Trade Compliance Specialist

Our client, a leader in the electrical manufacturing space is seeking a Trade Compliance Specialist out of Sparta, TN. This individual will be responsible for managing the company's U.S. import, export, and trade compliance activities, ensuring compliance with customs and export regulations, mitigate tariff impacts, and support global business operations.

Job Title: Trade Compliance Specialist

Location: Sparta, TN

Salary: $80,000 - $100,000

Key Responsibilities

Export Compliance

• Support and administer the company's export compliance program.
• Review export transactions and documentation to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Assess export-control requirements and determine when licenses or other approvals may be required.
• Partner with Sales, Logistics, Customer Service, and customers to resolve export compliance matters.
• Stay current on U.S. export-control regulations and communicate changes internally.

Compliance Program Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain trade compliance policies, procedures, and work instructions.
• Maintain classification, country-of-origin, and product master data.
• Conduct periodic reviews of classifications, transactions, and compliance processes.
• Establish internal controls to minimize customs and export-compliance risk.
• Identify compliance gaps and recommend corrective actions.
• Provide training and guidance to employees involved in purchasing, logistics, sales, and international trade activities.

Import & Customs Compliance

• Classify imported products, components, and materials under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).
• Research, validate, and maintain HTS classifications and supporting documentation.
• Determine and maintain accurate country-of-origin information.
• Review customs entries, valuation data, commercial invoices, and import documentation for accuracy.
• Investigate and resolve customs-entry issues, classification questions, and CBP inquiries.
• Monitor changes to tariffs, HTS provisions, trade remedies, and customs regulations.
• Support customs audits and maintain compliance records.

Trade Programs

• Identify opportunities to reduce duties and improve landed costs while maintaining compliance.
• Evaluate tariff mitigation strategies, duty-reduction opportunities, and preferential trade programs.
• Support USMCA qualification analyses and other free trade agreements.
• Develop working knowledge of duty drawback and identify potential recovery opportunities.
• Monitor duty exposure and communicate financial impacts, risks, and opportunities to leadership.
• Partner with Finance and Logistics to assess tariff-related business impacts.

Collaboration with Vendors

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customs brokers, freight forwarders, and external trade partners.
• Review and validate classifications and trade-related information provided by suppliers and third parties.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Logistics, Finance, Sales, Customer Service, and Operations to ensure compliance and process efficiency.

Qualifications

Required

• 2+ years of experience in tariffs, import/export, or international trade compliance.
• HTS classification experience
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage compliance initiatives.

Preferred

• Experience in the manufacturing, logistics, or distribution industry
• Tariff mitigation and duty-reduction strategy experience.
• USMCA and free trade agreement experience.
• Experience with ACE and customs-entry systems.
• Experience responding to CBP inquiries and audits.
• ERP and product master-data management experience.
• Certified Customs Specialist (CCS) or similar certification.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, International Business, Logistics, or related field.