National Import & Compliance Manager

Summary

Customs Brokerage, Corporate Compliance & National Import Operations Manager

Department: Operations / Corporate Compliance

Location: Moonachie, NJ

Position Summary:

The Corporate Compliance & National Import Operations Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of the company's nationwide customs brokerage, import operations, and regulatory compliance functions.

This position is responsible for ensuring that all import activities are conducted in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements, and applicable federal trade laws and regulations.

The role oversees the company's customs brokerage operations, establishes and maintains corporate compliance policies and internal controls, and ensures consistency, accuracy, and efficiency across all national import operations and branch locations.

Working closely with senior leadership, operations, and other departments, this individual will drive operational improvements, minimize compliance risks, strengthen internal procedures, and support the company's continued growth. The position will also oversee the effective utilization and optimization of CargoWise as the company's primary operational platform.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Develop, implement, and maintain corporate-wide import compliance policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with CBP regulations, Customs Modernization Act requirements, applicable trade laws, and Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements.
• Maintain oversight of the company's Customs Broker License and ensure all applicable licensing and regulatory obligations are met.
• Monitor regulatory changes, tariff updates, trade policies, and government requirements, communicating changes to the appropriate departments and implementing necessary procedural updates.
• Oversee compliance audits, internal reviews, and corrective action plans.
• Ensure proper recordkeeping and compliance with CBP record retention requirements.
• Identify potential compliance risks and establish preventative measures to minimize exposure, penalties, and operational disruptions.
• Oversee compliance with import security programs, including ISF requirements, when applicable.
• Provide guidance on customs valuation, tariff classification, country of origin, trade preference programs, and other import compliance matters.
• Serve as the company's primary point of contact for customs compliance matters and regulatory inquiries.

National Import Operations Management

• Provide national oversight of all import and customs brokerage activities across company locations.
• Establish standardized operating procedures to ensure consistency, accuracy, and efficiency throughout all branches.
• Oversee import entry processing, customs clearance, documentation, and release procedures.
• Monitor entry accuracy, timeliness, productivity, and service levels across all import teams.
• Work closely with branch managers and department supervisors to address operational challenges and improve workflow.
• Ensure proper coordination between customs brokerage, documentation, ocean, air, and transportation departments.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement solutions to improve productivity and service delivery.
• Establish and monitor departmental KPIs and performance expectations.
• Support business expansion and the development of new import services and operational capabilities.

Customs Brokerage Department Leadership

• Direct and oversee the Customs Brokerage Department, including licensed customs brokers, entry writers, entry supervisors, and compliance personnel.
• Ensure accurate and timely filing of import entries through ACE/ABI and other applicable electronic systems.
• Provide oversight and guidance on complex customs entries, classification matters, valuation issues, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor entry processing quality and establish procedures to reduce errors, delays, and compliance exposure.
• Ensure proper handling of customs examinations, holds, rejections, liquidations, protests, and post-entry corrections, as applicable.
• Maintain effective communication between brokerage staff, clients, carriers, and government agencies.
• Establish departmental goals, productivity standards, and quality control procedures.

Leadership, Training & Employee Development

• Recruit, develop, and lead high-performing brokerage and import operations teams.
• Establish clear departmental responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Provide ongoing training on customs regulations, compliance requirements, classification, and operational procedures.
• Ensure employees remain current on regulatory changes and industry best practices.
• Develop succession planning and cross-training initiatives to strengthen departmental continuity.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, compliance, and operational excellence.

Executive Reporting & Strategic Planning

• Provide regular updates to the President and senior management regarding national import operations, compliance matters, and departmental performance.
• Report on operational KPIs, compliance risks, audit findings, and improvement initiatives.
• Develop annual departmental objectives, operational budgets, and staffing recommendations.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, reduce operational costs, and increase efficiency.
• Partner with executive leadership on strategic decisions involving import operations, compliance, staffing, and company growth.
• Proactively communicate significant regulatory, operational, or financial risks that may impact the company.

Qualifications:

Education & Licensing

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, International Business, Logistics, or a related field preferred.
• Active U.S. Customs Broker License required.
• Additional industry certifications such as CCS, CES, or CUSECO preferred.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in customs brokerage, international trade, import operations, or logistics.
• Minimum of 5 years of senior-level management experience overseeing customs brokerage, import operations, or corporate compliance.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-location or national import operations.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. Customs regulations, ACE/ABI, HTS classification, customs valuation, country of origin, and PGA requirements.
• Experience developing corporate compliance programs, internal controls, and operational procedures.
• Advanced working knowledge of CargoWise required.
• Experience managing high-volume import operations and complex customs brokerage accounts.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and strategic management capabilities.
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. import regulations and customs brokerage operations.
• Ability to identify compliance risks and implement effective internal controls.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple departments and priorities across different locations.
• Strong understanding of operational efficiency, financial performance, and customer service.
• Ability to work directly with executive leadership and provide strategic recommendations.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive executive-level base salary.
• Performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Continued professional development and industry training opportunities.

