Import Sales Support

Summary The Import Sales Support specialist is responsible for providing accurate and timely ocean import LCL quotations, booking coordination, and door-delivery pricing. This role also supports general import operations as needed, ensuring efficient shipment handling, regulatory compliance, and superior customer service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Quotations, Bookings, and Customer Support:

• Respond promptly to rate and booking requests received via phone, email, or fax.
• Provide shipment status updates and handle incoming customer inquiries from clients, agents, and outside sales representatives.
• Coordinate cargo bookings with origin agents to ensure timely delivery into designated origin export CFS.
• Confirm on-board dates and communicate relevant shipment milestones.

Operational Coordination:

• Provide ISF information to the Brokerage Department to support timely ISF filing.
• Enter and reconcile origin costs and charges accurately in the system.
• Support general import operational tasks as assigned to ensure workflow continuity.

Customs Brokerage–Related Responsibilities:

• Process customs entries through ABI.
• Classify a wide range of commodities using the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
• Research, gather, and interpret information from various sources to prepare compliant and timely U.S. Customs entries.
• Prepare and manage all Customs forms required for processing consumption and in-bond entries.
• Create Single Transaction Bonds (STB), ensuring accurate calculation of bond liability.
• Determine FDA product codes and research applicable government regulations.
• Obtain freight releases from airlines, steamship lines, freight terminals, truckers, and rail carriers.
• Ensure timely submission of payments and required documentation to carriers and U.S. Customs.
• Coordinate with Customs officials, import carriers, and domestic carriers to ensure smooth cargo movement from origin to delivery.
• Prepare invoices in accordance with established client rate schedules and provide proper supporting documentation.
• Maintain complete and accurate files—both physical and digital—to support documentation, compliance, and audit requirements.
• Adhere to company communication and responsiveness standards.
• Escalate unresolved Customs or customer service issues to supervisor promptly.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support departmental efficiency.
• Effective management of difficult customer situations with professionalism.
• Strong organization, prioritization, and follow-up capabilities.
• Clear, persuasive, and professional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to listen actively and seek clarification when needed.
• Ability to interpret and present numerical data accurately.
• Strong teamwork orientation; contributes to positive team environment.
• Consistent adherence to policies, procedures, and organizational values.
• Ability to complete administrative tasks accurately and on time.

Additional competencies may be required depending on assignments.

Qualifications:

• Education and Experience
• High school diploma required.
• 2–3 years of experience in a Customs Brokerage environment required.
• 2–3 years of experience in NVOCC/Freight Forwarding preferred.
• Prior experience with ocean imports and/or U.S. Customs brokerage strongly preferred.
• Bilingual skills are a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret industry documentation and communications.
• Ability to communicate effectively with management, customers, and the general public.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and general computer applications.
• Strong understanding of U.S. Customs regulations, HTS classification, and import compliance requirements.