Customs Manager

Mastronardi Produce pioneered the commercial greenhouse industry in North America, and we’re now the leading greenhouse vegetable company on the continent.

Our award-winning, flavorful produce is packed under the SUNSET brand and is available at leading grocery retailers across North America.

Family owned for over 65 years, we pride ourselves on having the most flavorful products and the best people in the industry.

We are constantly pushing boundaries to be a leader in fresh produce innovation. We seek individuals that demonstrate our PRIDE values (Passion, Respect, Innovation, Drive, Excellence) to help us fulfill our mission to inspire healthy living through WOW flavor experiences.

Our corporate office in Livonia, Michigan is currently seeking a Customs Manager to join our Logistics team. The Customs Manager will play a pivotal role in ensuring that import shipments are timely processed and compliant with customs regulations, and in optimizing customs processes to enhance operational efficiency.

Values :

To perform the job successfully, the candidate’s behavior must be consistent with the PRIDE values expected of all Mastronardi Produce employees : be Passionate;

have Respect; be Innovative; be Driven and strive for Excellence.

Primary Responsibilities :

• Drive business-wide compliance with import regulations, including tariff classification, value, trade remedies, and free trade agreements.
• Interface with purchasing, logistics, and external vendors; conduct rulings research to determine Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification for imports;

and develop and maintain a centralized HTS database.

• Communicate with customs brokers and other service providers to facilitate cross-border clearances, ensure timely entry filing, and avoid storage charges and delays to customers or greenhouse projects.
• Conduct post-entry import reviews to ensure compliance with customs regulations including examination of entry documents, receiving, and payment.

Prepare duty refund claims, as well as duty paid or duty impact analysis, as appropriate.

• Support the Periodic Monthly Statement Program (PMS) with Customs and generate ACE reports to support compliance and duty analysis.
• Manage recordkeeping in compliance with customs regulations, including data required for valuation and free trade agreement compliance.
• Continuously evaluate and optimize customs processes to streamline operations, reduce lead times, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to customs clearance and compliance, implementing corrective actions as needed to achieve operational targets.

Education / Background Requirements :

• Bachelor’s degree (relevant graduate level education a plus).
• Minimum of 7- 10 years of experience in customs compliance with a large importer or customs brokerage.
• Experience with produce or sustainable agriculture, and / or with Mexico supply chains and Canadian customs regulation preferred.
• Certified Customs Specialist (CCS) designation, CBP licensed customs broker license, or similar certification required.

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• In-depth knowledge of customs laws and regulations, import clearance procedures, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and international supply chain and logistics operations.
• Self-starter with strong organization and planning skills, with ability to complete tasks with minimal direction and the ability to produce results with minimal supervision.
• Ability to operate independently and collaborate with Supply Chain, Operations, Purchasing and Supplier Management, Marketing, Finance, Tax, in-house / external service providers, and government officials.
• Proficiency in customs brokerage software and electronic data interchange (EDI) systems.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy and analytical ability.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Please note : Mastronardi Produce has accommodation processes and policies in place and provides accommodation for employees with disabilities.

If you require a specific accommodation because of a disability or documented medical need, please contact the Human Resource office so that arrangements can be made for the appropriate accommodation to be put into place.