Customs Compliance Lead

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Customs Compliance Lead based in Canada. This role leads critical customs and international trade compliance activities across business units, with a strong focus on country-of-origin requirements and import/export regulations. You’ll oversee compliance programs, audits, post-entry activities, and regulatory monitoring while helping teams maintain accurate and efficient trade processes. The position combines technical customs expertise with program management, reporting, training, and continuous improvement. You’ll work closely with internal business teams, customs brokers, legal partners, suppliers, and external advisors to identify risks and implement effective solutions. The role may include direct and indirect team leadership and requires strong judgment when handling complex compliance matters. With a high degree of detail and responsibility, this position offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide trade compliance practices and operational efficiency. Accountabilities: - Lead and support customs compliance activities related to import and export operations, ensuring alignment with applicable government regulations, corporate policies, and established procedures. - Develop and manage Country of Origin validation programs, including the collection, maintenance, review, and auditing of Certificates of Origin and Free Trade Agreement documentation. - Establish systematic processes for soliciting, managing, validating, and auditing origin documentation across business units and manufacturing locations. - Coordinate periodic country-of-origin audits, review supporting documentation, work with business units and external counsel, and identify broader compliance issues requiring remediation. - Develop and deliver training on Country of Origin determination, customs requirements, and trade compliance practices to relevant business teams and factories.

- Monitor changes to tariff and duty programs, including HTS, Schedule B, ECCN, license exemptions, CVD/ADD, Section 301 and 201 measures, and other duty exemption programs, assessing business impacts and recommending mitigation actions. - Monitor changes involving sanctions, embargoes, country controls, and related regulatory requirements, coordinating appropriate actions and reporting. - Support the development and execution of ongoing audits covering country of origin, imports, exports, product classification, and other customs compliance areas. - Review and analyze customs entries, identify requirements and discrepancies, and coordinate corrections with customs brokers and relevant stakeholders. - Monitor and report on post-entry activities, including Post Summary Corrections, protests, prior disclosures, voluntary tenders, drawback, and duty exemption activities. - Develop, track, and communicate KPIs and performance metrics covering compliance, accuracy, productivity, efficiency, audits, and post-entry activity. - Report audit findings to management and business divisions and develop action plans to address identified gaps and mitigate compliance risks. - Support the development and maintenance of trade compliance policies, customs manuals, import/export operating procedures, process flows, and business-unit-specific documentation. - Contribute recommendations and feedback regarding trade compliance policies and procedures. - Identify, develop, and deliver trade compliance training in coordination with business units and customs compliance leadership. - Communicate corporate-level trade compliance updates, regulatory bulletins, and training materials to internal stakeholders. - Establish goals, monitor performance, and ensure activities are completed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with applicable regulations.