Import Specialist

USCOR JAS FORWARDING (USA), INC.; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

JAS Forwarding (USA), Inc. is seeking an Import Specialist to process air and ocean import shipments, ensuring regulatory compliance and service quality.

The role involves coordinating bookings, billing, freight dispatch, and interaction with customers and vendors to resolve issues. The position requires knowledge of US customs regulations, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience handling imports (air and/or ocean).
• Knowledge of US customs laws, practices and procedures.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Detail oriented and able to multitask and meet deadlines.
• Experience with CargoWise (C1) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review and process documents for import shipments.
• Receive and track bookings, update clients, dispatch and collect POD.
• Bill and invoice files with attention to payment terms.
• Resolve payables with vendors and overseas offices.
• Assist sales and managers with quotes and job costing.
• Provide accurate cost forecasts and maintain compliance.
• Provide responsive customer service and communicate shipment status.
• Dispatch freight and coordinate with truckers.
• Report customer performance changes to management.
• Cross-train to back-up team members.
• Follow HR policies and safety practices.

Skills

Imports experience

US customs

Communication

Organization

Multitasking

Teamwork

MS Office

Education

High School Diploma

GED

Tools

CargoWise (C1)

Job description

JAS is an international, non-asset-based supply chain services and solutions company. Our services include air and ocean freight forwarding, contract logistics, customs brokerage, distribution, inbound logistics, truckload brokerage and other supply chain management services, including consulting, the coordination of purchase orders and customized management services.

SUMMARY

The role of the Import Specialist is to process and handle air and ocean import shipments for our customers, ensuring the highest quality standards and providing service solutions that meet or exceed our customers’ requirements. An Import Specialist must ensure compliance with laws and regulations, as well as JAS Forwarding operating procedures. Within some JAS locations, this position may also be responsible for the completion of all custom house broker transactions and other government agency regulations in a timely manner.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Prepare, review and process appropriate documents (i.e. customers classification, commercials invoices, etc.) ensuring files contain all necessary copies, are accurate and in the proper sequence
• Receive and track customer bookings/shipments, update client of shipment status/delays, dispatch for delivery, collect proof of delivery (POD), cost and invoice all files
• Comply with all company business process guidelines
• Bill/Invoice each file to the respective customers paying close attention to payment terms for the responsible party
• Resolve and reconcile incorrect payables by working with vendors and overseas offices
• Assist sales, department manager(s) and colleagues in compiling quotes
• Provide accurate job costing forecasts ensuring all payables, receivables and accruals are set and properly managed per company rules and guidelines
• Provide responsive customer service
• Dispatch freight for delivery, maintain communication with trucker throughout delivery
• Ability to recognize any changes in customers shipping down trends and report to Management
• Ability to be cross trained and act as a back-up for any member of the team if necessary
• To report on customer performance and identify any change in support
• Promote compliance across the department/section
• Ability to work through problems, but also recognize issues that may need to be communicated/escalated to management
• Ensure all timely correspondence to customers
• Other duties as requested

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 3 years’ experience handling imports (air and/or ocean) or combination of education and expertise required
• Experience and knowledge regarding imports, compliance, rules and regulations preferred
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent Communication skills
• Flexibility
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office suite a plus
• Detail oriented, able to multitask and meet deadlines
• Able to work in a team and independently
• Knowledge of US customs laws, practices and procedures

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma is a plus or GED required
• Experience working in CargoWise (C1) is preferred
• Experience handling the full life cycle of imports (air and/or ocean) or combination of education and expertise required
• Experience and knowledge regarding import, compliance, rules and regulations preferred
• Knowledge of Importer Security Filing (ISF) preferred
• Good working knowledge of Incoterms required

ENVIRONMENT

100% performed in climate-controlled internal office environment working under normal office conditions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; use hands and finger to feel and handle; reach with arms and hands; talk and hear. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, and crouch; lift weight or exert a force up to a maximum of 25 pounds.

ADDITIONAL

Follow the Company HR Policy, the Code of Business Conduct and department policies and procedures, including protecting confidential company information, attending work punctually and regularly, and following good safety practices in all activities. The responsibilities associated with this job will change from time to time in accordance with the Company’s business needs. More specifically, the incumbent may be required to perform additional and/or different responsibilities from those set forth above. The above declarations are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job described, nor are they intended to be such a listing of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Rather, they are intended only to describe the general nature of the job. Management retains discretion to add or change duties of this position at any time.

JAS FORWARDING (USA), INC.

JAS Forwarding (USA), Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Where required by state law and/or city ordinance; this employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

JAS USA IS A CUSTOMS BROKER, GOVERNED BY FEDERAL REGULATION. FEDERAL REGULATIONS PROVIDE THAT JAS MAY HAVE IT BROKERAGE LICENSE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED IF IT “KNOWINGLY EMPLOYED, OR CONTINUES TO EMPLOY, ANY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY, WITHOUT WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THAT EMPLOYMENT FROM THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER.” JAS WILL PERFORM A BACKGROUND CHECK TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY AND IF SO, ABSENT SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU WILL NOT BE HIRED OR WILL BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY.

JAS prides itself on its exceptional service and competitive pricing that comes about through the hard work and skill of the people who make up the JAS organization. The mission of JAS is to focus on innovation and maintain a commitment to deliver the product securely and on time. This mission flows through its vast global network of 38 subsidiaries, hundreds of official agent locations, and 4,200+ employees across more than 90 countries. JAS' commitment to innovation in the fields of shipping, 3PL, and freight forwarding puts it in a unique class of select companies which concentrate on specialized projects as well as commodity shipping initiatives. JAS is a premier “go-to” company for those wishing to move cargo from anywhere in the world to anywhere else in the world. Through the use of advanced tracking technologies, sophisticated global communications, and a large team of experts across a broad spectrum of specialties, JAS is able to cost effectively handle the shipping of everything from tiny camera parts up to the massive components required to build an oil rig. Transporting cargo is a complex endeavour. JAS is the brand you can trust to satisfy your most demanding requirements.