Operation Specialist

OPERATIONS SPECIALIST – JOB DESCRIPTION

Department: Operations

Position: Operations Specialist

Reports To: Operations Manager

General Purpose

The Operations Specialist leads the planning, negotiation, and delivery of international freight solutions by air, ocean, and road. This role makes independent decisions on complex logistics and customs strategies, negotiates terms with carriers and suppliers, and advises customers and colleagues on regulatory risk. The Operations Specialist works with a high level of independence, owns the business results and compliance of assigned accounts, and directs and supervises junior operations staff.

The working hours are 39 hours per week.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans and designs end-to-end international freight solutions (air, ocean, and road) for complex customer supply chains, using independent professional judgment.
• Studies customer supply chain needs and turns them into custom, cost-effective, and compliant logistics strategies.
• • Advanced proficiency in using Barsan's BARSIS system for managing logistics operations, shipment documentation and operational processes.
• Uses expert knowledge of trade law, sanctions regimes, and customs codes to review and approve shipping and customs documents; advises customers and management on regulatory risk and how to manage it.
• Selects and evaluates carriers and logistics providers based on cost, performance, and risk; owns vendor performance management.
• Leads negotiations with carriers and suppliers on freight rates and contract terms, and builds competitive pricing strategies for customer quotes.
• Directs airline and ocean freight booking strategy to improve service quality, capacity use, and cost efficiency across a portfolio of accounts.
• Acts as a key operational liaison with customs brokers, government authorities, overseas offices and international business partners across Barsan's global network. Turkish language proficiency is essential for supporting Turkish customers, suppliers and cross-border operations.
• Coordinates and supports global logistics projects involving multiple countries, ensuring alignment with corporate operational standards, customer requirements and international trade regulations.
• Owns regulatory compliance for import/export operations, interprets new customs legislation, and turns it into internal procedures.
• Identifies and manages operational and business risk across international supply chains, and designs plans to prevent and handle problems.
• Represents the company to public authorities and external agencies to obtain permits and authorizations for regulated or controlled cargo.
• Acts as the senior point of contact for customers, carriers, suppliers, and business partners, resolving high-value or high-risk issues.
• Investigates and resolves complex, non-routine operational problems, applying strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Monitors and analyzes operational and business performance data, and leads continuous improvement projects across processes and systems.
• Oversees the quality of operational documents, shipment records, and invoices to ensure accuracy across the portfolio.
• Supervises, trains, and mentors junior operations staff, assigns workload, and gives technical guidance on complex logistics and compliance matters.
• Speaks fluent Turkish

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field (required).
• At least three years of professional experience in international logistics, freight forwarding, or supply chain operations, including experience negotiating with carriers and managing customs compliance.
• Strong, expert knowledge of customs procedures, international trade regulations, and cross-border compliance frameworks.
• Proven experience across air, ocean, and road freight operations, including commercial negotiation and vendor management.
• Fluent English, with the ability to write and negotiate business and regulatory correspondence.
• Fluent Turkish (spoken and written), with the ability to communicate and negotiate with Turkish customs authorities, carriers, and business partners.
• Strong strategic thinking, analysis, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make independent professional decisions.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Operations Management
• Logistics Solution Design
• Commercial Negotiation
• Supply Chain Management
• Independent Decision Making
• Advanced Analytical Thinking
• Complex Problem Solving
• Regulatory & Customs Compliance Expertise
• Process Improvement Leadership
• Customer & Stakeholder Relationship Management
• Team Supervision and Mentoring
• Turkish Language Proficiency