The Role
Manages North American customs and trade compliance strategy, governance, risk mitigation, and regulatory reporting across the company. Oversees tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin, duty recovery, reconciliations, audits, corrective actions, broker performance, and third-party trade service providers. Partners with cross-functional teams and represents the organization with CBP and industry associations. Requires extensive customs and international trade expertise, leadership experience, and knowledge of USMCA and related trade programs.
Summary Generated by Built In
The Section Manager, Trade Compliance is responsible for managing the North American customs and trade compliance program while supporting business objectives across all TRAM’s Group companies.
This position oversees customs related activities, managing risk, serves as the North America regional subject matter expert on USMCA, customs valuation, tariff mitigation, automotive rules of origin, duty recovery initiatives, emerging trade regulations and does not perform day-to-day customs clearance operations.
Trade Compliance Strategy and Governance
- Provide direction and help develop the company's long-term strategies to improve regional content and maintain compliance under evolving USMCA requirements
- Lead tariff strategies (classification governance, origin planning, valuation strategies) and mitigation strategies
- Lead classification, valuation, origin determination, special programs, and recordkeeping across US, Canada and Mexico to improve governance, accuracy, and consistency.
- Lead company strategies to meet customer and regulatory reporting requirements (USMCA, FTA, AALA, CAFÉ, etc.)
- Coordinate with Sales, Purchasing, Finance, Engineering, and business units to integrate end-to-end customs/trade requirements.
Customs Compliance
- Manage Reconciliations programs and post-entry activities, including Post Summary Corrections, Protests, prior disclosures, duty tenders, and other corrective actions, ensuring submissions are tracked through resolution.
- Oversee payment of Customs duty and fees and prevent late files/payments
- Partner with manufacturing, brokerage, freight forwarder, and customer-facing teams to resolve customs and entry-processing issues
- Support continuous customs bond management activities
- Review, approve, and maintain Customs Powers of Attorney (POAs) and monitor renewal and expiration requirements.
- Support entry cancellations, CARNET, TIB, activities, extensions, and liquidation monitoring.
Trade Compliance and Risk Management
- Own customs and trade compliance KPI - from conducting risk assessments, reporting, and implementing strategies to mitigate potential risks and exposures
- Manage supply chain risk and resiliencies against related priority trade action (Forced Labor, AD/CVD, FTA, Entity List, D-List countries etc.)
- Provide subject matter knowledge for responses to CF28, customs audits, regulatory examinations, government inquiries, and enforcement actions
- Serve as a key representative with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other Trade associations and industry working groups
Customs brokerage management, development & control
- Provide oversight of customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, consultants, and other third-party trade compliance service providers.
- Establish performance expectations, statement of work, rate structures, operating procedures, escalation paths, and compliance requirements for third-party providers.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Economics, International Trade, Engineering, or related discipline
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in customs, international trade, USMCA administration, trade compliance, or related disciplines
- Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience managing supply chain, customs, trade compliance, or international trade functions
- Demonstrated expertise in: Rules of origin for manufactured products, Customs valuation, Tariff classification, Duty minimization strategies
- Professional certifications in customs or trade compliance (e.g., CCS, LCB, similar) or equivalent experience
- Basic knowledge of Canada and Mexico trade compliance program (IMMEX, Prosec, Surtax etc.)
- Automotive industry or related manufacturing industry experience
- Experience managing USMCA or other FTA qualification programs and origin calculations.
- Experience working directly with CBP or other government regulatory agencies, Government audits or compliance programs
- Experience aligning customs compliance with various IT systems
Preferred Qualifications
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Economics, International Trade, Engineering, or a related discipline
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in customs, international trade, USMCA administration, trade compliance, or related disciplines
- Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing supply chain, customs, trade compliance, or international trade functions
- Expertise in rules of origin for manufactured products, customs valuation, tariff classification, and duty minimization strategies
- Professional certification in customs or trade compliance, such as CCS or LCB, or equivalent experience
- Basic knowledge of Canada and Mexico trade compliance programs, including IMMEX, Prosec, and surtax requirements
- Automotive or related manufacturing industry experience
- Experience managing USMCA or other FTA qualification programs and origin calculations
- Experience working directly with CBP or other government regulatory agencies, audits, or compliance programs
- Experience aligning customs compliance with various IT systems
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The Company
What We Do
TRAM, Inc. is a North American subsidiary of Tokai-Rika Co. LTD, serving as a Tier 1 automotive parts supplier for major OEMs like Toyota, Nissan, Ford, and GM. They specialize in the design, manufacture, and assembly of automotive components, including switch-related products, security systems, and safety devices like seat belts and steering wheels, with a mission to create intuitive connections between the human body and the vehicle.
