About The Kawaii Company
The Kawaii Company is an innovative consumer products manufacturer specializing in sensory toys and creative products sold through retail, wholesale, and e-commerce channels. We partner with manufacturers around the world to bring high-quality products to market and are committed to building an efficient, scalable supply chain that supports our continued growth.
We're looking for an experienced Logistics Manager to own and optimize our logistics operations from overseas factory production through final warehouse delivery. This is a highly visible role that combines strategic planning with day-to-day execution and plays a critical role in ensuring products arrive on time, on budget, and in compliance with all applicable regulations.
Position Summary
The Logistics Manager is responsible for leading the Company's domestic and international logistics operations, managing the movement of products from overseas manufacturing partners through final delivery to company facilities.
This position oversees ocean and air freight, customs compliance, freight cost management, shipment visibility, transportation planning, vendor performance, and logistics process improvement. The Logistics Manager serves as the primary liaison between overseas suppliers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers, warehouses, and internal departments to ensure inventory flows efficiently throughout the supply chain.
This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for both strategic oversight and daily logistics execution. As the company continues to grow, this position will play a key role in developing scalable processes and may eventually build and lead additional logistics personnel.
Essential Responsibilities
Transportation & Logistics Operations
- Manage all domestic and international transportation activities.
- Coordinate ocean (FCL & LCL), air, parcel, and domestic freight shipments.
- Request, compare, and negotiate freight quotations.
- Select transportation providers based on cost, service, transit time, and reliability.
- Monitor overseas vendor production schedules and cargo-ready dates.
- Schedule shipments and coordinate transportation from origin through final delivery.
- Track shipments and proactively communicate delays or supply chain risks.
- Coordinate warehouse receiving appointments and delivery schedules.
- Resolve transportation delays, customs holds, documentation discrepancies, damages, and delivery issues.
- Maintain shipment trackers, logistics dashboards, receiving calendars, and internal shipment updates.
- Maintain accurate visibility of inventory in transit, ensuring shipment milestones, estimated arrival dates, and inventory availability are communicated proactively to internal stakeholders.
Customs & Import Compliance
- Coordinate with freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean carriers, trucking companies, and government agencies.
- Review commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, arrival notices, and shipping documentation.
- Verify HTS classifications, duties, tariffs, and Customs Form 7501 entries.
- Ensure compliance with U.S. Customs regulations and import requirements.
- Manage CPSC compliance documentation, Children's Product Certificates (CPCs), laboratory testing reports, and eFiling requirements.
- Maintain complete customs and logistics documentation for audit readiness.
- Support tariff mitigation strategies, duty recovery projects, and regulatory compliance initiatives.
Freight Cost & Performance Management
- Monitor freight spend and landed product costs.
- Analyze transportation expenses, accessorial charges, detention, demurrage, and storage costs.
- Identify opportunities to reduce freight costs while maintaining service levels.
- Improve container utilization and shipment consolidation.
- Minimize expedited freight through proactive logistics planning.
- Develop and maintain logistics KPIs including:
- On-time shipment performance
- Freight cost per shipment
- Landed cost trends
- Customs clearance performance
- Transit times
- Vendor shipping performance
Process Improvement
- Develop, document, and maintain logistics Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Build shipment tracking tools and reporting dashboards.
- Improve logistics visibility across departments.
- Identify operational risks and implement corrective actions.
- Continuously improve logistics efficiency, communication, and scalability.
- Recommend technology and process improvements to support company growth.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Partner closely with Procurement, Product Development, Inventory, Warehouse, Finance, Sales, and Operations teams.
- Communicate shipment status and inventory arrival timelines.
- Support inventory planning by providing accurate logistics forecasts.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with overseas suppliers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and transportation providers.
- Provide regular logistics updates and KPI reporting to company leadership.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 3+ years of logistics, import/export, or supply chain management experience.
- Experience managing international ocean and air freight.
- Strong understanding of U.S. import procedures and customs documentation.
- Experience working with freight forwarders and customs brokers.
- Knowledge of HTS classifications, tariffs, duties, and import regulations.
- Experience managing multiple projects with competing deadlines.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
Preferred
- Experience importing consumer products
- Experience with CPSC regulations, CPCs, and product testing requirements.
- ERP, WMS, or inventory management system experience.
- Experience with landed cost analysis and freight budgeting.
- APICS (ASCM), CLTD, or other supply chain certifications.
- Experience developing KPI dashboards and operational reporting.
What Makes You Successful
We're looking for someone who:
- Takes ownership and solves problems before they become emergencies.
- Is highly organized and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
- Balances strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
- Communicates effectively with both internal teams and international partners.
- Continuously seeks ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen processes.
- Builds strong working relationships across departments and with external logistics partners.
- Can manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
Why Join The Kawaii Company?
You'll have the opportunity to build and shape a growing logistics function while working with an innovative consumer products company that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. Your work will have a direct impact on inventory availability, customer satisfaction, and the Company's long-term success.
Benefits
- Competitive salary ($75,000 - $90,000 DOE)
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- 401K
- 401K Match
- Employee Product Discounts
- Career Growth & Development Opportunities
Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
