Ocean Import Specialist

Summary

The Ocean Import Specialist is responsible for managing ocean import shipments, ensuring high-quality service that meets or exceeds customer expectations. This role involves providing effective solutions, adhering to company policies, and ensuring full compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry best practices.

Essential Functions

• Receive and track customer bookings and orders, sending shipping instructions overseas per customer specifications or established SOPs.
• Notify customers of shipment arrivals, applicable charges, and any delays, including Customs or Exam holds.
• Ensure highest level of data quality by processing the shipment accurately.
• Manage exceptions with relevant parties and provide updates to customers.
• Provide accurate job costing forecast - Ensure all payables, receivables and accruals are set and properly managed per company rules and guidelines.
• Work with vendors and overseas offices to dispute any incorrect payables at the earliest opportunity to maintain accurate accounting.
• Bill/Invoice each file to the respective customers paying close attention to payment terms for the responsible party.
• Collect any COD monies owed before arranging delivery to the customer.
• Dispatch freight for delivery, maintaining communication with trucker throughout delivery.
• Confirm POD for each shipment and updating our system with POD information.
• Maintain organized and complete files with all required documents in the proper sequence.
• Address customer requests and exceptions, ensuring responses align with company standards and guidelines.
• Provide job costing forecasts, manage payables/receivables accurately, and invoice customers per payment terms. Dispute incorrect vendor payables as necessary.
• Ensure Original Bill of Lading requirements are met in a timely manner.
• Arrange delivery and maintain communication with truckers until completion, including confirmation of delivery and POD updates.
• Maintain accurate shipment status in tracking and proprietary applications.
• Assist with quotes by providing rates and tariffs as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in Ocean imports or combination of education and expertise required
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office suite
• Detail oriented, able to multitask and meet deadlines
• Self-motivated, able to work in a team and independently
• Knowledge of US customs laws, practices and procedures
• Able to perform the essential duties of this position without posing a "direct threat" to the health or safety of self or others
• Able to interact positively and effectively with co-workers, subordinates and supervisors

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Cargowise (C1) experience is preferred
• Experience and knowledge regarding import entry procedures, compliance, rules and regulations preferred
• Knowledge of First Port of Arrival (FPOA) entry processes is preferred
• FDA experience preferred
• Knowledge of Importer Security Filing (ISF) preferred
• Good working knowledge of OGA transactions preferred

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.

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.