About us Southern Cross International Trade Pty Ltd. is an established South Australian-based import and export trading business operating within the wholesale trade sector. Our decade old business sources goods from overseas suppliers and supplies Australian business clients, while providing procurement coordination, supplier liaison, trade documentation, customs and freight liaison, and logistics coordination support The company operates from Adelaide CBD and provides practical cross-border trade solutions for Australian businesses that require reliable overseas sourcing, supplier communication, product matching, quality-control coordination, order follow-up and end-to-end freight support. The business is particularly focused on assisting small and medium-sized enterprises that may not have their own internal language capability, supplier networks or import/export administration systems. Our operational principle is to listen closely to the needs of our business clientele. Our team sources suitable overseas suppliers, assists with quotation follow-up and supports the coordination of goods from supplier confirmation through to delivery. The Role The Import and Export Officer will support the company’s daily trade operations by coordinating customer enquiries, supplier sourcing, quotation follow-up, order processing and shipment tracking. The role requires regular communication with Australian business customers, overseas suppliers, freight providers and customs brokers to ensure goods move efficiently through each stage of the order cycle. The successful candidate will help maintain accurate records, check trade documents, monitor delivery progress and support practical solutions when delays or documentation issues arise. This is a hands-on operational role that supports reliable import and export services while strengthening the company’s internal systems and supplier relationships. Key Duties and Responsibilities of the Role The ideal Import & Export Officer at Southern Cross International Trade Pty Ltd will be expected to undertake duties including, but not limited to, the following: i. Plan, organise, coordinate and monitor daily import/export operations, including customer enquiries, supplier sourcing, quotation follow-up, purchase order coordination, shipment tracking, delivery arrangements and after-sales follow-up. ii. Identify, assess and follow up local and overseas business opportunities by researching Australian B2B customer needs, overseas suppliers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors and product categories that align with the company’s wholesale trade and cross-border sourcing model. iii. Coordinate product sourcing and procurement activities by obtaining supplier quotations, comparing product specifications, checking production capacity, reviewing lead times, negotiating pricing and trade terms, and recommending commercially suitable sourcing options to management and customers. iv. Liaise with Australian business customers, overseas suppliers, manufacturers, exporters, freight forwarders, customs brokers, warehouse providers, delivery contractors and other stakeholders regarding product requirements, orders, documentation, shipping schedules, delivery instructions and service issues. v. Prepare, check and maintain import/export and procurement documentation, including customer enquiries, supplier quotations, purchase orders, commercial invoices, packing lists, product specifications, shipping documents, supplier communication records, customs-related information, delivery evidence and customer service records. vi. Arrange and monitor the shipping of goods into and out of Australia by coordinating freight methods, shipment schedules, logistics costs, customs broker liaison, warehouse or delivery arrangements, and shipment progress to ensure goods are delivered in a timely and commercially efficient manner. vii. Research and monitor regulatory and statutory requirements affecting importing, exporting, wholesaling and distribution activities, including customs documentation, GST and record-keeping requirements, product safety and labelling considerations, Australian Consumer Law requirements, and biosecurity or quarantine issues where relevant. viii. Coordinate supplier screening and quality-control processes, including written product specification confirmation, sample checking where commercially practical, photo or video verification, pre-shipment inspection coordination, exporter compliance screening, supplier performance monitoring and issue resolution for defective, delayed or incorrect goods. ix. Support pricing, margin and commercial decision-making by reviewing supplier costs, freight costs, exchange-rate exposure, customs and GST-related costs, product margins, market pricing, payment terms, order size and customer-specific commercial risks. x. Maintain accurate order-cycle and supplier-performance records, including order status, stock or production updates, delivery progress, customer preferences, supplier reliability, documentation accuracy, quality issues, payment milestones and other operational information required for business control. xi. Prepare operational reports, estimates and updates for business management, including order pipelines, supplier quotations, shipment schedules, customer follow-ups, product sourcing results, logistics issues, procurement risks and recommendations for improving operating systems. xii. Support business development and customer relationship management by assisting with product presentations, online catalogues, customer communication, repeat-order support, after-sales service procedures, supplier introductions and practical trade solutions for Australian businesses requiring overseas sourcing assistance. xiii. Develop, implement and improve practical import/export procedures, supplier-vetting checklists, order-management templates, documentation systems, customer communication processes and risk-control measures to support the company’s expanding trading volume and compliance obligations. xiv. Work closely with the Directors, business development staff, legal/compliance support personnel, accountants and external professional advisers to ensure the company’s import/export activities are commercially sound, accurately documented and aligned with Australian business, taxation, employment and trade-related requirements. Skills, Experience and Personal Attributes At Southern Cross International Trade Pty Ltd, our hiring team is looking for an experienced import/export and logistics professional who brings practical trade knowledge, commercial judgement, supplier-management capability and strong communication skills. The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate: i. Practical experience in import/export operations, international logistics, freight coordination, procurement procedures and trade documentation workflows. This includes exposure to freight forwarding, air cargo, sea cargo, logistics management, supply chain coordination, wholesale trading or a closely related commercial environment. ii. Strong communication and negotiation skills with overseas suppliers, manufacturers, exporters, distributors and freight providers. The candidate must also be confident dealing with customs brokers, local service providers and Australian business customers in a structured professional manner. iii. Sound operational understanding of supplier sourcing, quotation comparison, product specification checking, order-cycle monitoring and shipment tracking. The candidate must also be able to manage documentation control, delayed shipments, supplier non-performance, product quality issues, changing customer requirements and logistics disruptions. iv. Strong commercial and compliance awareness across supplier costs, freight costs, exchange-rate exposure, payment terms and customer pricing. This includes margin control, delivery timing, quality risk, customer-service outcomes, Australian business standards, workplace compliance and the need to seek specialist advice on complex customs or legal matters. v. High attention to detail, strong analytical ability and solid computer literacy across email systems, spreadsheets, supplier platforms and order-tracking tools. The candidate must be able to maintain supplier files, customer records, invoice records, shipping information and reports while supporting business ownership, staff training, internal systems and supplier/customer relationships. Bilingual English and Mandarin skills will be highly regarded, especially with experience in China or other Asian supplier markets. Qualifications and Experience i. A relevant tertiary qualification in international trade, business, logistics, supply chain management, procurement, commerce, business English or a related discipline would be advantageous. ii. A bachelor degree or higher qualification in a relevant field will be highly regarded. However, substantial relevant experience in import/export operations, logistics coordination, supplier liaison, freight forwarding, wholesale trade or cross-border procurement may be accepted in lieu of a formal degree qualification. iii. At least five years of relevant experience in import/export operations, international logistics, procurement, freight forwarding, cargo agency work, supplier management, customs coordination, wholesale trading or cross-border commercial services will be highly regarded. iv. Experience in air freight, import department operations, logistics team coordination, supplier negotiation, inventory or stock-control systems, order-cycle management, department procedures and performance reporting will be particularly valuable for this role. v. Previous experience dealing with Chinese suppliers, overseas exporters, Australian business customers, freight providers and cross-border documentation requirements will be highly regarded. vi. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate a practical understanding of product sourcing, supplier communication, shipping coordination, commercial documentation and customer-focused trade support. Our Ethos: At Southern Cross International Trade Pty Ltd, our core team places strong value on practical import/export experience, supplier-management capability, commercial discipline, reliable documentation and professional customer service. We are seeking someone who can coordinate trade operations with confidence, maintain accurate records, communicate effectively with local and overseas stakeholders, and support the continued growth of the company as a South Australian international trade service provider. Preference will be given to Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents.
