Senior Trade Compliance Specialist Job Austin area,Texas USA,Business

The Senior Trade Compliance Specialist is a senior member of the Regulatory Compliance team and its hands-on subject matter expert across the full global trade lifecycle. As a U.S. importer of record for fasteners and industrial products sourced worldwide, WIUSA carries significant customs, forced labor, sanctions, and export control obligations. This role owns the day-to-day execution and continuous improvement of those programs, serves as technical resource and mentor to Trade Compliance Specialists, and advises business leaders, sister companies, and customers on trade matters.

Operating independently with minimal oversight, the Senior Specialist also acts as backup to the Manager of Trade and Logistics Compliance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Import & Customs Compliance
- Own HTS classification, valuation, and country-of-origin determinations across a high-SKU product portfolio.
- Assist with the preparation and submission of binding ruling requests and prior disclosures; respond to CBP Requests for Information (CF-28) and Notices of Action (CF-29).
- Manage customs broker relationships, entry review, post-summary corrections, protests, and duty recovery.
- Monitor and respond to tariff actions (Section 301, IEEPA, Section 232), AD/CVD scope, and exclusion opportunities.
- Maintain recordkeeping, reasonable care documentation, and audit readiness under 19 CFR.
Export Controls & Sanctions
- Perform ECCN classification and license determinations under the EAR; escalte ITAR-adjacent matters.
- Ensure compliance with the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR), including AES/EEI filing accuracy.
- Own restricted party screening, sanctions exposure analysis (OFAC), and denied party escalation protocols.
- Advise on deemed export, re-export, and end-use/end-user diligence for international transactions.
Free Trade Agreements & Origin
- Qualify products under USMCA and other applicable FTAs, including RVC and tariff-shift analysis.
- Manage solicitation, validation, and retention of supplier origin certifications and affidavits.
- Respond to customer origin, duty reimbursement, and certificate requests.
Execute forced labor due diligence under UFLPA, including supply chain mapping and detention response.
Support CTPAT program maintenance and security criteria documentation.
Evaluate supplier compliance risk and support sourcing decisions with regulatory analysis.
Technical Leadership
- Serve as technical resource and mentor to Trade Compliance Specialists; review complex classifications and determinations.
- Act as backup to the Manager of Trade and Logistics Compliance.
- Resolve escalated customer inquiries and complaints in collaboration with stakeholders across multiple functional areas.
- Program Governance o Draft and maintain trade compliance procedures and work instructions.
- Lead trade compliance risk assessments, internal audits, self-assessments, and remediation planning.
- Lead process improvement and digitalization initiatives for trade compliance processes.
- Own standards for trade data accuracy in ERP systems, including classification and related licensing/OGA information.
- Build and deliver training for sales, sourcing, logistics, and customer service teams.
- Track regulatory change and translate it into plain-English impact assessments for executive audiences.
Perform all other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent job experience
Minimum of 5 years of progressive trade compliance experience, with working knowledge across both import and export disciplines
Direct experience with HTS classification, customs valuation, and country of origin determination
Experience with export controls (EAR, FTR), sanctions screening, and free trade agreement qualification Proficiency with CBP’s Automated…