Customs Import Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Are you ready to join a Global Leader in the Freight Forwarding and Contract Logistics field, who knows their employees are their greatest strength? 

LOGISTEED-America is on a mission to deliver high-quality transportation and logistics services and help make the world a better place for generations to come. We are looking for an Import Manager to join us on this mission!

Do you have at least 5 years of managerial experience and have ocean Import and air import operations experience - we want to talk to you. 

Location: Elk Grove Village, IL

WHO WE ARE:

Founded in 1950, LOGISTEED-America is part of a global network of companies providing transportation and logistics services including ocean & air freight transport, contract logistics, customs brokerage, supply chain management, and more. 

Summary

The Import Manager’s reports to the Branch Manager. The Import Manager’s role will oversee the Freight Forwarding import operations business. The successful candidate will have knowledge of all aspects of Freight Forwarding Import Operations and will be responsible for the overall direction and performance of the import operations department. Working closely with the Branch Manager, the Import Manager will be responsible for achieving business objectives, and performing in a fast-paced, high-pressure, forwarding import operations environment, while positively contributing to the success of the team.

• Strong CargoWise utilization and background experience
• Excellent auditing proficiency 
• Demonstrated work history in Air and Ocean Import 

Qualities 

• Ethical with sound judgement
• Leadership, management, and interpersonal abilities to assist the import operations.
• Possess a passion to help team members 
• Visionary
• Detail-oriented
• Reliable, follows through on commitments
• Strong process and planning orientation
• Goal-oriented, task driven
• Enjoys being part of a team as well as leading one
• Balances team’s needs with goals of organization
• Ability to delegate 
• Outstanding written, verbal, presentation and organization communication skills

Essential Duties & Functional Responsibilities Required

Required Knowledge Skills & Abilities

The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

• Strong Global Cargo Wise aptitude 
• Successfully leading Freight Forwarding import operations team
• Meeting established procedures and productivity, safety and quality standards
• Meeting attendance and punctuality standards
• Supporting day-to-day import operations as required
• Creating and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures for ocean and air import operations 
• Reviewing weekly Accounts Receivable Reports and communicate status to Branch Manager
• Investigating and planning the most appropriate route for a shipment, taking into account the nature of the goods, cost, transit time and security
• Supporting the negotiation of contracts, transportation and handling costs 
• Obtaining, checking and/or preparing all transportation documentation to meet Customs and insurance requirements, packing specifications, and compliance with local and international regulations
• Liaising with third parties to move goods (by road, rail, air or sea) in accordance with customer requirements
• Arranging air transport for urgent and high-value freight and managing the risk door to door
• Coordinating US Customs Brokerage to guide the freight efficiently through complex import procedures
• Maintaining current knowledge of relevant legislation, political situations and other factors that could affect the movement of freight
• Managing multiple customers across the globe coordinating shipments between multiple carriers and modes of transportation
• Knowledge of state, federal and international applicable laws and regulations as they relate to primary services provided (i.e. Customs, Security, other import & export government agencies)
• Performs job duties onsite at designated work facility
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Manager

Communications

• Communicating both orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner
• Handle and manage all communication and sensitive materials with high confidentiality and discretion.
• Maintaining communication and control through all phases of the journey, including the production of management reports and statistics

Employee Engagement

• Supporting initiatives that are inspiring and motivating employees to perform at their best through positive encouragement and incentive initiatives 

Safety

• Performing tasks safely 
• Ensuring area housekeeping requirements are met
• Abiding by all Federal. State, Local safety regulations and OSHA rules and LOGISTEED-America, Inc. safety practices

Finance

• Record and submit monthly expenses and reimbursement forms.
• Managing and tracking all assigned material, equipment and company assets as necessary

Training

• Participate in application of LUS policies and procedures including but not limited Attendance and Punctuality policy, progressive corrective action, and others.
• Training and developing Team as needed

Collaboration

• Support internal and external stakeholders including but not limited to safety, compliance, HR. finance and customers. 
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. 
• Ability to travel if needed for business necessity 
• Should be available for holiday, night and weekend shifts to meet required customer/business needs.
• Working closely with customers, colleagues and third parties to ensure smooth operations to deadlines 

Competency 

• Strategic Thinking
• Problem Solving/Analysis
• Financial Management
• Project Management
• Communication Proficiency
• Personal Effectiveness/Credibility
• Multi-tasking

Supervisory Responsibility 

This position manages all key direct reports of the department and is responsible for the performance management of the employees within that department.

• Manages day-to-day operations of ocean import operations
• Ensures a culture and work environment in line with the company’s core value of respect
• Ensures that all team members are looking for ways to systematize the business to increase efficiency

Preferred Qualifications, Required Knowledge Skills & Abilities and Working Conditions

Previous Work Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of freight forwarding industry experience.
• Minimum of 2 years Managerial or Supervisory experience
• Ocean Import and air import operations experience is required.
• Customs Brokerage background a plus

Education and Certifications 

• High school diploma / GED; Post-secondary education preferred

Experience Requirements and Preferences 

• Cargo Wise experience preferred
• Available to work flexible hours and overtime depending on business needs
• Excellent, effective, clear, and concise verbal and written communications skills 
• Ability to solve problems independently as well as in a team environment
• Demonstrated experience interacting, developing and maintaining customer relationships
• Proven success in and improving quality, service, safety and client relationship in a fast-paced high-pressure setting
• Experience with direct customer service, quoting, and supporting sales process. 
• Ability to visit customers onsite to represent LOGISTEED
• Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Office products
• Ability to obtain Certification for Dangerous Goods
• Ability to understand any and all safety requirements and regulations (OSHA)
• Ability to pass all TSA background requirements

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret the most complex documents
• Ability to respond effectively to the most time sensitive inquiries or complaints
• Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to management or outsiders

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk or sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, bend crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment 

Ninety percent (90%) of the work time will be spent in an office setting where the environment is climate controlled. Ten percent (10%) of work time may be spent in various warehouses or other locations where the environment is not climate controlled (hot and cold seasonally).

LOGISTEED America, Inc. is an equal opportunity organization. We abide by all applicable equal opportunity laws and regulations. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law. 

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION - The company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Information is obtained as part of an employee’s essential job functions if: (1) access to compensation information is necessary to perform that function or another routinely assigned business task, or (2) the function or duties of the position include protecting and maintaining the privacy of employee personnel records, including compensation information.

Nothing in this statement prevents LOGISTEED America, Inc. from disciplining, terminating, or otherwise taking adverse action against an applicant or employee because they have violated another workplace rule. LOGISTEED America, Inc. fully supports the above pay transparency nondiscrimination statement.

EOE/M/F/D/V 

Hiring Compensation is Starting At: $85,000. The annual salary for this position will be determined by factors including but not limited to: the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, geographic location, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data