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About the Role
The Customs Specialist, Japan is responsible for the compliant, accurate, and efficient execution of import customs operations for VF businesses in Japan. This role serves as the day-to-day customs subject-matter expert for Japan, working closely with customs brokers, logistics teams, consultants, Japanese customs authorities, and the regional Customs Trade Compliance team. A key focus is maintaining disciplined tariff classification processes, supporting defensible decisions, and ensuring accurate data translation into import declarations and operational instructions. The position combines hands-on operational ownership with a proactive continuous-improvement mindset, aiming to identify import barriers, anticipate risks, improve execution, and simplify import flows without compromising compliance.
Responsibilities
- Own and coordinate day-to-day import customs operations for Japan, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant customs clearance.
- Act as the primary operational customs contact for Japan, providing guidance on import requirements, documentation, and risks.
- Manage and continuously improve HTS/tariff classification for Japan, including analysis, rationale maintenance, and data validation.
- Ensure appropriate controls across customs valuation, country of origin, duty rates, preferential treatment, import documentation, and record retention.
- Build strong relationships with customs brokers, setting clear expectations, monitoring performance, and resolving issues.
- Proactively review import flows and customs processes to identify and address delays, exceptions, data gaps, and compliance risks.
- Perform pre-entry and/or post-entry reviews, investigate discrepancies, and coordinate corrections or remediation.
- Coordinate responses to inquiries, inspections, audits, and information requests from Japan Customs and other authorities.
- Maintain accurate customs master data, classification records, broker instructions, SOPs, and compliance documentation.
- Partner closely with the Shanghai regional Customs Trade Compliance team, sharing Japan developments, risks, and opportunities.
- Contribute to regional customs projects, harmonized controls, KPI reporting, and process standardization.
- Support Free Trade Agreement and other preferential-duty opportunities, including eligibility review and documentary controls.
- Monitor Japanese customs and trade regulatory developments, assess operational impact, and translate changes into actions.
- Support selected customs activities or projects in other APAC markets, particularly Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, as the function develops.
Requirements
- Bachelor degree in International Trade, Customs, Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
- Typically 3+ years of relevant customs experience, with strong hands-on exposure to Japan import customs operations.
- Demonstrated experience working directly with customs brokers and improving clearance quality, compliance, and operational performance.
- Strong practical experience in tariff classification.
- Working knowledge of customs valuation, origin, preferential treatment, import documentation, customs audits, and post-entry corrections.
- Experience interacting with Japan Customs and/or supporting customs inquiries, reviews, or audits is strongly preferred.
- Experience with customs operations in Australia, New Zealand, and/or South Korea is welcomed.
- Experience using ERP, product-data, broker, or trade-compliance systems is preferred; SAP and Infor experience is an advantage.
- Professional fluency in Japanese and English.
- Advanced working knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, e-mail, and internet research.
- Ability to work regularly across Japan and Shanghai time zones and travel when business needs require.
- High standards of confidentiality, accuracy, documentation, and professional conduct.
Skills
- Japan customs expertise
- Classification discipline
- Broker management
- Proactive problem solving
- Operational judgement
- Collaboration across cultures and locations
- Continuous improvement
- Analytical skills
- Communication
- Ownership and resilience
Location
- Tokyo
Work Type
- Full-time
Experience Level
- 3+ years
Education Level
- Bachelor degree or equivalent professional experience
About the Company
- VF businesses in Japan