Customs Clearance Specialist - CAN (100% REMOTE) *Evenings and Weekends Required*

Company Description

Meet BorderBuddy:

Unlike traditional customs brokers who have been around for decades, BorderBuddy was established after the advent of the Internet - the same year Apple introduced the iPhone. Over the last 17 years, we have adeptly managed the importation of a wide array of goods, gaining the trust of over 80,000 clients and a 4.8-star rating with over 2300 Google reviews.

BorderBuddy is part of the A&A Group of Companies - a leading North American customs brokerage and trade technology group that has supported cross-border trade since 1979. The group includes A&A Customs Brokers (enterprise-focused brokerage operations in Canada and the U.S.), BorderBuddy (specializing in Individuals, SMBs, and high-volume ecommerce clearances), and Zipments.io (our dedicated trade technology platform powering automation, ecommerce integrations, and modern clearance workflows).

As part of a larger brokerage and technology group clearing over $700MM in GMV annually, BorderBuddy offers the agility of a modern ecommerce broker with the scale, expertise, and support of an established industry leader.

We pride ourselves on being a technology-first customs broker, and are aggressively pursuing opportunities in ecommerce. Through Zipments, our technology arm, we are modernizing customs brokerage with tools for duty & tax calculation, HS classification, shipment visibility, and scalable parcel-level clearance solutions. 

While traditional customs brokers may rely on physical offices at ports of entry, BorderBuddy leverages cutting-edge technology to provide seamless, efficient, and compliant customs services provided by a 100% remote working team across Canada and the U.S. We're focused on modernizing and advancing the standard approach to customs clearance. And we're growing fast, super fast.

Join our dynamic team at BorderBuddy and contribute to shaping the future of customs operations, ensuring compliance and efficiency in cross-border transactions. If you are passionate about customs procedures and possess the skills to lead in a complex regulatory environment, we invite you to be an integral part of our success story.

Our Culture:

We are a values-based organization and a dedicated group of professionals who value innovation, teamwork, learning and development. We take a great deal of pride in developing long-term relationships and in supporting our community and our environment.

Our Promise:

We thrive on helping people.

At BorderBuddy, we are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential by developing their skills and careers.

We strive to be the best employer in our community and in our industry.

Our People Principles:

Our Principles guide us in delivering on our People Promise. They commit us to:

• Create a team of engaged and committed A Players;

• Make a difference to help employees learn and grow;

• Truly care about your quality of life.

Job Description

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Customs Operations Manager for Canada, the Customs Clearance Specialist (CAN) is responsible for preparing customs documentation and ensuring compliance with laws related to the import and export of shipments. 

The Clearance Specialist is responsible for reviewing and processing customs documents, determining duties and taxes, processing payment on behalf of clients and communicating effectively with various stakeholders such as clients, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), partners, carriers, and freight forwarders. The role is essential to maintaining smooth operations in the shipping and logistics industry. 

This role is particularly important in supporting BorderBuddy’s growing ecommerce and high-volume clearance programs, powered by Zipments’ automation and trade technology platform.

Given the operational nature of ecommerce and parcel-level clearance, this position operates on a rolling schedule and requires flexibility to support extended service hours.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Independently reviews and prepares customs documentation for processing and entry releases.

• Handles general inquiries (internally and externally) over the phone, through email, or on Slack.

• Completes files in a timely and accurate manner, in compliance with BorderBuddy and Customs policies and procedures.

• Writes detailed notes and instructions regarding clients, Freight Forwarders, CBSA, Carriers, and other relevant parties.

• Maintains the client database and updates information as necessary.

• Proactively seeks out knowledge and solutions.

• Prioritizes and meets deadlines with consistency and reliability.

• Independently manages and resolves challenging situations.

• Processes B3/CAD entries to meet Company, CBSA, and CBP compliance standards.

• Corrects rejected Canada Customs entries.

• Is knowledgeable about and can correctly assign HS tariff classifications.

• Proactively supports the sales team and cross-sells BorderBuddy's services.

• Maintains professional status by completing exams or attending conferences.

• Supports the adoption of modern, tech-enabled clearance workflows, including ecommerce parcel-level processing and automated brokerage tools.

Qualifications

Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) to three (3) years of experience in a customs brokerage role with hands-on experience in processing all modes of transport.

• Diploma or degree in related field; post secondary or business courses in related industry a plus.

• Experience with CANdata is considered an asset.

• CCS designation or other industry related certification; LCB designation a plus.

Skills:

• Excellent communicator, both verbal and written; ability to communicate effectively with clients, customs authorities, carriers, freight forwarders and other stakeholders.

• Strong attention to detail and highly task oriented; you take ownership for your work and get the job done right.

• Resourceful, relentlessly searching for answers and committing to finding solutions to new challenges.

• Exceptional, proactive problem-solving skills and ability to work well under pressure; enjoys new challenges and working in a fast-paced busy environment.

• Self-motivated and hardworking.

• Positive ‘can-do’ attitude, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

• Flexible and agile, adapting quickly in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.

• Strong organizational skills, flexibility, and reliability

• Proficiency in English is required; knowledge of French, Spanish, Cantonese or Mandarin is considered an asset.

• Proficiency with computers and software, detail-oriented, resourceful, and eager to learn.

• Must be a team player - collaboration across brokerage and technology teams is core to how we operate.

Additional Information

At BorderBuddy we offer our staff a relaxed work atmosphere, a supportive work environment as well as a competitive compensation package (health & dental benefits, RRSP contribution, tuition reimbursement programs, professional training, and paid time off).  

BorderBuddy is an excellent place to develop your career. As part of the A&A Group of Companies, you will be joining a growing organization investing heavily in both brokerage excellence and the future of trade technology.

Working Conditions:

Our standard work schedule is 37.5 hours per week. This is a full-time, 100% remote role, and candidates must reside and work from within Canada. BorderBuddy will provide all required IT equipment to successfully perform the role. 

BorderBuddy operates in a 24/7/365 environment to support ecommerce and high volume customs clearance across time zones. As a result, this is a rolling position with a predictable rotation that includes day, evening, and weekend shifts (weekend work is required on a rotating basis, typically every second weekend, with schedules planned in advance). 

Shifts rotate between 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, and 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm, shared between two team members. 

Candidates based in Eastern Canada are preferred to support time-zone alignment. 

While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.