Customs Specialist

Role Purpose

The Customs Specialist, Japan is responsible for the compliant, accurate and efficient execution of import customs operations for VF businesses in Japan. The role serves as the day-to-day customs subject-matter contact for Japan and works closely with customs brokers, logistics teams, consultants, Japanese customs authorities and the regional Customs Trade Compliance team in Shanghai.

A central focus is the quality and governance of Japan tariff classification. The specialist will maintain disciplined classification processes, support defensible decisions and ensure that classification data is translated correctly into import declarations and operational instructions. Classification is a priority area, while customs valuation, origin, duty treatment, documentation, broker controls, audit readiness and other customs requirements remain equally important to the overall role.

The position combines hands-on operational ownership with a proactive continuous-improvement mindset. It is expected to identify recurring import barriers, anticipate risks, improve broker and logistics execution, and simplify import flows without compromising compliance. The role is based in Tokyo and collaborates closely with the Assistant CTC Manager and regional customs colleagues in Shanghai. Over time, the remit may develop beyond Japan, making prior customs experience in Australia, New Zealand and/or South Korea valuable.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and coordinate day-to-day import customs operations for Japan, ensuring timely, accurate and compliant customs clearance across relevant VF brands and business entities.
• Act as the primary operational customs contact for Japan and provide practical guidance to Logistics, Supply Chain and other stakeholders on import requirements, documentation and customs risks.
• Manage and continuously improve HTS/tariff classification for Japan, including classification analysis, maintenance of supporting rationale, product-data validation, escalation of complex cases and alignment of classifications with brokers and internal systems.
• Ensure appropriate controls across customs valuation, country of origin, duty rates, preferential treatment, import documentation, record retention and other customs compliance requirements.
• Build a strong, transparent working relationship with customs brokers. Set clear operating instructions and service expectations, monitor declaration quality and clearance performance, resolve issues quickly, and hold brokers accountable for agreed corrective actions.
• Proactively review import flows and customs processes to identify delays, repetitive exceptions, data gaps, unnecessary manual work and compliance risks; develop practical solutions with brokers, Logistics and the regional team.
• Perform pre-entry and/or post-entry reviews based on risk, investigate customs-entry discrepancies and coordinate timely corrections, voluntary disclosures or other remediation where required.
• Coordinate responses to inquiries, inspections, audits and information requests from Japan Customs and other relevant authorities, with support from regional management, Legal and external consultants as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate customs master data, classification records, broker instructions, standard operating procedures, evidence files and compliance documentation in relevant systems and repositories.
• Partner closely with the Shanghai regional Customs Trade Compliance team, sharing Japan developments, operational risks, broker performance, classification topics, improvement opportunities and lessons learned.
• Contribute to regional customs projects, harmonized controls, KPI reporting, data analysis, system changes and process standardization while ensuring that Japan-specific legal and operational requirements are properly reflected.
• Support Free Trade Agreement and other preferential-duty opportunities, including eligibility review, documentary controls and broker execution, in coordination with the regional customs team.
• Monitor relevant Japanese customs and trade regulatory developments, assess operational impact and help translate changes into clear internal and broker actions.
• As the function develops, support selected customs activities or projects in other APAC markets, particularly Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, based on business priorities and experience.

Key Stakeholders and Working Relationships

• Japan Customs and other relevant government authorities
• Customs brokers, freight forwarders and external customs consultants
• Japan Logistics and Supply Chain teams
• Assistant CTC Manager and regional Customs Trade Compliance team in Shanghai
• Finance, Legal, IT, product teams and other internal business partners as required

Experience and Education

• 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. Experience with apparel, footwear, retail, consumer goods or other product-diverse environments is preferred.
• 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 and will support the future development of the role.
• Experience using ERP, product-data, broker or trade-compliance systems is preferred; SAP and Infor experience is an advantage.

Required Capabilities

• Japan customs expertise: applies customs rules accurately and translates requirements into workable import processes and broker instructions.
• Classification discipline: conducts structured product analysis, documents the basis for decisions, identifies data gaps and escalates complex or uncertain classifications appropriately.
• Broker management: creates clear expectations, reviews quality objectively, investigates root causes and drives measurable corrective and preventive actions.
• Proactive problem solving: anticipates clearance obstacles, follows issues through to closure and addresses underlying process or data weaknesses rather than only resolving individual shipments.
• Operational judgement: balances compliance, service, cost and business continuity while maintaining high integrity and appropriate escalation.
• Collaboration across cultures and locations: works effectively with the Shanghai regional team and Japan-based stakeholders in a matrix environment.
• Continuous improvement: challenges inefficient processes, makes practical recommendations and supports scalable, system-enabled solutions.
• Analytical skills: uses customs-entry, broker, duty and exception data to identify trends, prioritize risk and monitor improvement.
• Communication: explains complex customs topics clearly to customs professionals and non-specialists, in writing and verbally.
• Ownership and resilience: remains organized and composed when handling urgent import issues, authority requests and competing priorities.