Trade Compliance Leader

Location: California

## Trade Compliance Leader Apply locations:
Ventura Headquarters time type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Todayjob requisition :
JOB-REQ-11707
** Role:
** Trade Compliance Leader
** Team:
** Customs & Trade
** Scope:
** People Manager, M4
** Years of

Experience:

** 10+
*
* Location:

** Ventura, CA(Hybrid)
** General

Summary:

** Owns the strategy, governance, and continuous improvement of the Company’s global trade compliance program, ensuring compliant, resilient, and cost-effective cross-border movement of goods. Partners with Sourcing, Product, Logistics, Finance, Legal, and IT to build an end-to-end trade strategy that optimizes duty and tariff exposure (within the bounds of law), strengthens supply chain security, and enables business growth. Leads the design of risk-based controls, audit/self-testing, and escalation processes;

serves as a key interface with U.S. Customs and other government agencies. Drives modernization through data, automation, and AI-enabled process improvements, while coaching and developing a high-performing team of trade compliance analysts and specialists.
*
* What You’ll Do:

*** Serve as the Company’s primary point of contact with U.S. Customs and other applicable government agencies; ensure end-to-end compliance with customs laws and regulations while enabling efficient and predictable clearance. Represent the Company with the Center for Excellence and Expertise for Apparel and Footwear.
* Own and evolve the Company’s Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) program, including risk assessment, controls testing, corrective action management, and executive/agency reporting; present program outcomes, trends, and remediation plans to senior leadership and U.S. Customs as required.
* Lead the Company’s C-TPAT program, including annual security risk assessments, partner validation, training, audits, and certification/validation activities; collaborate with Supply Chain and Security partners to maintain and continuously improve the program.
* Lead technical compliance programs for classification, valuation, origin, and entry—including governance, standard work, training, and quality controls. Maintain deep expertise in HTSUS interpretation (GRIs, notes, Explanatory Notes), CROSS research, and binding ruling strategy.
* Create and execute a multi-year global trade strategy aligned to the Company’s sourcing and growth plans—balancing compliance, speed-to-market, cost, resilience, and brand/ESG commitments.
* Identify and lead lawful duty and tariff mitigation opportunities (e.g., tariff engineering, sourcing/manufacturing shifts, first sale, special programs, FTAs, duty drawback, U.S. Goods Returned), including feasibility assessment, documentation requirements, and sustained operating controls.
* Develop tariff exposure models and “what-if” scenarios to support sourcing decisions, product design/material choices, Incoterms negotiation, and geopolitical disruption planning; translate insights into clear recommendations for senior leaders.
* Lead technology modernization and AI-enabled efficiency gains across trade processes (classification/origin workflow, document review, broker entry quality, audit sampling, and exception management); define the roadmap, controls, and success metrics in partnership with IT and key vendors.
* Origin:
Own country-of-origin determinations and origin substantiation; manage U.S. Goods Returned, preferential trade programs/FTAs, duty drawback, and other special program eligibility with strong documentation, supplier engagement, and audit-ready records.
* Valuation:
Lead valuation governance (e.g., first sale, assists, related-party considerations, chargebacks/rebates, reconciliations) and partner with Finance to ensure accurate declarations, sustainable processes, and defensible documentation.
* Entry:
Establish entry standards and broker governance (e.g., ISF quality, pre-entry review, post-entry audit, PGA requirements) and optimize workflows within GT-Nexus and related systems to reduce exceptions, rework, and compliance risk.
* Lead the Company’s first sale valuation program (where applicable), owning the legal/operational framework, controls, and supplier/broker enablement to…