Job Description

Customs Brokerage, Corporate Compliance & National Import Operations Manager

Department: Operations / Corporate Compliance

Location: Moonachie, NJ

Position Summary:

The Corporate Compliance & National Import Operations Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of the company's nationwide customs brokerage, import operations, and regulatory compliance functions.

This position is responsible for ensuring that all import activities are conducted in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements, and applicable federal trade laws and regulations.

The role oversees the company's customs brokerage operations, establishes and maintains corporate compliance policies and internal controls, and ensures consistency, accuracy, and efficiency across all national import operations and branch locations.

Working closely with senior leadership, operations, and other departments, this individual will drive operational improvements, minimize compliance risks, strengthen internal procedures, and support the company's continued growth. The position will also oversee the effective utilization and optimization of CargoWise as the company's primary operational platform.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Develop, implement, and maintain corporate-wide import compliance policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with CBP regulations, Customs Modernization Act requirements, applicable trade laws, and Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements.
• Maintain oversight of the company's Customs Broker License and ensure all applicable licensing and regulatory obligations are met.
• Monitor regulatory changes, tariff updates, trade policies, and government requirements, communicating changes to the appropriate departments and implementing necessary procedural updates.
• Oversee compliance audits, internal reviews, and corrective action plans.
• Ensure proper recordkeeping and compliance with CBP record retention requirements.
• Identify potential compliance risks and establish preventative measures to minimize exposure, penalties, and operational disruptions.
• Oversee compliance with import security programs, including ISF requirements, when applicable.
• Provide guidance on customs valuation, tariff classification, country of origin, trade preference programs, and other import compliance matters.
• Serve as the company's primary point of contact for customs compliance matters and regulatory inquiries.

National Import Operations Management

• Provide national oversight of all import and customs brokerage activities across company locations.
• Establish standardized operating procedures to ensure consistency, accuracy, and efficiency throughout all branches.
• Oversee import entry processing, customs clearance, documentation, and release procedures.
• Monitor entry accuracy, timeliness, productivity, and service levels across all import teams.
• Work closely with branch managers and department supervisors to address operational challenges and improve workflow.
• Ensure proper coordination between customs brokerage, documentation, ocean, air, and transportation departments.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement solutions to improve productivity and service delivery.
• Establish and monitor departmental KPIs and performance expectations.
• Support business expansion and the development of new import services and operational capabilities.

Customs Brokerage Department Leadership

• Direct and oversee the Customs Brokerage Department, including licensed customs brokers, entry writers, entry supervisors, and compliance personnel.
• Ensure accurate and timely filing of import entries through ACE/ABI and other applicable electronic systems.
• Provide oversight and guidance on complex customs entries, classification matters, valuation issues, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor entry processing quality and establish procedures to reduce errors, delays, and compliance exposure.
• Ensure proper handling of customs examinations, holds, rejections, liquidations, protests, and post-entry corrections, as applicable.
• Maintain effective communication between brokerage staff, clients, carriers, and government agencies.
• Establish departmental goals, productivity standards, and quality control procedures.

Leadership, Training & Employee Development

• Recruit, develop, and lead high-performing brokerage and import operations teams.
• Establish clear departmental responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Provide ongoing training on customs regulations, compliance requirements, classification, and operational procedures.
• Ensure employees remain current on regulatory changes and industry best practices.
• Develop succession planning and cross-training initiatives to strengthen departmental continuity.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, compliance, and operational excellence.

Executive Reporting & Strategic Planning

• Provide regular updates to the President and senior management regarding national import operations, compliance matters, and departmental performance.
• Report on operational KPIs, compliance risks, audit findings, and improvement initiatives.
• Develop annual departmental objectives, operational budgets, and staffing recommendations.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, reduce operational costs, and increase efficiency.
• Partner with executive leadership on strategic decisions involving import operations, compliance, staffing, and company growth.
• Proactively communicate significant regulatory, operational, or financial risks that may impact the company.

Qualifications:

Education & Licensing

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, International Business, Logistics, or a related field preferred.
• Active U.S. Customs Broker License required.
• Additional industry certifications such as CCS, CES, or CUSECO preferred.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in customs brokerage, international trade, import operations, or logistics.
• Minimum of 5 years of senior-level management experience overseeing customs brokerage, import operations, or corporate compliance.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-location or national import operations.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. Customs regulations, ACE/ABI, HTS classification, customs valuation, country of origin, and PGA requirements.
• Experience developing corporate compliance programs, internal controls, and operational procedures.
• Advanced working knowledge of CargoWise required.
• Experience managing high-volume import operations and complex customs brokerage accounts.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and strategic management capabilities.
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. import regulations and customs brokerage operations.
• Ability to identify compliance risks and implement effective internal controls.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple departments and priorities across different locations.
• Strong understanding of operational efficiency, financial performance, and customer service.
• Ability to work directly with executive leadership and provide strategic recommendations.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive executive-level base salary.
• Performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Continued professional development and industry training opportunities.