Logistics Customs & Trade Specialist

Job Description
Position Title:                Logistics Customs & Trade Specialist
Function:                        Logistics
Report to:                       Senior Staff Logistics Manager
Work Location:             US

Role Summary:
The Logistics Customs & Trade Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and governing customs and international trade compliance programs across North America. This role supports both the Inquiry to Order (ITO) and Order to Remittance (OTR) organizations by providing customs strategy, trade compliance guidance, import/export expertise, and regulatory oversight to ensure compliant, efficient, and cost-effective movement of goods.
The specialist serves as the primary subject matter expert for customs and trade, partnering with Project Management, Procurement, Logistics, Service, Manufacturing, Finance, Customs Brokers, and Government Agencies to minimize risk, optimize duty costs, and support successful project execution.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Support the Inquiry to Order (ITO) organization by developing project-specific customs strategies, determining Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications, forecasting duties and tariffs, evaluating trade compliance risks, and supporting logistics estimates during tendering.
• Support the Order to Remittance (OTR) organization by managing day-to-day import and export compliance, customs documentation, customs clearance activities, temporary import programs, export requirements, and resolution of customs-related issues.
• Develop, implement, and manage the ATA Carnet Program for Company Service trucks, tooling, and temporary international movements to facilitate border crossings, reduce customs delays, minimize duties and taxes, and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Establish and maintain accurate HTS classifications, country-of-origin determinations, customs valuation methodologies, and import/export documentation requirements.
• Assess tariff exposure, including Section 232, Section 301, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD), sanctions, and other evolving trade regulations, and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Forecast customs duties, tariffs, taxes, and trade-related costs to improve bid accuracy, project estimating, budgeting, and Estimate at Completion (EAC) forecasting.
• Identify opportunities to reduce customs costs through Free Trade Agreements (USMCA and others), duty drawback, tariff engineering, temporary import programs, and other duty optimization initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with U.S., Canadian, and international customs regulations, trade agreements, and import/export requirements.
• Develop standardized customs policies, procedures, work instructions, training materials, and best practices to improve compliance, consistency, and operational efficiency across the organization.
• Monitor customs performance metrics and develop KPIs related to customs clearance, compliance, broker performance, customs cycle time, and duty spend.
• Support customs audits, compliance reviews, corrective actions, and record retention requirements in accordance with applicable regulations.
• Provide customs and international trade training to Logistics, Procurement, Project Management, Service, and Manufacturing teams.

Broker & Trade Partner Management

• Serve as the primary liaison with customs brokers, freight forwarders, government agencies, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely customs clearance and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and manage broker performance metrics, conduct periodic business reviews, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Review customs entries, broker invoices, post-entry activities, and customs documentation for accuracy and compliance.
• Coordinate with Legal, Finance, Tax, and Trade Compliance teams on customs-related issues, audits, regulatory changes, and risk mitigation activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Logistics Strategy Managers, Logistics Project Managers, Procurement, Project Controls, Manufacturing, and Service teams to ensure customs requirements are integrated into project execution plans.
• Provide customs guidance during customer discussions involving Incoterms, Importer of Record (IOR) responsibilities, documentation requirements, and cross-border logistics strategies.
• Support strategic logistics initiatives by evaluating trade risks, regulatory impacts, and customs compliance requirements for new markets, suppliers, and transportation solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, International Business, Customs Administration, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in customs compliance, international trade, import/export operations, or global logistics.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), USMCA, Incoterms 2020, customs valuation, tariff classification, and import/export regulations.
• Experience working with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and government agencies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.

Preferred

• Licensed Customs Broker (LCB), Certified Customs Specialist (CCS), Certified Export Specialist (CES), or equivalent customs/trade certification.
• Experience supporting industrial equipment, power generation, EPC, heavy-lift, or project logistics.
• Experience with SAP, Transportation Management Systems (TMS), and Power BI.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.