Import Specialist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an import specialist. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an import specialist.
Who is an Import Specialist?
An import specialist organizes import shipments on behalf of their customers. An import specialist will manage all or part of the process of shipping products from origin to destination, depending on the conditions of the sale between the importer and the supplier.
Import specialists may focus on particular categories of goods or services. They could concentrate on things like gadgets, apparel, toys, food, etc. As a result, they may become authorities in their subject and learn crucial information about how other sectors function.
An import specialist works with overseas suppliers and cargo handlers to arrange items for shipment. They also analyze documents such as commercial invoices and bills of lading to calculate freight costs and customs taxes. They provide the customs broker with the necessary data before the freight arrives in the country so that they can clear the shipment. The import specialist may plan interior transit and delivery when the import package arrives and clears customs. The import specialist will inform the client as soon as possible if there are any delays or issues with the shipment procedure.
Several manufacturers and retailers engage import specialists to supervise their imports and guarantee that business transactions adhere to international trade rules and regulations. To confirm tariff classifications and duties, an import specialist checks customs entries. When overseas vendors supply inaccurate or incomplete paperwork, they alert the relevant people.
Companies are increasingly turning to import specialists to assist them to manage the intricate web of international trade rules and regulations as they source goods from around the world.
Since they can provide their clients with insightful information and support, import specialists who can comprehend the complexity of global supply chains will be in great demand. Import specialists should concentrate on honing their expertise in customs brokerage, logistics, and compliance to stay ahead of the competition.
Import Specialist Job Description
Below are the import specialist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of the import specialist include the following:
- Advise customers about the cessation of various employment roles and any unpaid taxes.
- Calculate the security to be taken from the dispatch.
- Compose and structure textual documentation for freight while obtaining the crucially required positive assistance or backup.
- Ensure proper delivery of the shipments and keep an eye on how the various overseas business divisions are acting.
- Examine various documents and commercial invoices to see whether they adhere to federal regulations and standards.
- Give clients advice on matters like allotments, tariffs, and security, and work with customer service agents to make shipping simple.
- Ensure the effective transmission of trade items, commodities, and products.
- Draft, plan and carry out purchase requests while ensuring the accuracy of the data and papers kept by the organization.
- Ensure that all foreign commodities and products go through seamless negotiations including overseeing acknowledgment and planning for the future.
- Keep necessary documents and monitor items and commodities.
- Create, organize, and enforce the requests while ensuring they adhere to the relevant judicial guidelines and standards of practice.
- Administer and guide interactions with the providers, and research and evaluate the providers’ operational quality
- Maintain the workings’ outstanding quality and regularly updated supply.
- Design, improve, and ensure strict adherence to the import and export rules, regulations, and modulations.
- Suggest adjustments and changes to the service providers as necessary.
- See how different providers interact and take the appropriate action.
- Interact daily with the associates of the facility-providing unit and the technically trained unit members.
- Establish and change the processes for classifying the import tariffs on goods and commodities.
- Teach the end users about various trade requirements and create modulatory operational regulations and programs for import and export ways and products according to the organization’s standards.
- Prepare and organize goods and items for delivery, move the store, and deliver the goods and items.
- Perform additional employment tasks and obligations as an import specialist or expert that needs oversight and accountability.
- Travel overseas to analyze and examine commercial fabrication services for compliance with judicial norms, regulations, and protection for children from the working class.
- Maintain social ties with company representatives while observing the effectiveness of merchandisers’ activities across the world.
- Uphold the organization’s financial data’s accuracy and veracity.
- Update oneself on all the guiding principles and regulations of the numerous importing processes.
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s or associate’s degree in any discipline
- Years of experience tracking shipments, interacting with clients, and classifying shipments
- Certification may give you an edge
Essential Skills
Here are the skills you require to excel in your role as an import specialist:
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Creativity
- Flexibility and Adaptability
- Interpersonal
- Organizing
- Negotiation
- Problem-solving
- Research
- Stress Management
- Time Management
- Writing
Communication
Import specialists must be able to deliver information simply and clearly to a range of audiences in several contexts, so strong communication skills are essential. To communicate with clients, suppliers, coworkers, and other business partners, import specialists should be fluent in written and vocal communication. They must be able to negotiate and settle disputes. They must also be able to convey complicated ideas in clear words.
Critical Thinking
The ability to assess a situation and reach a conclusion using logic and supporting facts is known as critical thinking. Import specialists should have this skill because they must be able to swiftly appraise a scenario and decide which items to import.
Creativity
A skilled import specialist must be creative to think of fresh approaches to enhance the import procedure and identify solutions to potential issues.
Flexibility and Adaptability
Because they must learn to adapt to changes in the importing process, flexibility and adaptability are crucial abilities for import specialists. For instance, they must be able to modify their processes to meet new regulations if they are implemented.
Interpersonal
The abilities you employ to communicate and connect with others are known as interpersonal skills. They comprise interpersonal, empathetic, and bargaining abilities. To successfully connect with people, comprehend their wants and feelings, and settle disputes, you must possess interpersonal skills.
