As a family-owned and operated company, we feel a special obligation to the employees who comprise our Taco family. We are committed to offering employees access to the tools necessary to live long and productive lives. We strive to instill in all of our employees:
- A positive mental attitude that helps us to be a leader in the industry
- A commitment to building strong relationships, both inside and outside the organization
- A desire to learn, grow, and contribute to moving our strategy forward
- A need to create and to innovate
Employment Type: Regular Full-Time
Shift: 1st Shift
Work Status: Hybrid
Position Summary
Under the guidance of a corporate executive and designated outside attorneys, the Sr Import/Export Compliance Specialist is responsible for ensuring and facilitating company compliance with all U.S. Customs, various Global Customs, and other government agency applicable laws, regulations and policies related to imports and exports. This role works closely with multiple internal functions to assure policies and procedures are properly and efficiently implemented.
Measures of success:
- Drive integration and diversification of roles and responsibilities to team members along with the integration of external resources to achieve full regulatory compliance
- Maintain Import/ Export Procedure Manuals with regulatory, process or procedure changes, ensuring 100% compliance with applicable regulations
- Deployment of all processes to ensure Taco, Inc. does not receive any unnecessary fees, fines, or penalties
- Analyze all new trade duties, tariffs, trade restrictions and requirements ensuring Taco, Inc. is fully compliant with all regulatory amendments, changes, and updates
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Leads the development, implementation and management of policies, procedures, and programs to ensure compliance with import and export regulations at all company locations with heavy emphasis on Imports.
- Works in conjunction with the legal department, outside counsel and subject matter experts to assess risks and determine action to be taken.
- Supports and guides internal functional areas such as production divisions, distribution, sales and marketing, and finance to assure policies and procedures are properly and efficiently implemented.
- Determines proper classification of products and components under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), proper country of origin marking requirements, and proper product and component descriptions.
- Prepares and submits binding ruling requests and provides guidance relative to assists.
- Maximizes the company’s benefit through participation in special tariff treatment programs, including United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Researches and provides technical support and advice regarding any new rulings or programs that may provide cost savings to the company.
- Leads in providing technical expertise in the resolution of all import and export compliance issues and related areas, overseeing investigation, analysis, and definition of corrective measures as they relate to imported and exported product.
- Drives compliance audits of import records for accuracy of customs classification, duty, and fees; product markings and waivers of marking; USMCA and GSP reporting and other related matters. Identifies issues and take corrective action.
- Stays current with U.S. Customs, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and various Global Customs requirements. Reviews Customs and Border Protection (CBP), CBSA and industry related resources and attending training seminars to ensure the company maintains compliance with all customs regulations. Alerts management to potential changes and/or issues.
- Cascades relevant and appropriate information about the company and department effectively and in a timely manner.
- Coaches and mentors other export compliance specialists, internal customers and stakeholders for skill and knowledge development.
- Assigns actions and ensures completion for specific tasks and projects.
- Reviews work quality and provides feedback and guidance to team.
- Maintains and updates Master Classification List and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application system and assists in the development of automated solutions to import and export transactions. Assists in maintaining record keeping and retention policies relating to imports and exports.
- Completes Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Vendor/Supplier Profiles and Harmonized Tariff & Country of Origin report requests as requested by customers.
- Manages all requests for new brokers and works with management on the measurement of broker performance.
- Identifies pertinent import/export training topics and coordinates in-house training for appropriate personnel.
- Handles other related duties as required or directed.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Logistics, or related field required; Master’s Degree in Business, Logistics, or related field preferred
- 7+ years progressive import/export compliance experience
- U.S. Customs Broker license preferred
- Experience with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and Automated Systems .
- Must possess the ability to navigate a complex legal framework and understand how domestic and international trade laws/regulations impact the company’s global supply chain
- Must be extremely detail oriented and possess strong organizational and analytical and skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Skills related to collaboration, analytical, multi-project, and shifting priorities.
- Dealing with people and timelines.
- No travel required
Work Environment
This position works primarily in an office environment using computers and technology. Verbal and auditory capability are required. Occasional exposure in production plant where large equipment and noise are prevalent. Safety gear is required in these areas.
This position may work from home up to 1X/week if performance is in good standing.
Management
This position has no direct reports.
Benefits
With nearly 1,000 people working at Taco worldwide, each with their own story, you will discover a sense of community and diverse, intelligent colleagues who help us innovate, create and explore.
Taco employees benefit from a company that:
- Provides competitive salaries and benefits
- Offers tuition reimbursement, career development, and on-site training programs in our learning center
- Believes in sharing profits with its employees
- Is mindful about family, health and well-being
- Fosters conditions that allow people and communities to reach their full potential
- Embraces and celebrates diversity
#TacoComfortSolutions
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, International Trade, Logistics, Engineering, or related field
- 7+ years progressive experience in import/export compliance, global trade, or customs for a manufacturing organization
- Prior experience managing or leading trade compliance programs at a global level
- Working knowledge of U.S. and international trade regulations (EAR, OFAC, CBP, EU, Asia-Pacific)
- Expertise in tariff classification (HTS), customs valuation, country of origin determinations, and FTA qualification
- Experience with export classification (ECCN), license determination, and restricted party screening
- Ability to conduct internal audits, compliance assessments, and manage corrective action plans
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk-management skills
- Excellent communication and stakeholder-management abilities; ability to translate regulations into practical business guidance
- Proven ability to work cross-functionally in a matrixed, multinational environment
- High level of integrity, attention to detail, and sound judgment
- Master's Degree in Business, Logistics, or related field
- Experience within HVAC, industrial manufacturing, or regulated technical products
- Licensed U.S. Customs Broker (LCB)
- Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP)
- Export Compliance Certification (e.g., ECoP, CES)
- Familiarity with product regulatory requirements impacting HVAC equipment and components
What We Do
Taco Comfort Solutions is a third generation, family-owned American manufacturer of high quality, high-efficiency heating, cooling, plumbing, and irrigation products. #Taco100years Headquartered in Cranston, RI, Taco is global in scope with manufacturing facilities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Arkansas, Ontario, Vietnam, and Italy. Its skilled employees produce precision pumps, valves and controls, air-dirt separators. heat exchangers, tanks, domestic hot water recirculation systems, and web-based building management controls. Since its founding, Taco has been dedicated to the success of its people and its customers, bringing products to market that save energy, enhance system longevity, and provide a superior level of safety and comfort to building occupants. With nearly 100 years in the HVAC industry, Taco’s knowledge and engineering expertise is passed along to professionals through the company’s expansive factory training and online learning programs. That same depth of experience is applied every day at hundreds of job sites across the country, making Taco one of the most trusted names in controlling the flow of water. Website: www.TacoComfort.com
