Import Manager

Senior Import Logistics Manager

Location: Joliet, IL Area (On-Site)

Industry: Manufacturing / Distribution / Global Sourcing

About the Opportunity

A growing international sourcing and distribution organization is seeking a Senior Import Logistics Manager to lead import operations, customs compliance, tariff management, freight optimization, and global transportation activities supporting a high-volume international supply chain.

This position will serve as the company's subject matter expert for U.S. import compliance, Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) management, customs valuation, country-of-origin requirements, tariff mitigation strategies, and international transportation execution. The successful candidate will work closely with customs brokers, freight forwarders, steamship lines, carriers, overseas suppliers, sales teams, purchasing groups, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective import operations.

This role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on landed costs, supply chain efficiency, customs compliance, and business profitability while supporting significant import activity from Asia into the United States.

Key Responsibilities

Import Logistics & Transportation Management

• Manage day-to-day international import operations from overseas suppliers through final U.S. delivery.
• Coordinate ocean freight, drayage, rail, warehousing, and final-mile transportation activities.
• Monitor shipment status, lead times, transit performance, and delivery execution.
• Build strong working relationships with freight forwarders, carriers, brokers, and logistics providers.

Tariff & Customs Compliance

• Develop and maintain import tariff management strategies.
• Oversee HTSUS classifications and tariff applications.
• Monitor tariff changes, trade restrictions, customs valuation requirements, and country-of-origin regulations.
• Evaluate the financial impact of tariff modifications and communicate implications to key stakeholders.

Freight & Vendor Management

• Negotiate freight rates, service agreements, and transportation contracts.
• Manage customs brokers, steamship lines, trucking providers, and freight forwarders.
• Monitor transportation performance and identify cost savings opportunities.
• Implement routing improvements to increase shipment visibility and service reliability.

Cost Control & Operational Excellence

• Analyze landed costs, duties, freight expenses, PSS charges, and transportation spend.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives while maintaining compliance and service levels.
• Improve shipment visibility, process efficiency, and lead time performance.
• Support SOP development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with:
• Purchasing
• Sales
• Sales Support
• Suppliers
• Transportation Providers
• Customs Brokers
• Support inventory flow and supply continuity initiatives.
• Ensure cargo release and vendor payment activities are completed accurately and on time.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 5 years of import logistics, international logistics, or global transportation experience.
• Hands-on experience with:
• HTS Classification
• HTSUS
• Import Documentation
• Customs Compliance
• Tariff Management
• Customs Valuation
• Country-of-Origin Rules
• Experience managing:
• Customs Brokers
• Freight Forwarders
• International Suppliers
• Ocean Freight Providers
• Strong Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred

• Manufacturing or distribution environment experience.
• Asia-to-U.S. import experience.
• ERP implementation experience.
• Domestic transportation experience (Parcel, LTL, FTL, TL).
• Trade compliance experience.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate combines operational execution with compliance expertise. They understand both the logistics side of moving containers globally and the customs side of ensuring imports remain compliant and cost-effective.

This individual is comfortable:

• Managing overseas shipments
• Reviewing customs documentation
• Coordinating brokers and freight forwarders
• Monitoring tariff impacts
• Negotiating transportation agreements
• Communicating with suppliers and internal stakeholders

They are proactive, detail-oriented, analytical, and capable of owning the import function from end to end.