Department: Customs Brokerage
Reports to: Vice President of Customs Brokerage
FLSA Status: Exempt
About Us and Our Culture
Established in 1907, M.E. Dey & Co. has remained a competitor in the Customs Brokerage and Freight Forwarding industry by delivering outstanding customer service with customized solutions for our clients’ supply chain and compliance needs.
We cultivate strong relationships through outreach, education, and the strategic use of technology and automation.
Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Walker’s Point, our dynamic team of 50+ professionals thrives in an environment that encourages teamwork and flexibility. We support a hybrid work schedule and a family-friendly mindset — all consistent with our core value: Work-Life Balance. We look forward to adding to our M.E. Dey Family!
Job Summary
The Customs Brokerage Department Manager is responsible for overseeing the customs brokerage operations to ensure compliance with all U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations and other government agency requirements. This role manages a team of entry writers, ensures timely and accurate entry processing, and maintains strong relationships with clients, carriers, and regulatory agencies.
Leadership Responsibilities
- Take responsibility for continuous coaching and guidance to ensure the team achieves key performance indicators (KPIs) such as entry timeliness, release of goods, compliance rates, and client satisfaction.
- Deliver high-quality customer service by addressing customers’ needs, assisting staff to resolve service issues, and ensuring timely shipment processing.
- Ensure the team adheres to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and processes to deliver compliant, efficient, and consistent service.
- Implement and maintain SOPs and best practices for brokerage operations.
- Assist staff with classification and proper tariff reporting
- Assist staff with understanding and processing special duty and provisional duty programs
- Assist with developing and updating necessary tools and resources to assist staff with the processing of changing entry and trade requirements
- Provide training and development to ensure team compliance with regulatory changes and internal policies.
- Monitor performance metrics and identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve operational efficiency within the department.
- Oversee the team’s tasks, ensuring adequate coverage and equal distribution of accounts.
- Train staff to enhance their individual capabilities to handle all entry types and/or all accounts designated within their teams.
- Foster a conducive environment that encourages direct reports to maximize their performance and career development through continuous training and efficient performance management
- Regulate and approve requested time off for direct reports.
Other Responsibilities
- Offer guidance to both internal and external stakeholders, knowing when to engage the Compliance Team for additional support.
- Ensure data integrity and proper recordkeeping in accordance with CBP regulations
- Coordinate with freight forwarders, carriers, and customs officials to resolve issues.
- Provide guidance on import regulations, duty mitigation strategies, and trade programs (e.g., FTZ, CTPAT, USMCA).
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of HTS classification, valuation, country of origin, and other import requirements.
Required Education & Experience
- Valid U.S. Customs Broker License
- 5+ years of experience in customs brokerage, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or managerial role
- Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. import regulations, import processes, HTS classification, and PGA requirements.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills
- Ability to analyze information, solve complex problems, and make critical decisions with limited information.
- Proficiency in Microsoft suite, particularly Excel.
Preferred Education & Experience
- Experience with international trade compliance programs (e.g., CTPAT, ISA).
- Familiarity with ACE, ABI, and other CBP systems.
- CCS or CES certification.
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field
- Cargowise Certification or experience
Benefits
- Health, Vision, and Dental
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Voluntary Life Insurance
- FSA and HRA
- 401K Matching
- Annual Bonuses based on company-wide profits and performance
- Hybrid work schedule (Monday and Friday from home after 90 days)
- Paid Time Off