Import Specialist I

A.N. Deringer, Inc.•Elk Grove Village, IL

19h•$19 - $24•Remote

About The Position

The Import Specialist I processes and assimilates customer data to support the movement of goods across international borders. This remote role supports the Chicago team and follows a Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time schedule. The position serves as a customer-service liaison and processes customs and Participating Government Agency (PGA) entries for U.S. clearance, while coordinating shipment details and ensuring regulatory compliance. The specialist maintains customer, carrier, vendor, and internal communications; handles shipment documentation, customer concerns, accounting processes, and confidential information; and helps improve departmental and company processes. The role may require successful completion of specified dangerous-goods and export-regulation courses within twelve months. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Previous experience in customs and/or logistics.
Demonstrated accuracy, thoroughness, analytical ability, multitasking, and prioritization.
Customer-service skills, including responding promptly to customer needs, listening, clarifying, and communicating clearly and persuasively.
Interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution, confidentiality, emotional control, teamwork, and accountability.
Motivation, persistence, and ability to set and achieve challenging goals.
Problem-solving skills, including identifying problems promptly and developing alternative solutions.
Ability to work independently, maintain high work standards, meet deadlines, and handle large volumes of work.

Responsibilities

Serve as the customer-service liaison between the company and its customers; build customer relationships.
Resolve customer concerns and problems, including billing and shipment tracking.
Process Customs and Participating Government Agency (PGA) entries for clearance of goods into the United States.
Apply client submission requirements and commodity-specific clearance procedures.
Open files and enter notes, information, and document requests in corporate systems.
Review commercial invoices for required information and review or issue documents to meet government and carrier regulations.
Convert and verify shipment weight, volume, and foreign currency.
Request information and documents from company employees, suppliers, service providers, and U.S. government agencies as needed.
Communicate with offices, departments, and teams about issues affecting customs brokerage.
Ensure compliance with U.S. government regulatory agencies, including FDA, EPA, and USFWS.
Coordinate shipping details with U.S. forwarders, steamship lines, airlines, agents, and other parties.
Maintain communication with customers, carriers, and vendors.
Coordinate shipments from airlines, ocean piers, and container freight stations to customer or consignee destinations.
Coordinate pickups and invoice files.
Stay current on regulations, laws, guidelines, and Deringer requirements, and serve as a resource to internal and external clients.
Handle accounting processes accurately and promptly.
Answer email and telephone calls promptly and professionally.
Handle confidential information; provide instructions to colleagues when needed; and recommend improvements to processes and department or company operations.
Complete applicable required courses within twelve months, if required: IATA Dangerous Goods, IATA Basic Export, CFR49 Dangerous Goods, CFR 15 Export Regulation, and IMDG Dangerous Goods.
Perform other duties as required and assigned.