Customs Specialist

C.H. Robinson Worldwide; Laredo (TX); On-site; USD 46,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Flexible work arrangement

Job summary

C.H. Robinson Worldwide is seeking a Customs Specialist to protect compliance, minimize risk, and ensure smooth customs clearance for customer shipments.

You will become a trusted customs expert, handling exceptions and examinations while delivering service and operational excellence. The role involves on-site collaboration five days a week with subsequent transition to two days in the office and the rest from home.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate or bachelor's degree preferred.
• Proven communication and problem-solving skills.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review and validate customs entry data for accuracy and timely clearance.
• Resolve complex customs exceptions and regulatory concerns.
• Manage government agency holds and examinations (e.g., CBP, FDA, CPSC, VACIS, CET).
• Interpret regulations and apply them across daily operations and automated processes.
• Prioritize critical shipment issues to prevent delays and maintain service.
• Collaborate with brokers, carriers, and internal teams to ensure import clearance.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Problem-solving

Time management

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associate or bachelor's degree

Job description

C.H. Robinson is looking for a Customs Specialist who will play a critical role in protecting compliance, minimizing risk, and ensuring the seamless movement of customer shipments through the customs clearance process. In this role, you will serve as a trusted customs expert, managing complex exceptions, government agency examinations, and high-impact shipment issues while delivering exceptional service and operational excellence. You will leverage your regulatory expertise and problem‑solving skills to support accurate customs clearance, drive continuous improvement, and help optimize automated customs operations.

At C.H. Robinson, we’re firm believers in the power of in‑person collaboration to fuel innovation and support training. In this role, you will engage with peers on‑site 5 days a week, igniting creativity and driving impactful results. Upon successful completion of your training, you will then switch to 2 days a week in the office, working the rest of the time from home. This role strikes the perfect balance between teamwork and autonomy. This position follows a Saturday through Wednesday schedule. Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Candidates must be available to work this schedule consistently.

Responsibilities

• Review and validate customs entry data to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely cargo clearance
• Resolve complex customs exceptions, including documentation gaps, classification issues, valuation discrepancies, and regulatory concerns
• Manage government agency holds and customs examinations, including CBP, FDA, CPSC, VACIS, CET, and Tailgate inspections
• Serve as a trusted customs compliance expert, interpreting regulations and applying them across daily operations and automated processes
• Prioritize critical shipment issues to prevent delays and maintain exceptional service for customers
• Partner with customs brokers, transportation providers, and internal teams to ensure seamless import clearance and delivery
• Own and maintain customer‑specific SOPs, HTS databases, and compliance requirements to support operational excellence
• Investigate and resolve cargo damage claims, insurance matters, demurrage, detention disputes, and other high‑impact shipment issues
• Conduct quality reviews of customs entries and automated decisions to ensure compliance, accuracy, and process effectiveness
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying workflow enhancements, supporting automation initiatives, and helping optimize customs operations and exception management

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• Fluent in English and Spanish (written and verbal) Minimum 2-3 years of entry-writing experience, international transportation or experience with AI Agents
• Values a diverse and inclusive work environment
• Must comply with 19 CFR 111.53(e) requirements, including eligibility to work in a Customs Brokerage role.
• Candidates must be able to pass an initial and annual background check, as employment in this department requires written approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for individuals with felony convictions, unless prohibited by applicable state or local law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in related field
• Experience supporting automation-enabled workflows or BPO-integrated operations
• Familiarity with customs exams, government agency holds, or dangerous goods processes
• Knowledge of ABI, AMS queries, or entry summary components
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite of programs
• Prior experience in customer‑facing operational support or escalation management
• Knowledge of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and the supply chain
• Excellent communication, prioritization, and multi‑tasking skills
• Excellent customer service skills and follow up to be utilized with customers and the network
• Proven track record of dealing with customers and being client focused
• Critical‑thinking, flexibility, and problem‑solving skills to adapt to ever‑changing tasks and customer needs
• Reputation for logical, methodical and expedient approach to problem resolution
• High level of attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced and deadline‑driven office environment
• Values a diverse and inclusive work environment
• Must comply with 19 CFR 111.53(e) requirements, including eligibility to work in a Customs Brokerage role.

Compensation Range

Compensation Range $21.76 - $34.46 The base pay range displayed on the job posting reflects the minimum and maximum base pay for this specific location. Your individual base pay within this range is determined by job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base pay only and do not include additional variable compensation.

Questioning if you meet the mark? Studies have shown that some individuals may be less likely to apply unless they match the job description exactly. Here at C.H. Robinson, we’re building an inclusive workplace where all employees feel they belong.

Equal Opportunity

C.H. Robinson is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to a workplace and performance culture that reflects the strengths of our worldwide marketplace. We value unique experiences and diverse backgrounds of our people within our company, our business relationships, and our communities. We’re committed to providing an inclusive environment, free from harassment and discrimination, where all employees feel welcomed, valued and respected.

EOE\Disabled\Veteran Benefits

Your Health, Wealth and Self

Your total wellbeing is the foundation of our business, and our benefits support your financial, family and personal goals. We provide the top‑tier benefits that matter to you most, including:

• Three medical plans which include Prescription drug coverage
• Enhanced Fertility benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account (including employer contribution)
• Dental and Vision
• Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Paid observed holidays
• 2 paid floating holidays for U.S. hourly employees
• Flexible Time Off (FTO) offered to U.S. salaried employees — no accruals and no caps.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) offered to all other employees in the U.S. and Canada
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off to volunteer in your community
• Charitable Giving Match Program
• 401(k) with 6% company matching
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan Plus a broad range of career development, networking, and team‑building opportunities
• Learn more about our benefit offerings on our BENEFITS & WELLBEING page

Why Do You Belong at C.H. Robinson?

C.H. Robinson solves logistics problems for companies across the globe and across industries, from the simple to the most complex. With $22 billion in freight under management and 19 million shipments annually, we are one of the world’s largest logistics platforms and rank in the FORTUNE 200. We’ve been an innovator in logistics for over 100 years. Our global suite of services accelerates trade to seamlessly deliver the products and goods that drive the world’s economy. With the combination of our multimodal transportation management system and expertise, we use our information advantage to deliver smarter solutions for more than 90,000 customers and 450,000 contract carriers on our platform. Our technology is built by and for supply chain experts to bring faster, more meaningful improvements to our customers’ businesses. As a responsible global citizen, we contribute millions of dollars to support causes that matter to us and our people. FORTUNE has named C.H. Robinson one of the World’s Most Admired Companies 2024, showcasing our position as a leader in our industry. Our commitment to excellence is further affirmed by being named a Great Place to Work 2023-24 by the Great Place to Work Institute, one of Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity and one of America’s Greatest Workplaces in 2023 by Newsweek. Join us as we collaborate, innovate, and work as one global team to make life better and more sustainable for our customers, communities, and world. For more information, visit us at www.chrobinson.com.