Company Overview

HYDAC is a family-owned and operated business with a vibrant and rewarding working environment for our employees across the country. Our goal is to provide products, components, and services that meet our customer expectations while being committed to the protection and preservation of our workplace. HYDAC’s passionate team designs and manufactures a comprehensive line of creative and reliable solutions optimized for any demand our customers require.

HYDAC employs over 11,000 people across 52 international subsidiaries.

Overview The Customs Specialist & Purchaser is responsible for supporting the company's customs and trade compliance activities while managing the purchasing of materials, components, supplies, and services required to support business operations. This position works closely with suppliers, customs brokers, freight providers, internal departments, and other business partners to ensure goods are purchased competitively, delivered on time, and imported or exported with accurate documentation and appropriate customs classification and origin information. The successful candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, analytical, and comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing and distribution environment.

Duties

- Coordinate and monitor import and export shipments to support timely customs clearance.
- Work closely with customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, suppliers, customers, and internal departments to resolve customs-related issues.
- Review commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, and other import/export documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Assist with determining and maintaining HS tariff classifications for products
- Support CUSMA/USMCA compliance, including obtaining and reviewing supplier origin information and certifications
- Coordinate requests for certificates of origin and supplier declarations.
- Monitor applicable tariffs, duties, surtaxes, trade measures, and regulatory changes affecting imported and exported products.
- Assist with customs corrections, duty recovery opportunities, and broker inquiries where required.




- Provide internal guidance regarding shipping documentation and customs requirements.
- Purchase materials, components, finished products, supplies, and services required to support business operations.
- Create and maintain purchase orders in the company's ERP/SAP system.
- Review material requirements, inventory levels, open orders, and demand to determine purchasing requirements.
- Obtain quotations from suppliers and evaluate pricing, availability, lead times, freight, payment terms, and other commercial considerations.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, delivery requirements, and purchasing terms within assigned authority.
- Monitor outstanding purchase orders and proactively follow up with suppliers regarding delivery dates.
- Expedite critical orders when required.
- Communicate supplier delays or potential shortages to Operations, Sales, Warehouse, and other affected departments.
- Maintain accurate supplier, pricing, purchasing, and lead-time information in SAP/ERP.
- Review supplier order confirmations for accuracy against purchase orders.
- Investigate and resolve purchasing discrepancies involving price, quantity, delivery, freight, or product.
- Support supplier performance monitoring, including delivery, quality, responsiveness, and cost.
- Identify potential alternative suppliers and sourcing opportunities when appropriate.
- Support cost-reduction and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Develop and maintain professional relationships with domestic and international suppliers.

Qualifications
- Post-secondary education in Supply Chain Management
- 10 years of experience in Customs and Purchasing, or related experience.
- Prior SAP experience or another ERP system.
- Must be eligible to work in Canada.




- Bilingualism in English and French is considered an asset.

Skills and Competencies
- Understanding of Canadian import/export processes and customs documentation.
- Knowledge of HS tariff classification, country of origin, valuation, and free trade agreements is an asset.
- Knowledge of CUSMA/USMCA requirements is strongly preferred.
- Strong purchasing, sourcing, and supplier-management skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word, and other Microsoft 365 applications.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to communicate professionally with suppliers, customers, brokers, carriers, and internal stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer HYDAC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, marital status, family status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic characteristics, and conviction for an offence which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, or municipal laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Reasonable accommodation is available upon request through the recruitment and selection process.

Pay: $50,000.00-$60,000.00 per year

Benefits

- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Profit sharing
- RRSP match
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision care

Work Location: In person

📌 Purchasing and Customs Specialist (Welland)
🏢 Hydac
📍 Welland