Import/Export & Compliance Customs Broker

The Warn group believes that every team member plays a significant contribution role in our success. We enable our customers with the tools they need to work and play outdoors. This position description is designed to outline the primary duties of the role, qualifications, and job scope. Just as we do not want our customers to be limited in the outdoor space, we do not want to limit our employees nor the organization to just the work that is identified. It is our expectation that each team member will serve their customers wherever, and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

Position Summary:

This position is responsible for corporate compliance with international customs and commerce laws related to international trade. It manages the Import/Export process and supports cost-saving activities related to importing and exporting. Assists in the development of corporate policies and systems related to the U.S. Customs Modernization Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, Free Trade Agreements and other Special Preferential Programs. Monitors regulatory/trade updates and distributes alerts as required. Responsible for classification, valuation, reconciliation, post-entry audits, and broker management and is the primary contact with U.S. Customs. Acts as primary interface with Corporate Risk and Compliance Manager, Logistics and Warehouse Manager, and Director of Global Logistics.

This position is a Hybrid role, we expect our Import/Export & Compliance Customs Broker to work in the office at our Warn HQ in Clackamas, OR several days a week, with the ability to work remotely from a home office the other days.

Essential Functions:

• Ensures corporate-wide compliance with all international customs and commerce laws.
• Monitors and evaluates the performance of the Customs Brokers for quality and costs including audits for compliance.
• Develops and implements internal audit controls for meeting U.S. and international regulations regarding classification, valuation, UOM, quantities, country of origin, origin marking and record retention.
• Researches ways to legally minimize or defer duties through Free Trade Agreements or other Special Preferential Programs.
• Audits freight and entry documentation for compliance with customs and commerce laws.
• Advises senior management of any regulatory or trade updates that could impact the company.
• Responds to all customs inquiries and acts as primary contact for Warn.
• Maintains and updates U.S. Customs compliance manuals, ensuring that all procedures are documented and tested to support customs compliance.
• Responsible for trade compliance record retention in accordance to Federal law.
• Actively engage in product/raw material classification, valuation, including royalties and assists.
• Manages and verifies all Free Trade Agreements and Duty Preference Programs.
• Works with the finance department regarding reconciliation and recoupment of Section 301 Tariff Exclusion overpayments to the US Treasury.
• Works closely with LKQ, KAO, and customer contacts on USMCA qualification based on applicable Rules of Origin and maintains appropriate documentation to substantiate origin identification.
• Researches, analyzes and interprets U.S. and foreign Import/Export regulations.
• Ensures import and export product shipments and receipts are compliant with USMCA and US Customs and Border Protection requirements.
• Works with all Warn teams to properly classify and value products being shipped and received.
• Review and process foreign to foreign dropship orders received from distribution.
• May be responsible for processing customer specific routing requirements, labels, and carrier specific BOL’s.
• Consults with manufacturing, shipping, receiving, purchasing teams to maintain proper documentation of shipments and receipts.
• Works with the Director of Global Logsitics, Director of Supply Chain, their teams, and other Warn Department team leaders as necessary on maintaining required licensing, certifications and compliance requirements as it pertains to Import/Export functions.
• Maintains in-house Compliance Manual in collaboration with Corporate Risk and Compliance Manager.
• Process and ship confirm cross-trade and U.S. import dropships with FedEx, UPS, and ERP applications.
• Provides weekly reports to corporate purchasing and finance teams.
• Act as liaison to address and manage inquiries regarding international shipment status when a Logistics Specialist is not present.
• Assists other logistics, purchasing, and finance functions in freight invoice approval, freight quotation, customs documentation, and Import/Export compliance.
• Accountable for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance in assigned area. Responsible for designing and operating effectiveness of internal controls, including self-assessment and financial reporting to management.
• Accountable for developing and monitoring processes and practices necessary for legal and ethical compliance in assigned area.
• Required to actively engage in general housekeeping, 5S, and other lean manufacturing activities assigned by leadership.
• Work safely and without injury.