Organizing
For import specialists to be effective, they must have strong organizational abilities to manage the many moving parts of their work. This includes monitoring shipments, customs documentation, and deadlines. Without strong organizing abilities, it would be simple to overlook something crucial or make an error that may cost the business money.
Negotiation
For import specialists, negotiation skills are crucial since they must be able to bargain with suppliers to secure the best rates for their goods. To guarantee that their goods are processed swiftly and without any delays, they also need to be able to bargain with customs officers.
Problem-solving
Any import specialist needs to be able to address difficulties. This is because they frequently deal with a range of problems that might occur throughout the importing process, from delays at customs to problems with the quality of the products. It is crucial to know how to promptly and efficiently resolve these issues to keep the importation process operating smoothly.
Research
This skill will help you investigate the goods you wish to import and the market circumstances in the nation of origin. This is crucial to ensure you’re receiving the best deal for your purchase and are informed of any potential issues that could come up during delivery or customs clearance.
Stress Management
Since import specialists frequently have to cope with strict deadlines, picky clients, and complicated rules, stress management is crucial. This ability can ensure that they can complete the task successfully and efficiently by enabling them to remain composed and concentrated in the face of difficult circumstances.
Time Management
Being able to spend your time wisely and efficiently is known as time management. It includes establishing objectives, organizing and prioritizing work, and efficiently utilizing resources.
Time management is crucial since it enables you to do more in less time. You may also enhance productivity, balance work, and life, and reduce stress using it.
Writing
To create reports and other documents for your job as an import specialist, you must be able to write effectively and simply. This ability is necessary to interact with coworkers and clients and to ensure that information is communicated properly.
How to Become an Import Specialist
Below are the steps to become an import specialist:
Step One: Acquire a Degree
One of the first things to do if you want to work as an import specialist is schooling.
A bachelor’s degree in a subject like international business, international relations, international commerce, or finance is a minimum requirement for most import experts. Some firms may hire candidates with a high school diploma or an associate’s degree.
To boost their earning potential and become eligible for employment at higher levels, many import specialists decide to acquire a master’s degree in international business or international commerce.
Step Two: Get Certified
Professionals can use certifications to demonstrate their qualifications to potential employers. Import specialists can obtain certificates to increase their theoretical understanding of their duties, assess their professional abilities, and progress in their careers.
Step Three: Prepare a Resume
After verifying your qualifications and understanding of the position, you may begin drafting your resume. It might take hours, days, or even weeks to complete all that goes into writing the ideal resume.
Step Four: Apply for the Import Specialist Job
Now that your resume is prepared, it’s time to look for a new job. Think about the following advice for a fruitful job search:
Check out employment boards to find related opportunities.
Use your professional network as a resource.
Directly contact the businesses you’re interested in working with
Beware of job frauds
Step Five: Gain Experience
After being employed, import experts frequently undergo on-the-job training. This training, which may range from a few weeks to a month, could cover specific computer applications and operating systems.
New import specialists get the knowledge and abilities necessary for their particular position and employer throughout this period. Before applying for a job, it will be a good idea to build important specialized skills, but you could learn more on the job.
For customs brokers, import experts may take additional training to become familiar with their proprietary software.
Where to Work as an Import Specialist
Work environments for import specialists include import-export businesses, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and governmental institutions. Although they frequently work standard business hours, they may need to work extra time during peak times like the end of the fiscal year or the Christmas season. Government agencies may need import specialists to travel to check shipments or attend conferences or meetings.
Import Specialist Salary Scale
In the USA, the average salary for an import specialist is $53,781 per year or $27.58 per hour.
In the UK, the average income for an import specialist is £25,891 yearly, the range is between £20,048 and £32,721.
An import specialist in Canada with 1-4 years of experience can expect to make an average total salary of CA$39,996 (tips, bonuses, and overtime pay not included). They can earn an average annual salary of CA$63,000 in their latter years.
The average gross pay for import specialists in Germany is €60,272, or €29 per hour. The typical pay for an entry-level import professional (with 1-3 years of experience) is €45.067. The average salary for a senior-level import professional (8+ years of experience) is €72.904.
In Sydney, Australia, the average gross pay for import specialists is AU$105,655, which equates to an AU$51 hourly wage. Additionally, they receive an AU$1,849 bonus on average. An entry-level import specialist makes an average income of AU$79,130. The average salary for a senior-level import specialist is AU$128,008.
In Nigeria, the average monthly salary for an import specialist is roughly ₦208,000. The salary range is between ₦121,000 to ₦314,000.
The average gross pay for import specialists in Ireland is €57,112, which is an hourly wage of €27. Additionally, they receive a €999 incentive on average. The typical salary for an entry-level import specialist (with 1-3 years of experience) is €42,716. The average salary for a senior-level import specialist (8+ years of experience) is €69,101.
Salary ranges can vary significantly based on various crucial aspects, including schooling, credentials, skills, and the length of time you’ve been working in a given field.