At Caldic we are continually developing our capabilities, and we strive to become better every day, with the goal to build long-term relationships. To add value to our company, and to our inspiring solutions we are currently looking to add to our team. Are you a natural leader with a proven track record in the industrial market? Do you have the drive to succeed in a moving fast forward company? Then we are looking for you!
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Logistics & Customs Manager, the Customs & Freight Specialist is responsible for supporting the successful and compliant import and export of shipments across Canada and the United States. The position will coordinate international freight and customs clearance activities, prepare and submit required customs and regulatory documentation, support product classification and certification requirements, resolve clearance issues, and respond to government, broker, customer, and internal customs inquiries.
The role will also support the assessment of duties, tariffs, and logistics requirements for new business opportunities and ensure that Caldic's international shipments comply with applicable Canadian and U.S. customs and regulatory requirements.
Scope and Key Relationships
This position works closely with Customs Brokers, Third-Party Logistics providers, freight carriers, Replenishment, Purchasing/Procurement, Pricing, Customer Service, Quality, Distribution, and Operations teams.
The Customs & Freight Specialist will act as a key operational resource for international freight and customs activities, ensuring shipments are properly documented, submitted for clearance, monitored, and successfully released by the applicable authorities.
Key Responsibilities:
Import / Export Customs and International Freight
- Coordinate international import and export shipments by air, ground, and ocean, working closely with Customs Brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, and Third-Party Logistics providers.
- Prepare, review, and maintain required customs and international shipping documentation, including Bills of Lading (BOL), commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, and other customs and regulatory documentation.
- Prepare and/or coordinate regulatory submissions and documentation, including FDA Prior Notice and other applicable FDA, CFIA, CBSA, and CBP requirements.
- Enter shipment information and supporting documentation into applicable customs brokerage portals to initiate customs clearance.
- Monitor customs entries, obtain and maintain entry/release confirmations, and ensure shipments are successfully cleared.
- Work closely with Customs Brokers to ensure all customs documentation and shipment information is complete and accurate to minimize border delays.
- Proactively identify missing customs or technical documentation and coordinate with the appropriate Caldic department, supplier, or vendor to obtain the required information.
- Investigate and resolve customs holds, FDA issues, border delays, documentation discrepancies, and other clearance exceptions in a timely manner.
- Liaise with Customs Brokers and Third-Party Logistics providers to facilitate international shipments and resolve customs and border-crossing issues.
- Coordinate with Customer Service, Replenishment, Production, Distribution, and Third-Party Logistics providers to support timely product delivery.
Customs Compliance and Product Classification
- Maintain, review, and update HS/HTS classifications for Caldic-manufactured and distributed products.
- Work with Purchasing, Quality, suppliers, and other internal stakeholders to obtain product composition, country-of-origin, technical, and regulatory information required for customs classification.
- Support the determination of applicable tariff treatments, duties, trade agreements, country-of-origin requirements, and other customs charges.
- Review customs entries and broker invoices to ensure Caldic is correctly assessed for duties, tariffs, taxes, and customs brokerage fees.
- Identify incorrect duty or tariff assessments and coordinate corrections, adjustments, refunds, or claims with Customs Brokers and government authorities as required.
- Prepare, issue, source, and maintain CUSMA/USMCA certificates and supporting documentation for applicable manufactured, exported, and imported products.
- Ensure applicable government quota documentation is accurately completed and maintained.
- Support customs recordkeeping requirements and maintain organized, audit-ready customs documentation.
Government Agencies, Certifications and Audits
- Liaise with government agencies, including CBSA, CBP, CFIA, FDA, and other applicable regulatory authorities, to resolve customs, border-crossing, certification, and product-classification matters.
- Coordinate required CFIA certificates and other government certifications, working with Purchasing/Procurement, Quality, suppliers, and vendors to obtain prerequisite documentation.
- Respond to government requests for information, customs verifications, and regulatory inquiries.
- Coordinate and support government customs audits, internal audits, and compliance reviews, including gathering documentation and responding to audit requests.
- Respond to internal customs inquiries regarding HS/HTS codes, duties, tariffs, country of origin, documentation, and import/export requirements.
- Escalate significant compliance risks or unresolved customs issues to the Logistics & Customs Manager.
Business and Operational Support
- Support Pricing, Purchasing, Sales, and other departments in evaluating new business opportunities by identifying potential customs duties, tariffs, freight requirements, and regulatory considerations.
- Provide customs and international freight information required for product costing and landed-cost assessments.
- Assist in identifying opportunities to improve customs processes, reduce clearance delays, control freight and duty costs, and strengthen regulatory compliance.
- Complete all other duties as assigned by the Logistics & Customs Manager.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations, GMPs, and HACCP requirements.
- Follow Food Safety and Quality requirements in accordance with prerequisite programs, HACCP plans, CCP monitoring requirements, and the SQF Code.
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- 5–7 years of progressive experience in customs, import/export compliance, international freight, customs brokerage, or a closely related role.
- CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) designation is strongly preferred. CIFFA or other relevant customs/international freight certification is an asset.
- Strong working knowledge of the Canadian Customs Tariff and U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS), including HS/HTS classification.
- Practical knowledge of tariff treatments, trade agreements, valuation and classification, country of origin, assessment of duties and tariffs, marking requirements, refunds/drawbacks, and customs recordkeeping.
- Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing customs and international shipping documentation.
- Experience working directly with Customs Brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, and Third-Party Logistics providers.
- Working knowledge of CBSA, CBP, FDA, and CFIA requirements and processes.
- Experience with FDA clearance and Prior Notice requirements is strongly preferred.
- Experience coordinating customs clearance through brokerage portals, including shipment submission, entry confirmation, and resolution of clearance issues.
- Experience supporting government audits, customs inquiries, and compliance reviews.
- Understanding of international transportation and logistics requirements for air, ocean, ground/LTL/FTL, and courier shipments.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate and resolve customs and border-clearance issues.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to maintain accurate and audit-ready documentation.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple shipments, deadlines, and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and experience using ERP systems; Microsoft Dynamics 365 is an asset.
- Food, food ingredients, or other highly regulated industry experience is a definite asset.
Work Environment and Compliance Expectations:
- Operate in a cross-functional, deadline-driven environment supporting international shipments, customs clearance, logistics coordination, and regulatory compliance.
- Maintain accurate, organized, and audit-ready records in support of internal controls, customs requirements, and government review processes.
- Follow applicable health and safety regulations, GMPs, HACCP requirements, prerequisite programs, HACCP plans, CCP monitoring requirements, and SQF Code expectations.
Pay: $65,000.00-$85,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Do you currently hold a CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) designation or another recognized customs/international freight certification?
- Do you have experience working directly with customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers or third-party logistics (3PL) providers to coordinate international shipments and resolve customs issues?
- Do you have at least 5 years of professional experience in customs, import/export compliance, international freight, customs brokerage, or a closely related field?
- Do you have hands-on experience with HS/HTS classification and determining applicable duties, tariffs, country of origin, and trade agreement eligibility?
- Do you have working experience with Canadian and U.S. customs/regulatory requirements, including CBSA, CBP, CFIA and/or FDA requirements?
- Are you legally authorized to work in Canada?
- What are your salary expectations?
Work Location: In person
