Team Lead Customs Brokerage Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Type:

Full-Time (On-site)

Location:

JFK (Rockville Centre, NY)

Level:

Senior / Lead

Experience:

4–7 years direct customs brokerage experience required

Salary Range:

$35.00 - $38.00 Hourly

The Lead Customs Brokerage Entry Writer is a senior-level role responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the customs entry team, driving compliance excellence, and serving as the primary technical authority on U.S. Customs regulations and partner government agency (PGA) requirements. This role combines deep hands-on expertise with team leadership, account ownership, and strategic process oversight.

The Lead Entry Writer is the go-to resource for the most complex, high-value, and sensitive import accounts. They set the standard for quality and compliance across the team, resolve escalated issues that junior and intermediate staff cannot handle independently, and partner with management to continuously improve workflows, reduce risk, and elevate service levels.

This position requires a Licensed Customs Broker (CHB) or a candidate who has passed the CHB exam and is actively pursuing licensure. It is the natural next step for a Senior Entry Writer ready to take ownership of team performance and operational quality.

Job duties may be adjusted based on operational or business needs.

• Serve as the team's primary subject matter expert on CBP regulations, HTS classification, customs valuation, country of origin determinations, and PGA admissibility requirements.

• Review, approve, and quality-check complex entries prepared by junior and intermediate entry writers before filing.

• Lead pre-clearance compliance reviews for high-value, high-risk, or PGA-regulated shipments.

• Manage responses to CBP CF-28 (Request for Information) and CF-29 (Notice of Action) notices, including coordinating with customers and legal counsel as needed.

• Oversee cargo exam coordination — from notification through release — ensuring timely resolution and clear customer communication throughout.

• Identify systemic compliance risks across the account base and recommend corrective actions to management.

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance, training, and quality oversight to entry-level and intermediate entry writers.

• Conduct entry audits and peer reviews to maintain accuracy standards and identify training opportunities.

• Onboard new customs brokerage staff, including system training, regulatory orientation, and account familiarization.

• Lead team huddles, compliance briefings, and knowledge-sharing sessions on regulatory developments and best practices.

• Partner with management to assess team capacity, flag performance issues, and support staff development plans.

• Act as team lead in the absence of the Customs Brokerage Manager, ensuring continuity of operations.

• Represent Radiant professionally in meetings, calls, and written communications with customers, CBP officers, and trade partners.

• Oversee the full shipment lifecycle for assigned accounts, ensuring seamless clearance and on-time delivery across all modes and origins.

• Resolve the most complex operational disruptions — including detentions, seizures, penalty notices, and multi-agency holds — with sound regulatory judgment and urgency.

• Coordinate with freight forwarders, trucking partners, and international agents to maintain freight flow and service commitments.

• Ensure all shipment files are complete, accurate, and audit-ready in accordance with CBP record-keeping regulations.

• Lead the development, documentation, and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for entry writing and compliance workflows.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce entry errors, accelerate clearance times, and enhance customer satisfaction.

• Support internal compliance audits and assist in preparing responses to CBP audits or trade inquiries.

• Evaluate and recommend system or workflow enhancements to improve team productivity and data accuracy.

• Assist management in developing and maintaining a Customs Compliance Manual and related training materials.

• Ensure accurate input of all financial components — duties, fees, charges, and penalties — across all assigned accounts.

• Monitor duty liability exposure for key accounts and flag unusual or elevated duty assessments for management review.

• Perform other responsibilities and special assignments as needed.

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree in international trade, supply chain, logistics, or business strongly preferred.

• 4–7 years of direct, hands-on U.S. customs brokerage experience required, with demonstrated progression in complexity and responsibility.

• Deep working knowledge of HTS classification, customs valuation (transaction value and alternatives), country of origin rules, and marking requirements.

• Proven experience managing CF-28 / CF-29 responses, cargo exams, and penalty or liquidated damages situations.

• Familiarity with free trade agreements (USMCA, etc.), programs preferred.

• Experience with PGA-regulated commodities (FDA, USDA, EPA, CPSC, etc.) strongly preferred.

• Prior experience in a team lead, senior, or supervisory capacity is a significant advantage.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint); advanced Excel skills preferred.

• Expert-level proficiency in at least one customs entry / TMS platform (CargoWise, Customs City, Descartes, or equivalent) required.

• Fluent in CBP's ACE portal, including entry summary review.

• Experience with EDI systems, data reconciliation, and trade reporting tools.

• Recognized technical authority — team members and customers rely on this person for accurate regulatory guidance.

• Exceptional attention to detail and a zero-tolerance approach to compliance errors.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for customers and staff.

• Proven ability to manage competing priorities across a high-volume account base under time pressure.

• Sound, independent judgment in complex and ambiguous situations; knows when to escalate and when to resolve independently.

• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence and develop others without formal authority.

• Ability to perform duty calculations, tariff rate applications, unit conversions, and invoice reconciliation accurately.

• Ability to read, interpret, and act on complex regulatory documents, trade agreements, rulings, and legal notices.

• Ability to prepare professional written correspondence, SOPs, compliance summaries, and customer-facing communications.

• Ability to communicate authoritatively and professionally with CBP officers, government agency representatives, customers, and international partners.

• Full-time position, minimum 8 hours per day, with flexibility to manage time-sensitive clearances and team coverage needs.

• Climate-controlled office environment with moderate noise level.

• Regular activities include walking, sitting, typing, handling documents, reaching, talking, and hearing.

• Vision requirements include close, distance, and peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Starting pay reflects the candidate's years of direct customs brokerage experience, CHB licensure status, depth of HTS classification expertise, PGA experience, and demonstrated leadership capability. Pay ranges may be modified in the future.

Base hourly range

$35.00 – $38.00 per hour (commensurate with experience and CHB status

Additional compensation

Performance bonuses, commissions, or other incentive pay

Medical / Dental / Vision

Employee and family coverage

Life insurance

Company-paid basic life insurance

Disability

Short-term and long-term disability insurance

HSA

Health Savings Account with company contributions

FSA

Flexible Spending Account options

401(k)

Retirement savings plan with 3.5% employer match

Sick pay

80 hours front-loaded annually

Vacation

80 hours annually, increasing with tenure

Holidays

7 paid holidays per year

EAP

Employee Assistance Program

Radiant World Trade Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Radiant Logistics, Inc. (NYSE American: RLGT), a publicly traded third-party logistics company providing technology-enabled global transportation and value-added logistics solutions primarily to customers based in the United States and Canada. Through its comprehensive service offering, Radiant provides domestic and international freight forwarding along with truck and rail brokerage services to a diversified account base — including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers — supported from an extensive network of Radiant and agent-owned offices throughout North America and other key markets around the world. Value-added logistics services include warehouse and distribution, customs brokerage, order fulfillment, inventory management, and technology services.

As part of Radiant, you will join an environment that values expertise, accountability, and continuous growth. For a Lead Entry Writer, Radiant offers the opportunity to shape team standards, influence compliance culture, and build a meaningful career at the intersection of trade, technology, and customer service.