Customs Compliance Specialist

CUSTOMS COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST

Reporting to the Logistics & Distribution Manager. This role will support compliant cross border transactions, conduct internal audits, enhance processes, and leverage technology to achieve consistent compliance in multiple geographies.

**Responsibilities**:

- Assign proper classification codes for imported and exported merchandising ensuring the current duty is paid
- Review vendor certificates of origin for completeness and accuracy, ensure that broker has up to date copy on file.
- Resolve day to day operational issues such as import and export documentation discrepancies, classification, valuation, etc. in order to ensure successful and timely customs clearance of product.
- Work closely with Customs Broker to answer any inquiries related to the declaration of goods.
- Provides customs consulting services regarding customs compliance, and current trade initiatives including blanket claims, duty recovery, national and advance ruling, CBSA audits, tariff classification and claims.
- Research, measure and analyze process improvement opportunities.
- Strong working knowledge of Customs requirements associated with import and export.
- Communicate daily with Customs Brokers, carriers as well as internal and external customers.
- Liaise with appropriate government departments with regards to customs rulings
- Sourcing and arranging carrier for locations based on territories or modes of transportation.
- Maintain the freight rate database to ensure it always accurately reflects current pricing and can provide historical rate data.
- Assist in handling inquiries related to pick-ups, deliveries, or services.
- Assist in providing freight rate quotations to our internal customers.
- Prepare and distribute reports as required.

**Qualifications**:

- 3-5 years progressive experience in a multi-modal Logistics and Customs environment
- Excellent planning and organizational skills to meet regulatory timeline, with attention to details
- Skilled at identifying gaps and present fact base solutions for compliance and sustainability
- Strong understanding of North American geography.
- Post-secondary education.
- Professional association training in a Logistics field.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Software.
- Must have excellent analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work autonomously and with little direction.
- Must be a team player committed to maintaining desired service levels.
- Ability to function in a fast-paced environment.
- Must present themselves in a professional manner.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Proven ability to think independently and handle multiple projects through to completion.
- A genuine passion for logistics and a desire to improve their skills and knowledge base.
- Tech savvy with a passion for learning and understanding new technologies.
- Must be able to work independently and in a team environment.
- Comfortable working toward multiple deadlines at the same time.
- Experience with CBSA, CARM, CERS), CTPAT Program, and Incoterms in considered an asset.
- An outside of the box thinker who enjoys creating novel solutions to pre-existing challenges.

Competencies:
Customer Focus - Personally demonstrates that external and internal customers are a high priority. Identifies customer needs and expectations and responds to them in a timely and effective manner. Anticipates and prevents delays or other things that can adversely affect the customer. Keeps customers informed about the status of pending actions and audits customer satisfaction with products or services.

Decision Quality - Gathers enough information to allow a pragmatic assessment of risks and benefits of alternative approaches in any decision. Stays focused on objectives and considers both the short-term and longer-term impact of decisions and keeps objectives in mind throughout the process. Communicates the impact and implications of decisions. Completes the appropriate level of due diligence required to make a quick, accurate decision.

Drive for Results - Achieves results within established timelines. Understands and demonstrates that intentions, activities and results are not the same. Pursues everything with energy, drive, and a need to finish; does not give up before finishing, even in the face of resistance or setbacks; consistently challenges self and others for results.

Leadership - The expectation of leadership is not reserved solely for only those who are in positions of authority, but from all employees. They demonstrate high integrity and are motivated by wanting to make a real difference to people by delivering a high quality service for their customer and the organization. In positions of authority they: invest in development for the right people and identify and develop future leaders, and coach and provide candid feedback to others. They are visible and they model behaviours, competencies and values expected and inspire others t