About the Role
As our Logistics & Shipping Partnerships Specialist, you will own and transform The Oblist’s entire shipping infrastructure. Your primary mission is to build and negotiate strategic partnerships with carriers and freight providers to deliver a faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective shipping experience, from a single decorative object to a full container of furniture crossing borders.
This is a fully remote freelance position that demands a high level of autonomy. You will manage your own priorities, build relationships with carriers independently, and drive operational improvements without day-to-day oversight. We need someone who sees logistics not as a back-office function, but as a competitive advantage for a luxury brand.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Carrier Partnerships & Negotiation
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard new shipping partners across key corridors (Europe, US, international)
- Negotiate rates, SLAs, and volume-based agreements with carriers, freight forwarders, and last-mile providers
- Build a diversified carrier portfolio covering standard parcel, white-glove delivery, oversized freight, and art shipping
- Develop specialized partnerships for high-value and fragile items (furniture, art, lighting)
- Establish preferred carrier programs with competitive rates for our creators/vendors
- Benchmark and renegotiate existing agreements regularly to ensure best-in-market terms
Daily Shipment Tracking & Operations - Monitor all active shipments end-to-end, ensuring on-time delivery and proactive communication
- Serve as the escalation point for delayed, damaged, or lost shipments
- Coordinate directly with creators and carriers to resolve shipping issues swiftly
- Maintain real-time visibility on order fulfillment and flag potential delays before they impact clients
- Manage customs documentation and international shipping compliance (duties, taxes, import regulations)
Cost Optimization & Strategy - Analyze shipping cost data across routes, carriers, and product categories to identify savings opportunities
- Develop and implement a shipping cost optimization roadmap
- Recommend pricing strategies for shipping fees that balance competitiveness with margin protection
- Track and report on key logistics KPIs: shipping cost per order, delivery times, damage rates, carrier performance
- Explore consolidated shipping, regional warehousing, or fulfillment solutions where relevant
Claims & Dispute Resolution - Manage all carrier claims for damaged, lost, or delayed shipments
- Negotiate compensation and resolution with carriers on behalf of The Oblist and its clients
- Implement and document clear claims procedures to streamline resolution times
- Identify recurring issues by carrier or route, and take corrective action (switching carriers, adjusting packaging requirements)
What We're Looking For
- (native-level — non-negotiable) Bilingual French/English
- Proven experience in logistics, supply chain, or shipping operations—ideally in e-commerce or a marketplace environment
- Strong track record of negotiating carrier contracts and building shipping partnerships
- Deep understanding of international shipping: freight forwarding, customs, duties, incoterms, last-mile delivery
- Experience managing shipping for fragile, oversized, or high-value goods
- Comfortable with shipping platforms and tracking tools
- Slack Proficient with
- Ability to quickly learn a proprietary internal tool (full training provided)
Who You Are - Autonomous and self-driven—you own your scope entirely and don’t wait for instructions
- A natural negotiator who builds strong, long-term relationships with partners
- Detail-oriented and rigorous: nothing slips through the cracks on your watch
- Data-minded: you make decisions based on numbers, not gut feeling
- Problem-solver who stays calm under pressure
- Strong communicator who keeps all stakeholders—team, creators, carriers—informed proactively
- Genuinely interested in design, luxury goods, or e-commerce—you understand why the unboxing experience matters
Nice to Have
- Existing network of contacts among European and US carriers or freight forwarders
- Experience with white-glove or art logistics providers (e.g., Cadogan Tate, Convelio, Arta)
- Knowledge of the design, art, or luxury goods industry
- Experience with Shopify logistics integrations
- Familiarity with packaging standards for fragile and high-value items
- Additional languages spoken (Spanish, Italian, German)
What We Offer
- Join a fast-growing startup at a pivotal moment—logistics is a key growth lever
- A strategic role with direct impact on client satisfaction, margins, and scalability
- Full autonomy: work from anywhere, on your own schedule
- The chance to build a logistics infrastructure from the ground up
- A small, passionate, and supportive founding team
- Immersion in the world of exceptional design, alongside creators from 80+ countries