Import Manager
Position Type: Full-Time
Work Location: In person
Reports To: Operations / Plant Manager
About JohnPac, LLC
JohnPac is an agile bag manufacturing and packaging distribution business, where we manufacture solutions for our customers’ needs. Located in Crowley, Louisiana, JohnPac has 115 domestic employees and customers around the world. We offer our associates the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to contribute to the success of a dynamic organization, and to serve others in a manner that exceeds their expectations.
Behind many of our products is a global supply chain spanning trusted manufacturing partners throughout Asia, and a team committed to delivering exceptional quality, speed, and value. We’re looking for a talented, hard-working individual to join our team as an Import Manager. If you're passionate about international logistics, enjoy solving complex supply chain challenges, and want to make a meaningful impact, we'd love to have you help shape our future. We are not offering relocation for this role.
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced, organized, and detail-oriented Import Manager to manage the purchasing and import process for our woven polypropylene bag and FIBC business, while also supporting the procurement needs of our domestic manufacturing operations.
This position will be responsible for sourcing woven polypropylene bags and related materials, obtaining and negotiating vendor quotes, coordinating with overseas suppliers, issuing purchase orders, managing freight and logistics, ensuring accurate import documentation, and coordinating with customs brokers and freight forwarders. In addition, the Import Manager will purchase ingredients, raw materials, packaging, and operating supplies required for our domestic manufacturing operations.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, commercially minded, comfortable working with international suppliers, and capable of managing multiple purchases and shipments simultaneously from quote through delivery.
Key Responsibilities
International Sourcing & Purchasing
- Source woven polypropylene bags and other imported products from international suppliers.
- Request and analyze vendor quotations and negotiate pricing, payment terms, minimum order quantities, lead times, and other commercial terms.
- Track orders from placement through production, shipment, customs clearance, and final delivery.
- Communicate regularly with vendors and internal customer service team to ensure orders remain on schedule and specifications are met.
Freight & Import Logistics
- Work closely with the company's freight forwarder to arrange international shipments.
- Monitor shipment ETAs and proactively address delays or logistics issues.
- Review freight invoices and related charges for accuracy.
- Maintain visibility of landed costs, including product cost, freight, duties, fees, and other import-related expenses.
Import Documentation & Compliance
- Manage and review import documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates, and other required documents.
- Ensure documents are accurate, complete, and received in a timely manner.
- Maintain organized electronic and physical records of import transactions.
- Investigate and resolve documentation discrepancies, customs issues, freight claims, and shipment problems.
Domestic Manufacturing Procurement
- Purchase ingredients, raw materials, packaging materials, and operating supplies required for domestic manufacturing operations.
- Obtain quotes, negotiate pricing, and place purchase orders with domestic suppliers.
- Identify opportunities to reduce purchasing costs while maintaining quality and supply reliability.
Inventory & Cost Management
- Monitor inventory levels and purchasing requirements across imported products and domestic manufacturing supplies.
- Establish appropriate reorder points and purchasing schedules in coordination with operations.
- Analyze purchasing and freight costs and identify opportunities to reduce total landed cost.
Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, importing, supply chain, logistics, or a related field.
- Experience with international purchasing and ocean freight is strongly preferred.
- Strong negotiation and vendor-management skills.
- Strong understanding of purchase orders, freight quotations, shipping documents, and import processes.
- Excellent organizational and follow-up skills.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to manage multiple vendors, orders, and shipments simultaneously.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other standard business software.
- Experience with an ERP, accounting, purchasing, or inventory management system is preferred.
- Ability to work independently and make sound purchasing decisions.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to respond quickly when shipments, vendors, or production requirements change.
Key Performance Expectations
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Competitive product and freight costs.
- Accurate purchase orders and import documentation.
- Effective management of inventory levels.
- Accurate tracking of landed costs.
- Strong vendor and freight-forwarder relationships.
- Timely identification and resolution of purchasing and logistics issues.
- Continuous identification of cost-saving and process-improvement opportunities.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a hands-on purchasing and logistics professional who takes ownership from the moment a purchasing need is identified through the final delivery of the goods. They are comfortable calling suppliers, negotiating prices, chasing production updates, comparing freight rates, reviewing documents, solving problems, and keeping management and sales informed.
This is a role for someone who is highly organized but also commercially focused—someone who understands that effective purchasing is not simply about getting the lowest quoted price, but about managing total landed cost, quality, lead time, reliability, and supply continuity.
Why Join JohnPac?
This is an opportunity to lead the international logistics function for a leading supplier of bulk and small woven polypropylene bags. You'll play a critical role in managing our global supply chain, and ensuring products move efficiently from overseas factories to our plant and customers across North America. If you're passionate about international logistics, import/export operations, and supply chain optimization, we'd love to hear from you.
Physical Demands/Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
· Regularly required to talk and hear
- Frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, feel, and operate keyboard
- Occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
- Office environment: while performing the duties of this job, the employee is in a climate controlled office environment.
NOTICE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the environment and the level of work being performed by this job. This job description in no way states or implies that the duties and responsibilities listed are the only tasks to be performed by the employee in this job. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his or her supervisor.
JohnPac is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package including health and dental insurance, 401(k), and paid time off.
Travel Percentage
No travel required
Company
- 100- 250 employees
- Manufacturing
- Distribution
Industry
· Packaging
Job Functions
Pay: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
