Be yourself at Protolabs
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace. So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply! You can help make our company even better. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself. We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams.
Why Protolabs?
We are the leaders in digital manufacturing. We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit. Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds. We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do. It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.
Join our team as a
Global Trade Compliance & Import/Export Specialist
This is a fixed HYBRID role - onsite Tuesday-Thursday in Maple Plain, MN.
The Global Trade Compliance & Import/Export Specialist serves as the organization's subject matter expert for global international trade compliance, customs regulations, and global import/export operations. This position is responsible for ensuring that global cross-border transactions are conducted in compliance with all applicable import, export, customs, sanctions, and trade regulations while supporting efficient and cost-effective logistics operations.
The role partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Legal, Network Operations, and external logistics providers to establish compliant trade practices, mitigate regulatory risk, and support business growth through effective international trade management.
What You Will Do:
- Serve as the company's subject matter expert for import/export compliance, customs regulations, export controls, and international trade requirements.
- Lead and maintain the organization's global trade compliance program, ensuring adherence to applicable import, export, sanctions, and customs regulations.
- Interpret complex regulatory requirements and provide guidance to business leaders regarding trade compliance risks, obligations, and business impacts.
- Determine and maintain tariff classifications, country-of-origin determinations, customs valuation methodologies, and related trade compliance documentation.
- Review, approve, and oversee import and export documentation including commercial invoices, certificates of origin, customs declarations, AES filings, and other required regulatory submissions.
- Monitor changes in global trade regulations, tariff schedules, sanctions programs, free trade agreements, and customs requirements; assess impacts and implement necessary process or policy changes.
- Develop, implement, and maintain trade compliance policies, procedures, controls, and record-retention practices to support regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate trade compliance risks associated with customers, suppliers, products, countries, transportation routes, and international business transactions.
- Lead investigations and corrective actions related to customs issues, shipment holds, regulatory inquiries, restricted-party concerns, and potential compliance violations.
- Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, Finance, Legal, Customer Service, and Logistics teams to ensure compliant and efficient international movement of goods.
- Coordinate activities with customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, government agencies, and other external partners to facilitate customs clearance and resolve trade-related issues.
- Support business expansion initiatives by evaluating the import/export compliance implications of new products, suppliers, manufacturing locations, customers, and international markets.
- Analyze trade activity, transportation costs, duties, tariffs, and customs performance metrics to identify opportunities for risk reduction, process improvement, and cost optimization.
- Lead or support internal and external compliance audits and serve as the primary point of contact for trade compliance reviews, assessments, and regulatory examinations.
- Develop and deliver trade compliance training and awareness programs to ensure employees understand applicable regulations, company policies, and compliance responsibilities.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship regarding trade compliance practices, customs processes, and import/export requirements across the organization.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance trade compliance effectiveness, operational efficiency, data integrity, and customer service performance.
What You Bring:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, International Business, Business Administration, Logistics, Finance, Law, or a related field.
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in international trade compliance, import/export operations, customs compliance, logistics, or related disciplines.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex international trade and customs matters.
- Experience working with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and regulatory agencies in the US and EU
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Advanced knowledge of international trade compliance, customs regulations, tariff classification, and global import/export operations.
- Ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements, assess compliance risk, and implement effective controls and business solutions.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and continuous improvement skills.
- Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and effectively communicate technical regulatory concepts to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to manage highly complex work independently while exercising sound business judgment.
- Proficiency with trade compliance systems, ERP applications, and Microsoft Office tools.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain, International Business, or related field.
- Professional certification in customs, trade compliance, logistics, or supply chain management.
- Experience supporting multi-country manufacturing or global operations environments.
- Experience implementing trade compliance technology, automation, or process improvement initiatives.
- Experience supporting customs audits and regulatory reviews.
What's In It For You:
- We offer a competitive salary and total rewards package
- We offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:
- Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Savings Account (including employer contributions)
- Dental and Vision
- Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
- Paid caregiver leave
- You will receive at least 3 weeks of PTO + Wellness + Holiday Pay + Volunteer Hours
- 401k with company match and immediate vest
- Employee Stock Purchase Program at a discounted rate
- Matching grants through Protolabs foundation
- And More!
Proto Labs maintains ITAR-compliant operations in all of our United States based facilities. Due to ITAR regulations, this role is only open to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) or foreign nationals granted refugee or asylee status. Individuals with temporary visas (e.g. E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, TN or OPT) are not eligible for hire in this role.
Proto Labs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Physical Demands:
While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use a computer keyboard, monitor and mouse, telephone and printer; reach with hands, and arms, talk, see and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop or kneel and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Work Environment:
Indoors (A/C); nonsmoking; the majority of this job function is performed in an office setting requiring normal safety precautions. However, there may be job duties that require the employee to spend time in the manufacturing areas exposed to machinery and noise; eye protection occasionally required. Occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
