Licensed Customs Broker / Senior Entry Writer

Job Description

Job Description

Licensed Customs Broker / Senior Entry Writer

• Location: Houston, Texas 77090 — fully in person (no remote or hybrid)
• Job Type: Full-time, permanent
• Pay: $75,000–$100,000 per year, based on experience

Location and Commute Requirement

This role is 100% on-site at our Houston office (ZIP 77090), five days per week. Remote and hybrid arrangements are not available, and reliable attendance and punctuality are essential.

Applicants must currently live within a practical daily commuting distance of the office and should carefully consider normal Houston weekday traffic before applying. You will be asked to provide your current ZIP code and your estimated commute time to ZIP code 77090.

Position Summary

OUR CLIENT is seeking an experienced, hands-on Licensed Customs Broker to manage customs entries from start to finish while providing technical guidance, regulatory oversight, and support to the import team — and potentially serving as the company's designated Corporate Customs Broker License Holder .

The ideal candidate brings extensive customs brokerage experience, strong knowledge of U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations, and the ability to independently process and troubleshoot complex import and export transactions where CBP is involved. Experience using Descartes (One View) customs brokerage software is strongly preferred.

This is not a compliance-only or management-only position. The successful candidate must be comfortable personally preparing customs entries, communicating with customers, resolving regulatory issues, reviewing the work of other team members, and helping train and mentor less-experienced employees.

Primary Responsibilities Customs Entry Processing

• Personally prepare, review, transmit, and monitor customs entries from start to finish
• Process air and ocean imports as well as border-crossing shipments
• Review commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, arrival notices, and other entry documentation
• Enter and validate shipment and entry information in Descartes or other customs brokerage systems
• Prepare and transmit entry summaries and related customs documentation, including In-Bond transactions
• File and monitor Importer Security Filing (ISF) submissions when required
• Monitor entry status and respond promptly to rejects, holds, exams, requests for information, and other CBP activity
• Prepare post-entry corrections and other entry adjustments when necessary
• Maintain accurate and complete electronic entry files

Regulatory Compliance

• Help ensure import transactions comply with CBP regulations, 19 CFR, Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements, and company procedures
• Research and provide guidance regarding HTS classification, customs valuation, country of origin, admissibility, and special trade requirements
• Identify incomplete, inconsistent, or potentially noncompliant information before entries are filed
• Review complex, high-risk, or unusual transactions requiring licensed oversight
• Maintain complete and audit-ready documentation
• Monitor relevant regulatory developments and communicate important changes to management and the import team
• Support compliance with CBP expectations for Responsible Supervision and Control

Customer and Account Support

• Communicate directly with customers regarding missing documentation, classification questions, PGA requirements, and other customs matters
• Manage assigned customer accounts and provide responsive, professional service
• Explain customs requirements clearly and assist customers in resolving documentation or compliance issues
• Coordinate with carriers, airlines, steamship lines, terminals, warehouses, and other parties when necessary
• Escalate significant customer or compliance concerns promptly to management

Team Guidance and Training

• Provide technical guidance to Import Specialists, Customs Entry Clerks, and other team members
• Review entries and supporting documents prepared by less-experienced employees
• Assist employees with classification, valuation, origin, PGA, admissibility, and documentation questions
• Train and mentor team members on entry procedures, compliance requirements, and proper use of customs systems
• Promote consistent standards for accuracy, timeliness, documentation, and customer service
• Help identify recurring errors and recommend practical corrective actions

Process Improvement

• Identify recurring entry, documentation, or compliance issues
• Recommend improvements to procedures, workflows, and documentation standards
• Help standardize entry review and recordkeeping practices
• Support cleanup and improvement of import data when necessary
• Assist with the development and maintenance of practical customs procedures
• Help reduce preventable entry corrections, rejections, delays, and CBP holds

Required Qualifications

• Active U.S. Customs Broker License
• At least five years of hands-on customs brokerage or import-compliance experience
• Current experience personally preparing customs entries from start to finish
• Strong working knowledge of CBP regulations, 19 CFR, ACE, HTS classification, ISF, and PGA requirements
• Experience processing air and ocean imports
• Experience reviewing commercial documents and validating customs-entry information
• Strong knowledge of customs valuation, country of origin, admissibility, and entry documentation
• Ability to research and resolve complex regulatory questions independently
• Ability to identify incomplete, inconsistent, or potentially noncompliant information
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, management, and operational employees
• Ability to manage multiple entries, customer accounts, and time-sensitive priorities
• Dependable attendance and reliable transportation
• Must live within a practical daily commuting distance of Houston, Texas 77090
• Must be available to work full-time and entirely in person

Preferred Qualifications

• Ten or more years of customs brokerage experience
• Extensive experience using Descartes customs brokerage software
• Experience with ACE and DIS
• Experience managing key customer accounts
• Experience training or mentoring entry writers, Import Specialists, or Customs Entry Clerks
• Experience leading or supporting a small customs brokerage team
• Experience handling complex or PGA-regulated commodities — machinery, electronics, automotive parts, chemicals, perishables, dangerous goods, and general merchandise
• Experience supporting customs-compliance programs and internal reviews
• Strong Microsoft Excel and spreadsheet skills
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

The Ideal Candidate

• Is a hands-on customs professional who is comfortable processing entries personally
• Has strong working knowledge of Descartes and customs-entry procedures
• Takes ownership of finding the correct and supportable regulatory answer
• Reviews information carefully and questions data that appears incomplete or inconsistent
• Can manage customer accounts while maintaining high compliance standards
• Communicates customs requirements clearly and professionally
• Enjoys training and mentoring less-experienced employees
• Remains calm and organized when handling urgent or complex shipments
• Maintains high standards for accuracy, documentation, and customer service
• Can work independently while collaborating effectively with management and the import team
• Is dependable and interested in a stable, long-term position

Measures of Success

• Accurate and timely customs-entry filings
• Effective management of entries from start to finish
• Timely resolution of rejects, holds, documentation issues, and regulatory questions
• Reduced entry corrections and preventable delays
• Strong customer service and account management
• Consistent technical guidance and support for the import team
• Complete and reliable compliance documentation
• Improved accuracy and consistency across customs-entry processes
• Strong alignment with CBP expectations for Responsible Supervision and Control

Compensation and Benefits

• $75,000–$100,000 per year , based on directly relevant customs brokerage, Descartes, compliance, and leadership experience, and on serving as the company's designated Corporate Customs Broker License Holder
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• Stable, full-time position
• Professional office environment
• Opportunity to play an important role in the company's customs brokerage and compliance operations

Application Requirements

Please include the following information with your application:

1. Your current residential ZIP code
2. Your estimated commute time to Houston, Texas 77090 during normal weekday traffic
3. Your U.S. Customs Broker License number and current license status
4. The number of years of hands-on customs brokerage experience you have
5. A brief description of your experience preparing customs entries from start to finish
6. Whether you have processed air imports, ocean imports, or both
7. Your level of experience using Descartes
8. Your experience with HTS classification, ISF, ACE, PGA requirements, valuation, country of origin, and admissibility
9. Whether you have managed customer accounts
10. Whether you have trained, mentored, or supervised entry writers or import personnel
11. Your availability to begin working

Applicants must be able to commute reliably to the office five days per week. This position is not remote or hybrid.