PURCHASING SPECIALIST-LOGISTICS, CUSTOMS & TARIFF
Greater Columbus, OH area
A Global Automotive Supplier is looking for a PURCHASING SPECIALIST-LOGISTICS, CUSTOMS & TARIFF to join their team. Company offers:
- Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
- 401K Retirement Savings with Company Match
- Tuition Reimbursement and more!
Position Summary
The Logistics, Customs & Tariff Purchasing Specialist is responsible for managing the movement of purchased materials from suppliers worldwide while ensuring compliance with U.S. Customs regulations, tariff requirements, and international trade laws. This position supports sourcing decisions by evaluating total landed cost, optimizing logistics, minimizing tariff exposure, and ensuring uninterrupted material flow to manufacturing operations.
The specialist works closely with Purchasing, Logistics, Customs Brokers, Suppliers, Finance, and Engineering to ensure materials are delivered on time, at the lowest total cost, and in full compliance with all import and export regulations.
Purchasing Support
- Support global sourcing initiatives by evaluating total landed cost.
- Coordinate with Purchasing to identify the most cost-effective sourcing strategies.
- Evaluate supplier quotations considering:
- Piece price
- Freight costs
- Duties and tariffs
- Customs fees
- Inventory carrying costs
- Assist buyers with supplier selection based on total cost of ownership (TCO).
- Support supplier onboarding and qualification.
Logistics Management
- Coordinate domestic and international transportation.
- Schedule ocean, air, truck, rail, and courier shipments.
- Manage freight forwarders and logistics providers.
- Monitor inbound shipments to ensure on-time delivery.
- Resolve transportation delays and supply chain disruptions.
- Optimize transportation costs and delivery performance.
- Maintain shipment tracking and reporting.
Customs Compliance
- Ensure compliance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations.
- Review import documentation for accuracy.
- Coordinate customs clearance activities.
- Verify commercial invoices, packing lists, and shipping documents.
- Maintain import records for Customs audits.
- Support Customs Broker communications.
- Ensure proper customs valuation and declaration.
Tariff & Trade Compliance
- Classify imported products using the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS).
- Determine Country of Origin.
- Evaluate eligibility under USMCA and other Free Trade Agreements.
- Monitor tariff changes affecting imported materials.
- Analyze Section 301, Section 232, and other trade measures.
- Maintain tariff classification database.
- Research Customs Rulings and regulatory updates.
- Coordinate Binding Ruling requests when appropriate.
- Manage the identification, documentation, filing, and reconciliation of all eligible IEEPA tariff refund claims to maximize recovery and ensure compliance with CBP requirements.
Cost Management
- Analyze total landed cost by supplier and country.
- Identify opportunities to reduce freight and duty expenses.
- Support tariff mitigation strategies.
- Evaluate alternative sourcing locations.
- Identify Duty Drawback opportunities.
- Support Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) initiatives.
- Recommend cost reduction opportunities to Purchasing.
Supplier Management
- Request and maintain:
- Country of Origin Certificates
- USMCA Certifications
- Supplier declarations
- Product composition information
- Manufacturing location documentation
- Commercial invoices
- Resolve customs documentation issues with suppliers.
- Train suppliers on documentation requirements when needed.
Inventory & Production Support
- Monitor material availability to support Just-in-Time manufacturing.
- Coordinate expedited shipments when necessary.
- Work with production planning to minimize material shortages.
- Support new product launches with import planning.
- Ensure logistics continuity during engineering changes and supplier transitions.
Continuous Improvement
- Improve logistics processes.
- Reduce customs clearance time.
- Improve shipment visibility.
- Standardize import documentation.
- Develop logistics and purchasing KPIs.
- Lead supply chain cost reduction projects
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, International Business, Logistics, Business Administration, Finance, or Engineering (Equivalent experience may be considered)
- 1–3 years of experience in Purchasing, Logistics, Customs Compliance, International Trade, Supply Chain
- Global sourcing experience
- Customs Broker interaction
- USMCA compliance experience
- HTS classification experience
Preferred Experience:
- Automotive manufacturing experience
- Tier 1 supplier experience
- Honda, Toyota, Nissan, GM, Ford, or other OEM experience
Preferred Certifications
- Licensed Customs Broker (LCB)
- Certified Customs Specialist (CCS)
- APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
- APICS CPIM
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
About CTI: Compass Tech International (CTI) is dedicated to providing the highest quality Staffing, Recruiting and Managed Services to our customers nationwide, to create greater efficiencies, better results and effective communications to improve their talent access and worker effectiveness while finding solutions for workflow and process improvement.
Talk today to your Compass Tech recruiter. If the immediate job opportunities from our 100+ active client companies is not readily apparent, CTI’s team will stick with you to find the right opportunity, or guide you to improve your process to find success. And via that, a brighter career path.
Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
