The Director of Foreign Trade provides strategic leadership for the organization’s global trade compliance and customs strategy, ensuring compliance with import and export regulations while optimizing duty costs and supporting efficient international supply chain operations. The role is responsible for developing and executing trade programs, maximizing free trade agreement utilization, strengthening customs compliance, driving duty optimization, advancing trade technology platforms, and enabling cross-border operational excellence.
Serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and key business functions—including Supply Chain, Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics, Finance, and Legal—the Director balances regulatory requirements with business objectives, operational needs, and growth initiatives. The position leads a team of foreign trade professionals and oversees relationships with customs authorities, brokers, trade consultants, and other external service providers to ensure effective, compliant, and cost-efficient global trade operations.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute the organization's foreign trade and customs strategy.
- Align trade compliance programs with corporate growth, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics objectives.
- Advise executive leadership on trade risks, tariffs, geopolitical developments, and international regulatory changes.
- Lead trade-related initiatives supporting localization, nearshoring, global sourcing, and supply chain transformation.
- Ensure compliance with all import, export, customs, sanctions, and trade regulations.
- Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and internal controls governing international trade activities.
- Oversee import/export classification, valuation, country of origin determinations, and customs documentation.
- Direct internal and external compliance audits and implement corrective actions when required.
Customs & Duty Optimization
- Lead programs to minimize trade costs while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
- Maximize utilization of:
- Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
- Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs)
- Bonded Warehouses
- Drawback Programs
- Duty Suspension Programs
- IMMEX/Maquiladora Programs
- Other trade incentive programs
- Identify opportunities for duty savings and tariff mitigation strategies.
Operational Oversight
- Oversee import and export operations across multiple business units and legal entities.
- Ensure efficient management of customs brokers, freight forwarders, and trade service providers.
- Drive process standardization and operational excellence in cross-border transactions.
- Monitor KPIs related to compliance, customs clearance performance, duty savings, and operational efficiency.
Risk Management
- Assess emerging trade risks resulting from regulatory changes, tariff actions, sanctions, and supply chain disruptions.
- Develop mitigation plans to address customs exposure and compliance vulnerabilities.
- Support investigations, disclosures, and interactions with customs authorities when necessary.
- Ensure effective business continuity planning for global trade activities.
Technology & Digital Transformation
- Lead implementation and optimization of trade management systems and customs technologies.
- Promote automation, data analytics, and AI-enabled solutions to improve trade compliance effectiveness.
- Ensure integrity of trade master data supporting classification, origin, and compliance processes.
Stakeholder & Team Leadership
- Build and lead a high-performing team of foreign trade professionals.
- Develop talent, succession plans, and training programs within the trade function.
- Partner with procurement, logistics, manufacturing, finance, legal, tax, and government affairs teams.
- Represent the organization in dealings with customs authorities, trade associations, and external stakeholders.