Customs Compliance Specialist

Job Title:

Customs Compliance Specialist IIJob Description

The Customs Compliance Specialist II plays a key role in ensuring adherence to U.S. customs, trade, and regulatory laws. This position develops and implements customs and trade compliance standards, manages and optimizes duty drawback claims, and provides strategic guidance on customs and foreign trade matters. The role involves close collaboration with internal teams, international affiliates, customs brokers, and government agencies to maintain compliant and efficient import and export operations.

Responsibilities

+ Manage import transactions from end to end, including issuing clearance instructions, monitoring shipment status, maintaining accurate records, and performing audits.

+ Identify, prepare, and file duty drawback claims and establish a robust record-keeping system to support drawback activities.

+ Reconcile entry discrepancies and submit post-entry adjustments and protests as needed to ensure accurate customs declarations.

+ Research and audit import and export invoices and reconcile discrepancies in accordance with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).

+ Drive the implementation of new customs, trade, and regulatory laws and compliance processes through structured project management, including leading meetings, documenting progress, and addressing questions from stakeholders.

+ Stay current with requirements from CBP, USTR, USDA, FDA, FTC, state regulations, and Prop 65, and apply these requirements to daily operations and internal policies.

+ Interface with customs brokers, suppliers, and service providers to ensure consistency with defined import and export processes and to resolve issues efficiently.

+ Respond to inquiries from customs brokers, government agencies, customers, and vendors regarding customs and trade compliance matters.

+ Collaborate with internal team members to support and provide guidance on international trade and regulatory compliance topics.

+ Provide clear compliance guidance and training support to internal stakeholders to promote a culture of compliance.

+ Work with international affiliates to ensure import certificates and supporting documentation are accurate, complete, and in place prior to shipment.

+ Review product descriptions and technical data to determine appropriate import classifications and maintain related records to support import compliance.

+ Perform additional customs and trade compliance duties as assigned to support the needs of the business.

Essential Skills

+ 2-3 years of experience in import/export compliance with a strong emphasis on duty drawback claims.

+ Hands-on experience with duty drawback identification, filing, and record keeping.

+ Working knowledge of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and its application to import and export invoices.

+ Experience researching and auditing import and export invoices and reconciling discrepancies.

+ Strong Microsoft Office skills, with particularly strong Excel skills, including the ability to create and use VLOOKUP functions.

+ Ability to provide strategic feedback in customs and foreign trade matters.

+ Strong critical and analytical thinking skills with the ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements.

+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

+ High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

+ Self-starter with the ability to work proactively and manage multiple priorities.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred.

+ 2-3 years of import/export drawback claims compliance experience is preferred.

+ A legal background, either through an internship or an earned degree, is highly beneficial for this position.

+ Familiarity with Prop 65 compliance requirements.

+ Experience working with CBP, USTR, USDA, FDA, FTC, and state regulatory requirements.

+ Experience collaborating with customs brokers, suppliers, service providers, and international affiliates.

+ Ability to lead meetings, document progress, and drive compliance projects to completion.

Work Environment

This is an onsite, day-shift position with a typical schedule of Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with some…