Freight and Customs Manager

At K18, we're about hair freedom for all–engineered with biotech. We are on a mission to liberate expression. To make the impossible possible with the right technology. To build a community of forward thinkers, risk takers, and rabble rousers. To bring fearless innovation forward and push boundaries past where we thought they could go. 

Position Overview

The Freight and Customs Manager is responsible for the end-to-end management of K18’s international and domestic freight, imports, customs compliance, and related transportation operations. This role owns the movement of goods between Vendors , Contract manufacturers (CMs), 3PLs, and customers — ensuring shipments are routed on time, in full, and in compliance with all applicable trade, customs, and EU/international regulations. The Freight and Customs Manager partners closely with 3PLs, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and cross-functional teams to Ensure service, optimize freight cost, mitigate risk, and support accurate financial close. This is a hands-on, execution-focused role combining operational ownership of parcel, US trucking and international shipping with strategic oversight of duty drawback, import cost analysis, and customs compliance. 

Responsibilities 

Freight & CM Movement 

• Act as the main point of contact for all freight movements between contract manufacturers, 3PLs, and warehouses. 

• Act as the main point of contact for parcel delivery at K18 owning the relationship with UPS and cost optimization of all parcel shipments. 

• Oversee all Vendor-to-CM and CM-to-warehouse movements, ensuring all safety processes are followed and being the main escalation point for security proactive and reactive protocol. 

• Conduct freight forwarders freight cost analysis to identify savings and optimize lane performance. 

• Drive process improvements in shipping, receiving, packaging, labeling, and freight documentation with a focus on double stacking and load optimization. 

• Oversee the filing and resolution of freight claims for loss and/or damages. 

International Shipping, Imports & Customs 

• Follow all international orders daily to ensure they are routed in time to make the month’s revenue. 

• Route shipments with international customers and freight forwarders in line with Incoterms and customer routing guides. 

• Create a Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI) for every international shipment. 

• Coordinate with AGS to create Certificates of Origin (COO) for required customers and destinations. 

• Manage and resolve all mis-ships, including re-routing, documentation corrections, and claims. 

• Provide Omni approval of all imports and associated landed cost. 

• Conduct monthly import cost analysis and report variances and risks to Finance and Operations. 

• Route Amazon EU shipments with Passport and approve associated shipping costs. 

• Ensure all logistics activities adhere to ISO and other relevant trade and quality standards. 

Customs Compliance & Duty Drawback 

• Own EU and international compliance, including HS classification, country-of-origin documentation, and custom required paper in collaboration with the regulatory team. 

• Ensure compliance with all customs laws, trade regulations, and company policies across all import and export activities. 

• Lead the duty drawback program: clean up and provide all documentation required, including historical data from 2022–2025. 

• Partner with customs broker on bills, classifications, and breakdown of duties; review and approve custom broker invoices. 

Finance, Cost & Month-End 

• Approve vendor bills in NetSuite related to freight, customs, duties, and international shipping. 

• Break down all UPS invoices for the entire company, including DHL allocations. 

• Track performance, pricing, and OTIF delivery to ensure carrier and broker accountability. 

• Support end-of-month close by ensuring freight cost inputs, invoicing records, and import cost data are accurate and complete. 

• Communicate freight and duty variances, risks, and savings opportunities to Leadership. 

Risk Management & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Identify and mitigate risks in freight and customs operations, including supply chain disruptions, tariff changes, and compliance issues. 

• Liaise and negotiate with carriers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and international customers to ensure seamless cross-border operations. 

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Supply chain, procurement, sales, finance, and customer service teams to align freight activities with business objectives. 

• Lead and own additional duties as requested. 

Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, International Trade, or related discipline required. 

• 5+ years of progressive experience in freight, international logistics, imports/exports, or customs compliance. 

• Strong working knowledge of Incoterms, international shipping documentation (SLI, COO, BOL), and customs/duty processes. 

• Experience managing customs brokers and freight forwarders for road, ocean and air shipments. 

• Familiarity with duty drawback programs and the documentation required to support claims. 

• Hands-on experience with ERP systems (NetSuite or similar) for vendor bill approval and cost tracking. 

• Proven ability to build and maintain advanced Excel-based models and AI fluency for freight cost analysis, lane comparisons, and accruals. 

• Demonstrated success in carrier and broker negotiation, cost optimization, and OTIF performance management. 

• Knowledge of EU and international regulatory compliance, including vendor routing guides and labeling requirements (e.g., UCC-128). 

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including comfort facilitating decisions with Finance and executive leadership. 

• Analytical thinker with keen attention to detail and the ability to compile and analyze large data sets. 

• Strong organizational and time management skills; able to handle multiple priorities in a fast-changing environment. 

• Willingness to travel to company 3PL, CM, and broker locations throughout the U.S. and abroad as needed. 
• 15% travel may be required. 

Salary Range: 90-105k (in USD $)

This range represents the low and high end of the anticipated base salary range for this position. The actual base salary will depend on numerous factors such as: experience, knowledge and skills, and if the location of the job changes.

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EEO Statement

K18 is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

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