Trade Compliance Specialist – Import Operations

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Trade Compliance Specialist - Import Operations is responsible for managing Victaulic’s day‑to‑day U.S. import compliance activities. The role serves as the primary operational liaison with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and internal stakeholders to ensure all import entries are classified correctly, cleared without disruption, and documented in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements. The specialist supports Free Trade Agreement (FTA) administration, supplier compliance communications, anti-dumping and countervailing duty (ADD/CVD) monitoring, and import‑related recordkeeping.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

• Serve as the primary point of contact with the designated customs broker for daily entry review, HTS classification inquiries, and entry corrections.
• Review and validate import entries for accuracy of HTS classification, country of origin, customs value, and applicable duty programs.
• Process and resolve import shipment issues, holds, and CBP exam requests in coordination with broker contacts.
• Review and audit broker ACE entry reports weekly to identify classification discrepancies, missed FTA claims, or tariff errors.

• Process and respond to HTS/COO classification requests submitted by the customs broker and internal teams.
• Review new PCM part code additions for HTS assignment accuracy prior to system entry.
• Maintain and periodically audit vendor HTS submissions to ensure alignment with CBP binding rulings and company classification standards.
• Support country of origin determinations under the substantial transformation standard and applicable FTA rules of origin.
• Assist with system COO maintenance in BPCS/M3 ERP, working with IT and Supply Chain contacts.

• Administer annual FTA certificate of origin program for customers (USMCA and applicable bilateral FTAs).
• Maintain internal FTA qualification records and coordinate supplier solicitations for USMCA origin documentation.

• Coordinate annual supplier compliance communication program: COO certifications, USMCA supplier declarations, human trafficking policy acknowledgment, FCPA certifications, and mill certificate requirements for steel and aluminum.
• Work with sourcing/supply chain to train supplier‑facing staff on MTR collection and documentation requirements for Section 232 compliance.
• Support sourcing training on country of origin marking and vendor compliance document packages for new suppliers.

• Solid working knowledge of U.S. Customs and Border Protection import procedures, HTS classification methodology, and country of origin rules.
• Familiarity with Section 232 steel and aluminum tariff requirements, USMCA rules of origin, and anti-dumping/countervailing duty programs.
• Working knowledge of C-TPAT requirements and ACE/CBP portal systems.
• Basic familiarity with EAR/ECCN export classifications and OFAC sanctions screening is a plus.

• Proficiency in Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP/ERP) systems; experience with BPCS or M3/Infor is a strong advantage.
• Strong Excel skills: pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation, and report preparation from large datasets.
• Experience with ACE portal and customs broker trade management platforms; ability to quickly adapt to broker‑specific systems.
• Ability to rapidly learn new trade compliance software tools (Smart Sheet, Qlik, SharePoint).
• Utilize AI to analyze and streamline process data sets.

• Exceptional attention to detail; accuracy in entry review, classification, and data entry is non‑negotiable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to interface professionally with government agencies, brokers, suppliers, and senior internal stakeholders.
• Proactive problem‑solving mindset; able to identify compliance risks and escalate appropriately.
• High ethical standards; demonstrated ability to maintain compliance integrity even under operational pressure.
• Ability to work calmly under…