Import Specialist

JAS Forwarding (usa), Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

JAS Forwarding (USA), Inc. in Houston is seeking an Import Specialist to process air and ocean imports, ensuring compliance with regulations and company procedures. You will coordinate shipments, communicate with clients, and support cost forecasting and billing.

The role requires strong organizational skills, knowledge of import processes, and the ability to work with cross-functional teams to resolve issues and meet deadlines.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' import handling experience (air and/or ocean) or equivalent education/experience.
• Knowledge of US customs laws, practices, and ISF preferred.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills; multitasking ability.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and process import documents, ensure accuracy and proper sequence.
• Track bookings/shipments, provide shipment status updates to clients, collect PODs.
• Bill and invoice files with attention to payment terms and accuracy.

Skills

Imports experience (air/ocean)

US customs regulations

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

High School Diploma or GED

CargoWise (C1) experience

Tools

CargoWise (C1)

ERP / invoicing systems

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.

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

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None

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.

DEFINITIONS:

(if any abbreviation, the meaning needs to be inserted)

Management retains discretion to add or change duties of this position at any time.

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.