Import& Customs Specialist

Position Summary

Experienced Import & Customs Compliance Specialist needed to provide immediate coverage for day-to-day U.S. import activity. The role is hands-on and requires independent management of customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, co-packers, internal finance teams, and regulatory clearance issues with minimal training.

Primary Responsibilities

• Review co-packer and import documentation for completeness, accuracy, and customs compliance; enter and maintain shipment details in internal systems.
• Work directly with customs brokers and freight forwarders to facilitate timely entry and clearance of U.S. imports.
• Review CBP ACE activity; support monthly duty statement reconciliation/payment and ensure customs invoices are submitted for AP processing.
• Manage CBP and FDA holds, exams, and document requests, including product labels and supporting clearance documentation.
• Handle international/sample shipments moving through FedEx, DHL, UPS, and other couriers when subject to CBP or FDA review.
• Reconcile Maersk, broker, forwarder, and import-related statements; research unidentified or outstanding invoices and drive resolution.
• Investigate customs valuation or currency discrepancies and coordinate post-entry corrections when required.
• Maintain compliant import records; escalate regulatory risk, clearance delays, duty discrepancies, and documentation gaps.
• Coordinate closely with Logistics, Procurement, Finance/AP, suppliers, co-packers, and external service providers.

Required Qualifications

• Direct hands-on experience with CBP ACE, customs brokers, import documentation, and U.S. duty statements/payments.
• Working knowledge of commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading/air waybills, HTS/HTSUS, customs valuation, and country of origin.
• Experience resolving FDA/CBP holds or exams; food, confectionery, consumer products, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, or other FDA-regulated experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with post-entry/post-summary corrections, international courier shipments, and customs invoice reconciliation preferred.
• Strong Microsoft Excel/Office skills; able to independently organize and track multiple open import issues and deadlines.