Trade Compliance Section Manager

Trade Compliance Strategy and Governance

Provide direction and help develop the company's long-term strategies to improve regional content and maintain compliance under evolving USMCA requirements
Lead tariff strategies (classification governance, origin planning, valuation strategies) and mitigation strategies
Lead classification, valuation, origin determination, special programs, and recordkeeping across US, Canada and Mexico to improve governance, accuracy, and consistency.
Lead company strategies to meet customer and regulatory reporting requirements (USMCA, FTA, AALA, CAFÉ, etc.)
Coordinate with Sales, Purchasing, Finance, Engineering, and business units to integrate end-to-end customs/trade requirements.

Customs Compliance

• Manage Reconciliations programs and post-entry activities, including Post Summary Corrections, Protests, prior disclosures, duty tenders, and other corrective actions, ensuring submissions are tracked through resolution.
• Oversee payment of Customs duty and fees and prevent late files/payments
• Partner with manufacturing, brokerage, freight forwarder, and customer-facing teams to resolve customs and entry-processing issues
• Support continuous customs bond management activities
• Review, approve, and maintain Customs Powers of Attorney (POAs) and monitor renewal and expiration requirements.
• Support entry cancellations, CARNET, TIB, activities, extensions, and liquidation monitoring.

Trade Compliance and Risk Management

Own customs and trade compliance KPI - from conducting risk assessments, reporting, and implementing strategies to mitigate potential risks and exposures
Manage supply chain risk and resiliencies against related priority trade action (Forced Labor, AD/CVD, FTA, Entity List, D-List countries etc.)
Provide subject matter knowledge for responses to CF28, customs audits, regulatory examinations, government inquiries, and enforcement actions
Serve as a key representative with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other Trade associations and industry working groups

Customs brokerage management, development & control

• Provide oversight of customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, consultants, and other third-party trade compliance service providers.
• Establish performance expectations, statement of work, rate structures, operating procedures, escalation paths, and compliance requirements for third-party providers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Economics, International Trade, Engineering, or related discipline
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in customs, international trade, USMCA administration, trade compliance, or related disciplines
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience managing supply chain, customs, trade compliance, or international trade functions
• Demonstrated expertise in: Rules of origin for manufactured products, Customs valuation, Tariff classification, Duty minimization strategies
 
Preferred Qualifications
 
 
Professional certifications in customs or trade compliance (e.g., CCS, LCB, similar) or equivalent experience
Basic knowledge of Canada and Mexico trade compliance program (IMMEX, Prosec, Surtax etc.)
Automotive industry or related manufacturing industry experience
Experience managing USMCA or other FTA qualification programs and origin calculations.
Experience working directly with CBP or other government regulatory agencies, Government audits or compliance programs
Experience aligning customs compliance with various IT systems