Sr. Manager Customs Compliance, North America

Responsibilities

• Lead the North American customs and trade compliance strategy, including the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of policies, procedures, systems, and training.
• Provide compliance guidance and operational support to ensure the company, its affiliates, and subsidiaries comply with applicable U.S., Canadian, and other global import and export laws, regulations, and agency guidance.
• Partner with Legal, Logistics, Tax, Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Supply Chain, and other internal teams and external stakeholders to drive consistent import and export compliance.
• Conduct internal audits of import declarations, identify compliance gaps, and ensure corrective actions are completed and filed with U.S. and Canadian customs authorities.
• Manage communications with government agencies and prepare required information and documentation in response to external audits and regulatory inquiries.
• Perform annual financial analyses and prepare import valuation reconciliations comparing declared entry costs with the company's actual financial records.
• Lead the Duty Drawback Program and identify opportunities to reduce, recover, or avoid customs duties while maintaining compliance.
• Provide subject-matter expertise on tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin, partner government agency requirements, and special trade programs.
• Advise on and support programs such as bonded warehouses, foreign-trade zones, customs reconciliation, protests, and petitions.
• Monitor regulatory developments and translate changes into practical business requirements, controls, training, and process improvements.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in international trade, supply chain, accounting, finance, business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in customs, international trade, or import/export compliance.
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. customs laws and regulations, including tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin, entry requirements, and special trade programs.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing customs compliance strategies, policies, controls, and training.
• Experience conducting compliance reviews or audits, managing corrective actions, and responding to government inquiries or external audits.
• Strong knowledge of duty reduction and recovery programs, including drawback, foreign-trade zones, customs reconciliation, protests, and petitions.
• Experience analyzing complex financial and customs data, performing cost analyses, and reconciling import activity to accounting records.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience working with large, complex data sets.
• Experience with enterprise business systems and global trade management software.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical requirements and influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Skills

• Licensed Customs Broker, Juris Doctor, MBA, or advanced degree in tax, finance, supply chain, or a related discipline.
• Experience leading customs and trade compliance programs for a complex, multinational organization.
• Working knowledge of Canadian customs requirements and experience interacting with both U.S. and Canadian customs authorities.
• Experience with partner government agency requirements and regulated product imports.
• Experience designing or improving global trade compliance processes, systems, controls, and reporting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Access or other database and analytics tools.
• Demonstrated people leadership, project management, and change management experience.