Import Associate – Bilingual – Japanese / Chinese or Korean & English
New Jersey Branch - Import Associate 1
Job description
Mission: Our client is a Global company committed to transforming the food industry into an accelerator of the World's well-being. In North America, our client do so by sharing the rich tastes and good health of Asian cuisine with food service operators and retail stores. Our client is at an inflection point in our 100-year history, having recognized the need to modernize ourselves and ensure we continue to thrive in the next several decades to come.
The Import Associate 1 will provide routine administrative support to the Inventory Replenishment Division (IRD) located at the New Jersey Branch and will handle and arrange the customs clearance at the ports for all merchandise. They will provide administrative support to the purchase order (PO) team and their upper management following the company's Standard Operation Procedure (SOP). This job performs a range of general and specific/clerical tasks that can be learned on the job such as filing, copying, and collecting documents, answering phones, ordering, and distributing supplies, and PO/ Internal Requisition (IR) data entry.
Import
- Provide import estimates and information regarding importing into the United States (via air, ocean, and truck).
- Provide customer service to internal departments and overseas affiliates/clients.
- Maintain import data and verify information accuracy.
- Classify all entries, resolve import problems, and monitor carnet imports for incoming exhibitions.
- Coordinate all deliveries and security arrangements from the port and airport to the facility.
- Handle all post-entry amendments and internal audits of all imported imports.
- Assist the distribution and purchase allocation manager with projects as requested.
- Responsible for asking the Custom Broker about the import tariff classification and duties of new items and Harmonize codes by country.
- Coordinating and arranging customs clearance and delivery of import ocean/air cargo in accordance with the direction of the supervisor/ manager.
- Process documents related to the tasks mentioned above, including shipping documents, billing invoices, and payment invoices.
Purchasing
- Works closely with the sales department to obtain sales planning quantity, seasonal items quantity, and import order items quantity ensuring that purchases are recorded at the time of request and submit these orders to get approval from the Branch Manager or Deputy Branch Manager.
- Schedules incoming and outgoing shipments. A major part of this duty is preparing records to reflect when purchased items arrive and ensuring that all materials arrive.
- Follow up with suppliers to check in on late or missing shipments or to report damaged goods.
- Responsible for speaking directly with supplier's representatives to gather order pricing data, compare supplier's offers for shipping rates and material prices, and maintain supplier's contact information.
- Maintains detailed records of purchases, including quantities, shipping information, and costs associated with the purchase. They may provide these records to department heads to aid in budget and financial management or maintain purchasing department files to support future activities.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Experience/ Training/ Education
- High School Degree
- 1 to 3 years of working experience in an office environment
- 1 year as an assistant buyer, purchaser, or import/ export experience with ocean carrier freight forwarder or customs agencies preferred.
- Experience with MS Office – Excel, Outlook, and Word.
Knowledge, Skills, Ability
- Will be detail-orientated, self-motivated, and able to respond quickly to a fast-moving and ever-changing environment.
- Effectively applies knowledge of job and company policies and procedures to complete a variety of assignments
- Knowledge of Microsoft applications (i.e. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).
- Working knowledge of U.S. Customs and other government agency regulations is a plus.
- Excellent interpersonal skills in working and communicating with diverse employees at all levels of the organization.
- Skills in keyboarding and the use of word processing, spreadsheet, and database management computer software packages.
- Effective communication skills internally and externally via phone, email, and in person.
- Assemble, sort, and distribute documents, supplies, and/or materials/items.
- Deals with people in a manner that shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism.
- Follow written and/or oral instructions.
- Speak, concisely, and effectively.
- Ability to use Oracle ERP system.
- Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under various time constraints; principles, practices, and procedures of an office environment.
- Ability to use the telephone professionally and courteously.
- Ability to speak, write, and read English.
- Ability to speak, concisely, and effectively.
- Positive work history and ability to maintain solid attendance.
Working Conditions:
Usually works 40 hours a week in an office setting; however, some work shifts may vary or ask to work overtime during busy periods. May spend time in the warehouse to see if products have arrived from vendors. May be required to visit customer broker or outside commercial warehouse location, which may be off-site on occasions.
Benefits*: Our client offers competitive benefits, which include:
- Health Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Life & accident insurance
- Pet Insurance
- 401(k) with company matching
- 19 days of paid time off
- Wellness program and EAP assistance
- and much more!
*Most benefits require employee contribution
Pre-employment Drug testing is required.
Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer.
Principals only. Recruiters, please do not contact this job posting.
NO VISA SPONSORSHIP and NO OPT Candidates.