Availability Requirements:

Due to the nature and scope of the essential functions of this position, the importance of personal interactions with coworkers, and the availability of job-related tools, equipment and resources at work, performance of the essential functions requires the ability to be present on-site, and available through communication tools, such as Microsoft Teams.
The required number of hours / week will vary depending on what is required to efficiently perform the job duties of this position.

Required Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or International Business, or equivalent in working experience in Import/Export compliance with a Customs Brokerage firm.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in international trade and customs regulations.
• Active Customs Broker License required.
• Thorough knowledge of Chapter 19 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Harmonized Tariff Schedule and Export Regulations under BIS, OFAC, USTR and CBP.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of EAR Licensing requirements and ECNs.
• Demonstrated success in recoupment of taxes and duties paid under Section 301 Tariff Exclusion.
• Proficiency in ERP systems using multiple screen functions, e.g. sales order entry, PO inquiry, PO receipts, item setup with harmonized codes and customs values, item availability, item location lookup, ship confirm, TMS modules, inventory transaction history
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, i.e. Excel, Word, Power Point, and Outlook

Required Qualifications, Technical Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong oral and written communication skills commensurate with the job tasks and position necessary to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external customers while providing exceptional quality of work and outstanding customer service. Ability to present information in a manner designed to educate or inform other team members and customers in one-on-one or group interactions as directed.
• The ability and willingness to work extended hours as necessary is required.
• Ability to continuously improve and learn new skills.
• Must be flexible and open to others’ ideas and possess strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated use of well-reasoned decision-making with a high attention to detail regarding organization, planning, workflow, and project prioritization to complete tasks efficiently and accurately. Uses a proactive approach to problems and challenges and reacts quickly and decisively in critical situations.
• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. Including the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced work environment while maintaining a calm, rational, respectful demeanor and communication style in times of stress occasioned by work demands, tight timelines, high expectations, unexpected issues, and other work-related issues or concerns that may cause a heightened level of anxiety, frustration, anger, disappointment, confusion, etc.
• Highly ethical, self-motivated individual with the ability to work independently and/or with limited direction, while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful, and productive work habits.

Language Skills:

The successful candidate exhibits the ability to read, write, verbalize, and comprehend instructions and correspondence in the English language. In addition, the right Import/Export & Compliance Customs broker exhibits strong oral and written communication skills commensurate with the job tasks and position. Must have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external customers while providing exceptional quality of work and outstanding customer service is essential.

Physical and Visual Activities:

The physical demands on an employee described below are representative of those required for the successful performance of the essential functions of this position. Warn may make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Receive, understand, evaluate and appropriately respond to communications from employees, members of management, customers, vendors, and visitors using available technology, in person and in a public setting when necessary.
• Work for extended periods in a stationary position daily while operating a computer and other tools and equipment in conjunction with completing required job tasks.
• Maintain professional and respectful communication style to ensure reactions and responses to both emergency and non-emergency situations serve as an example to others of appropriate workplace communications.
• Provide intellectually sound and well-reasoned answers, recommendations and solutions to identified business problems, issues and/or questions. Efficiently and quickly analyze, process, manipulate, and accurately record extensive amounts of data (most of which is technical in nature) and other information that serves as the basis for this position.
• Move to, from and within the designated work area frequently and consistently throughout the workday and regularly throughout our building and/or across Warn-related property and customer site locations, possibly during inclement weather.
• Use a personal computer frequently and consistently for the purpose of reviewing, analyzing, creating, transmitting, and presenting documents, data and other business-related information.
• Lift, transport and/or move up to 40 pounds, 80 pounds with assistance. May require occasional lifting overhead. Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling and climbing.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Warn Industries is committed to providing FMLA and equal opportunities for all applicants. Warn Industries recruits, hires, trains, and promotes team members in all job classifications without regard to age, race, color, marital status, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by law. For more information on FMLA, EEO and EPPA regulations, you can check out our career page located at www.warn.com.

Warn Industries hires U.S. citizens and persons lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. All new employees must complete an INS Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) and be able to provide verification of their status as a Non-Foreign person as defined by International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Section 120.14- 120.16. Warn Industries uses E-Verify for eligibility verification to work in the U.S. For more information on E-verify, you can visit www.e-verify.com