Import Specialist II

Customs Broker, Freight Forwarding & Trade Compliance Services•Rancho Dominguez, CA

3d•Remote

About The Position

This is a remote role that follows a Monday through Friday schedule of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST. The primary responsibility of this position is to process and integrate customer data, assisting with the movement of goods between international borders. The Import Specialist II serves as the customer service liaison between the company and the customer(s), resolves problems (i.e. billing, tracking shipments) and handles customer concerns, and builds relationships with customers. This role also involves preparing important documents for import customs clearance of client shipments (i.e. bonds, bills, classify/release and reports), including PGAs. The specialist will trace shipments and re-route freight accordingly, communicate and correspond with CBP and the various PGAs to resolve routine issues, and prepare import documents including: bills of lading, dock receipts, licenses, and consulate documents and distribute documents to all appropriate parties. The role requires cross-training in additional responsibilities and handling confidential information. Experience specific to client submission requirements and clearance of specific commodities is necessary. The specialist will open files, enter notes, information and document requests in corporate systems, and review documentation or issue documents to meet government regulations and carrier regulations. They will convert and verify shipment weight, volume and foreign currency, and send information/document requests to company's employees, suppliers, service providers and/or U.S. government agencies as needed. Communication with specific offices, departments, and teams on all issues affecting customs brokerage is essential, as is ensuring compliance with regards to U.S. Government regulatory agencies such as FDA, EPA, USFWS, etc. The role involves maintaining communication with customers, carriers and vendors, coordinating shipments from airline, ocean piers and CFS (container freight station) to customer/consignee destination, and coordinating pick-ups and invoices files. Staying up-to-date on regulations, laws, guidelines and Deringer requirements is crucial. The Import Specialist II acts as a resource to internal and external clients, handles accounting processes accurately and in a timely manner, and performs additional duties as assigned by management.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED
3+ of recent customs brokerage experience

Nice To Haves

Analytical – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; demonstrates ability to multi-task and establish priorities.
Customer Oriented – Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; demonstrates ability to speak clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions.
Interpersonal Skills – Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things; takes responsibility for own actions; contributes to building a positive team spirit; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
Motivation – Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Work Standards – Sets high standards and well-defined realistic goals for one’s self; displays a high level of effort and commitment towards completing tasks in a timely manner; demonstrates ability to work independently; meets deadlines and handles large volumes of work.

Responsibilities

Serves as the customer service liaison between the company and the customer(s)
Resolves problems (i.e. billing, tracking shipments) and handles customer concerns.
Builds relationships with customers
Prepares important documents for import customs clearance of client shipments (i.e. bonds, bills, classify/release and reports), including PGAs.
Traces shipments and re-routes freight accordingly.
Communicates and corresponds with CBP and the various PGAs to resolve routine issues.
Prepares import documents including: bills of lading, dock receipts, licenses, and consulate documents and distributes documents to all appropriate parties.
Cross-trains in additional responsibilities.
Handles confidential information.
Has experience specific to client submission requirements and clearance of specific commodities
Opens files, enters notes, information and document requests in corporate systems
Reviews documentation or issues documents to meet government regulations and carrier regulations
Convert and verify shipment weight, volume and foreign currency
Sends information/document requests to company's employees, suppliers, service providers and/or U.S. government agencies as needed
Communicates with specific offices, departments, and teams on all issues affecting customs brokerage
Ensures compliance with regards to U.S. Government regulatory agencies such as FDA, EPA, USFWS, etc.
Maintains communication with customers, carriers and vendors
Coordinates shipments from airline, ocean piers and CFS (container freight station) to customer/consignee destination
Coordinates pick-ups and invoices files
Stays up-to-date on regulations, laws, guidelines and Deringer requirements.
Acts as a resource to internal and external clients.
Handles accounting processes accurately and in a timely manner
Performs additional duties as assigned by management.