Job Title: Import Export Clerk
Job Description
The Import Export Clerk ensures accurate and timely order entry, coordinates domestic and international shipments, and supports customers throughout the full order lifecycle. This role manages high volumes of orders and communications, maintains strict compliance with import/export regulations, and collaborates closely with a manufacturing-focused team to provide precise, timely service to customers.
Responsibilities
- Enter and process customer orders accurately and in a timely manner, ensuring all required information is complete and correct.
- Coordinate domestic and international shipments, including import and export activities, in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
- Support customers throughout the full order lifecycle by handling inquiries, providing order status updates, and resolving issues via phone and email, with a heavier emphasis on email communication.
- Manage multiple priorities effectively while handling a high volume of orders and communications, ensuring deadlines and service levels are consistently met.
- Communicate manufacturing lead times and inventory availability clearly to customers, recognizing that inventory may not be readily available on the shelf and setting appropriate expectations.
- Collaborate with internal teams, including manufacturing and sales, to ensure order accuracy, appropriate documentation, and smooth fulfillment.
- Use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe tools to prepare, update, and maintain order documentation, records, and reports.
- Apply knowledge of U.S. and international import/export laws and regulations to ensure all shipments remain compliant.
- Exercise sound judgment and make independent decisions when addressing order issues, customer requests, and shipment challenges.
- Participate in structured training by shadowing experienced team members, observing order emails and processing workflows, and practicing in a non-production test system.
- Progress from handling simpler consumable orders to supporting a designated sales representative with more complex, multi-line orders as proficiency increases.
- Maintain strong attention to detail and follow-through when working with thousands of customers and complex account structures, including customers with multiple invoice accounts.
- Contribute to continuous improvement by learning and adopting new tools and systems, such as Power BI and Dynamics 365, as they are integrated into the workflow.
Essential Skills
- Minimum of 2+ years of experience in import and/or export operations.
- Knowledge of U.S. and international import/export laws and regulations.
- Experience with order entry, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong customer service skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for phone and email interactions.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and make independent decisions.
- Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail and follow-through.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
- Proficiency in Adobe tools for handling documentation.
- Familiarity with the manufacturing industry and understanding of how manufacturing lead times impact order timelines.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with Salesforce is a plus.
- Experience with Dynamics 365 (D365) is a plus.
- Familiarity with Power BI or similar analytical tools is beneficial.
- Comfort working in a high-volume order environment, such as handling thousands of customers and a large number of weekly orders.
- Ability to learn and adapt to established processes and workflows over an extended training period.
Work Environment
This is an onsite position with standard daytime hours, typically 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour lunch or 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch. You will join a six-person team that collectively processes a high volume of orders, handling a couple of hundred orders per person and approximately 2,000 orders per week across the team. The environment emphasizes deep institutional knowledge and established processes, and new hires are expected to learn and follow the existing ways of working while also contributing to the adoption of newer tools such as Power BI and Dynamics 365. Training is structured and gradual: you will begin by shadowing experienced team members to observe order emails and processing, then practice in a non-production test system before working in a live environment. Initial responsibilities focus on a specific territory with consumable products to build familiarity with smaller, simpler orders, followed by progression to supporting a sales representative with more complex, multi-line orders. The role involves frequent email communication and regular phone contact with customers, many of whom have complex account structures and require detailed, accurate information. The work is detail-oriented, process-driven, and designed with the understanding that it may take up to a year to become fully independent in the role.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Matthews, NC.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $25.00 - $26.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
โข Medical, dental & vision
โข Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
โข 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
โข Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
โข Short and long-term disability
โข Health Spending Account (HSA)
โข Transportation benefits
โข Employee Assistance Program
โข Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Matthews,NC.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jun 30, 2026.
About Aston Carter
Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffingยฎ Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.