Sr Manager, Ocean Freight & Customs Compliance

Campbell's • Camden, NJ

16d • $128,700 - $177,000

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Ocean Freight & Customs Compliance owns the company’s inbound ocean freight and U.S. customs clearance from booking through clearance and delivery to port drayage. The role manages ocean carrier and freight forwarder performance and leads a proactive customs compliance program to protect the company’s importer-of-record responsibilities, ensure adherence to customs requirements, and mitigate regulatory, financial, and supply continuity risk. It partners with Supply Chain functions, Legal, and other business teams, and provides oversight and direction to external customs brokers and logistics providers.

The role leads a team responsible for inbound ocean freight and U.S. import operations end to end. Its scope includes ocean carrier and freight forwarder management, bookings and container visibility, demurrage and detention, customs clearance, broker oversight, classification and duty management, and importer-of-record compliance. It also supports Procurement-led ocean freight RFPs.

The position is a full-time, salaried role with a target base salary range of $128,700–$177,000. Individual base pay depends on work location and factors such as experience, skills, and education or training. Total pay may include other compensation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 8 years of experience in ocean freight, customs, import compliance, international trade, or related functions.
• Deep hands-on U.S. import expertise, including experience managing customs compliance for an importer of record.
• Strong knowledge of customs classification, valuation, country of origin, tariffs and duties, import documentation, customs broker management, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing ocean freight as a beneficial cargo owner (BCO) or with a freight forwarder or NVOCC, including carrier and forwarder management and demurrage and detention control.
• Experience working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection processes and ACE.
• Working knowledge of trade compliance systems such as SAP GTS, ERP, and Excel or Power BI for reporting.
• Experience establishing or managing customs compliance controls and audit readiness.
• Ability to travel 25% to plants, ports, and broker and forwarder sites.

Nice To Haves

• At least 10 years of experience in ocean freight, customs, import compliance, international trade, or related functions.
• Experience in consumer packaged goods, food, manufacturing, or another high-volume importing environment.
• Licensed Customs Broker or Certified Customs Specialist (CCS).

Responsibilities

• Support Procurement-led ocean freight RFPs and contract negotiations by providing lane, volume, performance, and operational requirements.
• Manage day-to-day ocean carrier and freight forwarder performance, including transit times, rolled bookings, and allocation compliance.
• Oversee bookings and container visibility from origin through U.S. port arrival.
• Manage demurrage and detention costs by improving the handoff between customs clearance and drayage.
• Coordinate port drayage and inland moves with domestic Transportation.
• Audit ocean freight invoices against contracted rates and accessorials, and report ocean spend.
• Plan for and respond to port congestion, blank sailings, labor disruptions, and rate volatility.
• Own U.S. import and customs compliance as the company’s primary internal expert, including oversight of importer-of-record responsibilities and compliant import controls.
• Monitor customs regulations, tariff actions including Sections 301 and 232, and import policies, and assess their business impact.
• Own entry-level compliance, including valuation, country of origin and marking, post-summary corrections, and prior disclosures.
• Guide complex, non-routine, and out-of-policy import activity.
• Establish standardized customs compliance processes, documentation requirements, and governance for imported products and materials.
• Manage and audit customs brokers, serve as a primary escalation point, and establish compliance service-provider expectations and performance measures.
• Review import clearance data against source documentation to identify errors and compliance risks.
• Coordinate with Transportation and ocean partners to resolve clearance holds and border issues while maintaining compliance.
• Own customs classification, tariff assessments, applicable exemptions, and guidance on tariff treatment for imported products and materials.
• Identify customs compliance risks and partner with Legal, Procurement, and Supply Chain stakeholders on resolution.
• Manage duty-savings programs, including USMCA and other free trade agreement claims, duty drawback, and Foreign Trade Zone evaluation; partner with Procurement on first-sale valuation while maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Serve as business owner for importer activity in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), maintain governance of importer account information, and coordinate responses to relevant U.S. Customs and Border Protection communications.
• Support governance for customs bonds and importer-of-record information.
• Lead CTPAT participation or assess whether the company should join.
• Own FDA Prior Notice filing and resolution of FDA holds; partner with Quality, which owns the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP).
• Own Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2) timeliness and accuracy with ocean partners and brokers.
• Develop and maintain customs compliance controls, documentation standards, and recordkeeping practices.
• Establish periodic compliance reviews and spot checks to identify risks before they cause financial or supply disruption.
• Support government inquiries and customs audits and coordinate internal responses.
• Manage responses to CBP detentions, including Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) detentions, working with Procurement to obtain supplier documentation.
• Lead investigations and corrective actions related to customs compliance issues, and report on material risks, corrective actions, and emerging regulatory issues.
• Partner with Transportation, Procurement, Customer Engagement, Legal, and other stakeholders to establish ownership and governance for import activities.
• Advise business teams on customs implications of new products, suppliers, sourcing decisions, and non-routine imports.
• Build customs compliance capability through education, standards, and practical guidance.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team covering ocean freight execution and customs compliance; set goals and performance expectations, provide regular feedback, hire and onboard team members, and establish cross-training, backup coverage, standard work, workload balancing, and escalation paths.
• Monitor success measures including ocean freight cost per container versus market benchmarks, demurrage and detention costs, on-time arrival, clearance time, invoice accuracy, entry and classification accuracy, broker error rates, audit findings, avoided penalties and holds, duty savings, and timely corrective actions.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, short- and long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance, with coverage options for individuals, families, and domestic partners, beginning on the first day of employment.
• Matching 401(k) plan, available from the first day of employment with immediate vesting.
• Unlimited sick time, paid time off, and holiday pay.
• Free fitness center access for employees in WHQ.
• Access to on-site day care operated by Bright Horizons and a company store for employees in WHQ.
• Campbell’s Cares matches employee donations and/or volunteer activity up to $1,500 annually.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
• Wellness benefits beginning on the first day of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior