensure file profitability.
Make routing decisions in line with agreed buy & sell rates, while adhering to agreed transit times.
Manage the 3Cs: Complaints, Claims, Compliments - be responsive and available.
Proactively interact with internal teams and stakeholders.
Offer innovative solutions by staying informed through Performance Dialogues, Market / Country Updates.
Create Value for DGF and Customer through our Product Range and Upselling.
Always be on the lookout for Continuous Process Improvement.
Competencies
Relationships with others
Communicates in an open and honest manner.
Treats others with respect, develops trust and values diversity.
Demonstrates sensitivity to diversity, i.e., culture, gender, age, religion, race disability.
Develops effective relationships with employees, peers, and managers.
Confidence in dealing with all levels in the business over the telephone and also on a face-to-face basis.
Ability to remain calm when dealing with difficult people.
Good listening skills and ability to respond in a clear, respectful manner.
Teamwork
Commitment to fulfilling their role in a team.
Supportive approach to other team members.
Shares information, knowledge, ideas, and experience freely with others.
Commits to team decisions and contributes to building a team spirit.
Works collaboratively with others to achieve team or business objectives.
Establishes acceptable levels of quality and quantity of work; reviews, recognises and supports achievement
Encourages and motivates team members and work colleagues
Customer Orientation
Basis decisions on how his/her actions impact on customers and DHL.
Builds and maintains effective relationships with customers, suppliers, and other departments.
Focuses on the needs of customer and seeks to meet and exceed expectations.
Quickly and practically solves problems, seeking advice where necessary.
Appreciates what customers want and continuously strives to meet customer expectations.
Problem Solving
Identifies issues, problems, and opportunities.
Deep dives to identify root causes of issues
Applies formal problem-solving techniques
Evaluates risk
Gathers information and analyses cause and effect.
Quickly and practically solves problems.
Establishes effective work processes and measures.
Documents and communicates awareness of the problem, solution and action taken.
Commitment to Excel
Achieves work targets and is willing to take on additional roles/responsibilities.
Continuously reviews current processes.
Seeks and is open to feedback from others.
Always behaves in a manner consistent with DHL's values.
Demonstrates a positive attitude to change.
Flexible approach to work.
Looks for opportunities in a changing situation.
Provides detailed advice to others
Takes initiative to keep skills up to date
Procedural Skills
Ability to organize own workload across a range of responsibilities & meet deadlines.
Ability to select appropriate procedures.
Ability to follow procedures.
Ability to meet procedural deadlines.
Ability to improve an existing procedure.
Ability to create a procedure.
Attention to Detail
Ability to work with lots of data to high level of accuracy.
Ability to apply high attention to detail to written (text) documents.
Ability to follow through on procedures and ensure completion.
Skills / Qualifications
Expected years of experience (minimum)Extensive knowledge of OFR Operations
Good MS Office skills
Strong administrative skills
Results driven with excellent attention to detail
Expected Qualifications
H7/O6 or above in five leaving certificate (or equivalent) subjects. A minimum of grade O6 must be obtained in English. A minimum of grade O6 or a B2 or above in Foundation level must be obtained in mathematics.
Holders of a QQI Level 5 or Level 6 (or equivalent) in cognate areas (e.g. business, logistics and distribution, supply chain management, etc.
Applicants may also be eligible to become apprentices via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this role. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed. The Company reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
We are committed to equal opportunity and reject any forms of discrimination. The basis for employee selection at DHL Group is qualification, performance, skills and experience.