Lead Trade Compliance Specialist – Sterling Sterling Engineering Job Chicago area,Illinois USA,Business

Sterling Engineering is hiring a Lead Trade Compliance Specialist for a highly respected, global manufacturer with a strong presence in the energy and industrial sectors for more than 100 years. This is a rare opportunity to step into a high-impact role where you’ll have full ownership to build and shape a trade compliance function from the ground up. If you enjoy solving complex problems, creating structure in unstructured environments, and driving real organizational change.

This role offers visibility, autonomy, and long-term career growth in a stable, industry-leading company.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and rebuild the company’s trade compliance function, establishing scalable processes and best practices
Serve as the subject matter expert on import/export regulations, compliance controls, and documentation
Develop and standardize product classification processes (HTS, Schedule B, HS codes)
Clean, validate, and organize large datasets to ensure accurate classification and duty optimization
Create and improve workflows for trade documentation (Certificates of Origin, affidavits, invoices, etc.)
Evaluate and correct import/export documentation to ensure compliance and audit readiness
Oversee post-entry corrections, duty drawback opportunities, and reconciliation processes
Develop KPIs, dashboards, and reporting tools to track compliance performance and risk areas
Support internal and external audits, implementing corrective actions and long-term improvements
Partner with legal, supply chain, procurement, and finance teams to ensure regulatory compliance
Manage relationships with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and external partners
Monitor regulatory changes (CBP, BIS, OFAC, EAR) and implement necessary process updates
Train and educate internal teams on trade compliance requirements and best practices

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, International Trade, or related field
7+ years of experience in trade compliance, import/export, or global logistics
Strong knowledge of U.S. trade regulations (CBP, BIS, EAR, OFAC, FTA, valuation, origin rules)
Expertise in HTS, Schedule B, and HS classification systems
Experience building or improving trade compliance programs, processes, and documentation workflows
Strong data analysis skills (Excel, pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data cleansing)
Experience working with ERP systems (Oracle, SAP, or similar)
Knowledge of duty drawback, post-entry corrections, and audit processes
Experience managing broker and freight forwarder relationships
Ability to work in ambiguous environments and build structured, scalable solutions

Helpful Credentials and

Skills:

Certified Customs Specialist (CCS) or Licensed Customs Broker
Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
Experience with Global Trade Management (GTM) systems

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