Freight Forwarding Operations Specialist

JAS•San Francisco, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Freight Forwarding Operations Specialist processes and handles air and ocean import and export shipments for customers, providing service that meets or exceeds customer requirements and quality standards. The role may also oversee Customs House Brokerage (CHB) processes and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and JAS Forwarding procedures. It may include completing customs broker transactions and other government agency requirements in a timely manner. The position supports shipment documentation, tracking, customer communication, dispatch, billing, job costing, and issue resolution. The specialist works with customers, vendors, overseas offices, sales, managers, colleagues, and truckers, and may provide backup coverage for team members. The role is performed in a climate-controlled internal office environment under normal office conditions.

Requirements

Experience handling import and export shipments using both air and ocean products.
Minimum five years of experience handling imports and exports via ocean or air products, or a combination of education and expertise.
Knowledge of Puerto Rico customs laws, practices, and procedures.
Excellent organizational skills.
Excellent communication skills.
Flexibility.
Strong computer skills; Microsoft Office suite experience is a plus.
Detail-oriented, able to multitask, and able to meet deadlines.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Good working knowledge of Incoterms.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers to feel and handle, reach with arms and hands, talk, and hear; frequent stooping, kneeling, and crouching; and lift or exert force up to 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED equivalent preferred.
Experience and knowledge regarding import compliance, rules, and regulations preferred.
Experience handling accruals and billing of services provided to customers.
Knowledge of Importer Security Filing (ISF) preferred.
Knowledge of CargoWise (C1) preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare, review, and process shipment documents, ensuring files contain necessary copies and are accurate and properly sequenced.
Receive and track customer bookings and shipments; update clients about shipment status and delays; dispatch shipments for delivery; collect proof of delivery; and cost and invoice files.
Comply with company business process guidelines.
Bill or invoice each file to the respective customer, observing payment terms for the responsible party.
Resolve and reconcile incorrect payables by working with vendors and overseas offices.
Assist sales, department managers, and colleagues with compiling quotes.
Provide accurate job-costing forecasts and ensure payables, receivables, and accruals are set and managed according to company rules and guidelines.
Provide responsive customer service and send timely correspondence to customers.
Dispatch freight for delivery and maintain communication with the trucker throughout delivery.
Recognize changes in customer shipping trends and report them to management.
Cross-train and act as backup for team members when necessary.
Report on customer performance and identify changes in support needs.
Promote compliance across the department or section.
Work through problems and identify issues that should be communicated or escalated to management.
Perform other duties as requested or assigned in response to the company's business needs.