Import Manager

Reporting to the Director of Logistics, the Import Manager is a critical operator within Slade Gorton’s global seafood supply chain, responsible for ensuring the reliable, compliant, and cost-effective importation of perishable fresh and frozen seafood products into the United States.

This role owns the end-to-end import logistics process, with accountability for customs clearance performance and regulatory compliance, while supporting the procurement team in achieving optimized landed costs. The Import Manager acts as the central point of coordination across international suppliers, customs brokers, freight providers, cold storage facilities, and internal teams, ensuring seamless execution in a highly time-sensitive environment.

Success in this role requires deep expertise in U.S. import regulations, mastery of cold-chain logistics, and strong operational leadership, with the ability to anticipate disruptions, mitigate risk in real time, and drive continuous improvement across import operations.

The ideal candidate will be able to quickly integrate into the organization and establish strong credibility with the supply chain team and key cross functional teams across the organization.

Key Objectives

• Ensure zero compliance failures across all U.S. import regulations (CBP, FDA, NOAA/SIMP, HACCP)
• Achieve consistent, rapid customs clearance to protect product quality and minimize dwell time
• Minimize detention, demurrage, and logistics leakage costs
• Provide real-time visibility and proactive risk management across all inbound shipments
• Drive continuous improvement in import processes, documentation accuracy, and import cost optimization

Key Responsibilities

Import Operations & Execution

• Own the end-to-end execution of all import shipments, ensuring on-time, compliant, and cost-efficient delivery
• Coordinate closely with suppliers, freight forwarders, brokers, and warehouses to maintain tight control over shipment timelines
• With Procurement, support the optimization of routing decisions and port selection based on cost, shelf life, and service levels

Regulatory Compliance & Customs Management

• Ensure full compliance with CBP, FDA Prior Notice, NOAA/SIMP, HACCP, and all applicable seafood import regulations
• Oversee and validate customs entries, HTS classifications, and duty calculations
• Act as the primary escalation point for customs holds, exams, and regulatory issues
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and support compliance reviews or CBP audits

Cost Control & Performance Management

• Actively manage and reduce detention, demurrage, drayage costs and import costs
• Track and optimize total landed cost per shipment
• Evaluate and improve vendor performance (brokers, drayage providers, freight forwarders)

Documentation & Data Integrity

• Ensure complete, accurate, and timely import documentation
• Maintain disciplined recordkeeping for regulatory compliance and audit readiness
• Ensure accurate recording and allocation of duties, tariffs, drayage, freight, and other import costs within the ERP system

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as the central liaison between Procurement, QA, Finance, Sales, and Warehouse Operations
• Align logistics execution with inventory needs and customer demand
• Communicate shipment status, risks, and delays proactively to all relevant stakeholders

Tariff Management & Trade Cost Visibility

• Monitor, track, and validate all applicable tariffs, duties, and trade program impacts (including Section 301, antidumping, and other applicable measures)
• Ensure accurate classification and tariff application across all imported products in coordination with customs brokers
• Maintain visibility into tariff exposure by product, supplier, and country of origin

Risk Management & Problem Solving

• Anticipate and mitigate risks related to:
• Port congestion
• Customs delays
• Weather disruptions
• Lead rapid response to time-sensitive disruptions impacting perishable inventory

Key Skills for Success

• Deep regulatory expertise (CBP, FDA, NOAA/SIMP, HACCP)
• Strong understanding of cold-chain logistics and perishable supply chains
• Exceptional operational execution and attention to detail
• Advanced problem-solving under time pressure
• Strong cost management and analytical skills
• Effective vendor and stakeholder management
• High level of ownership and accountability 
• Ability to operate with urgency in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication and issue escalation judgment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, International Business, or related field
• 5 years of import logistics experience, preferably in perishable food or seafood
• Proven experience managing customs clearance and regulatory compliance in the U.S.
• Strong knowledge of:
• HTS classification
• Customs entry processes
• FDA and SIMP requirements
• Experience working with customs brokers and freight forwarders
• Proficiency with ERP and logistics tracking systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in seafood importing or temperature-controlled food supply chains
• Licensed U.S. Customs Broker or pursuing certification (CCS or similar)
• Experience handling:
• CBP audits
• Post-entry corrections
• Compliance programs