Chanel Import/Export & Customs Operations Specialist
- Location
- Panama CityPanamá ProvincePanama
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Department
- Supply Chain, Logistics & Inventory
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- May 4, 2026
About Chanel
Chanel is an independent, privately held global luxury house known for haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods, accessories, fragrance and beauty. As a vertically integrated brand with global retail and wholesale operations, Chanel combines artisanal savoir‑faire with rigorous international supply‑chain and distribution practices.
Chanel in Panama City seeks an Import/Export & Customs Operations Specialist to manage customs compliance, international shipments and logistics.
Role & Responsibilities
- Manage end‑to‑end import and export operations for Panama and regional shipments, ensuring timely customs clearance and delivery to retail and wholesale channels.
- Prepare, review and validate all customs documentation — commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, licences and permits — and ensure accurate HS tariff classification.
- Liaise with freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers and internal stakeholders (logistics, planning, retail, legal) to coordinate shipment routing, duties, taxes and bonded movements.
- Ensure compliance with Panamanian customs regulations and international trade laws, including sanctions screening, preferential origin procedures and duty relief regimes.
- Maintain accurate import/export records, filing for audits, responding to customs inquiries and supporting periodic compliance reviews.
- Calculate duties, VAT and other landed‑cost components; propose and implement optimisation measures while preserving compliance.
- Implement and maintain customs procedures for bonded warehouses, temporary admissions and inward/outward processing as applicable.
- Drive continuous improvement in operational processes, documentation accuracy and KPI reporting for cross‑border flows.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, Law or equivalent; customs brokerage certification preferred.
- 3–5+ years of demonstrable experience in customs operations, import/export compliance or freight forwarding; experience within luxury retail or fashion recommended.
- Strong knowledge of HS tariff classification, Incoterms and customs valuation principles.
- Proven ability to interpret and apply Panamanian customs law and international trade regulations.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with freight forwarders, customs authorities and internal teams.
Skills
Experience
Minimum three to five years in international trade, customs brokerage or freight forwarding, with hands‑on responsibility for documentation, tariff classification and customs compliance. Prior exposure to the luxury or fashion supply chain is advantageous.
Education
Bachelor's degree in International Trade, Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, Law or a related field; customs brokerage or professional certification preferred.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Panama City, Panamá Province, Panama.
Culture
Chanel blends artisanal heritage with exacting operational standards; teams are expected to combine discretion, precision and commercial awareness. The workplace values craftsmanship, integrity and cross‑functional collaboration to protect brand equity while enabling global distribution.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Chanel, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Customs Compliance Specialist», «International Trade Operations Specialist», «Logistics & Customs Coordinator», «Import/Export Compliance Analyst», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.