Customs Specialist

C.H. Robinson; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Three medical plans include

Prescription drug coverage

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Account

Dental and Vision

Life Insurance

Disability (Short/Long)

Paid holidays

Floating holidays for US hourly

Flexible Time Off (FTO)

Parental leave

Volunteer time off

401(k) matching

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

C.H. Robinson is seeking a Customs Specialist to protect compliance, minimize risk, and ensure smooth customs clearance for customer shipments. You will manage complex exceptions, government agency examinations, and high‑impact issues while delivering exceptional service.

The role supports on-site collaboration three days a week with remote work two days, offering a balance between teamwork and autonomy. Candidates must meet entry‑level to mid‑level requirements and demonstrate regulatory

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 2–3 years of entry‑writing experience, international transportation or AI agents experience preferred.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.

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.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Customer service

Multitasking

Problem-solving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate or Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Hybrid

Long Beach, CA United States of America

Phoenix, AZ United States of America

Full time

R49068

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. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your expertise directly impacts customers and business performance, we encourage you to apply.

At C.H. Robinson, we’re firm believers in the power of in-person collaboration to fuel innovation and propel success. In this role, you will engage with peers on-site three days a week, igniting creativity and driving impactful results. With the flexibility for remote work two days a week, this role strikes the perfect balance between teamwork and autonomy.

Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities of this position consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

• 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

• Minimum 2-3 years of entry‑writing experience, international transportation or experience with AI Agents

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. 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.

We will review applications for this role on an ongoing basis and encourage all interested candidates to apply at their earliest convenience.

Compensation Range

$21.76 - $45.96

The base pay range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum base pay for the position across all U.S. locations. Your individual base pay within this range is determined by work location, which takes into account geographic cost of labor, and additional factors, including 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. If this position excites you, we welcome you to apply whether you check all the preferred qualifications or just a few. You may just be our next great fit!

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 (https://www.chrobinson.com/en-us/about-us/careers/life-at-chr/benefits-and-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 .