Global Customs & Trade Compliance Executive

GE Aerospace • Evendale, OH

3d

About The Position

The Global Executive Customs & Trade Compliance Leader sets and executes GE Aerospace’s global strategy for customs operations, trade compliance, tariff management, and duty optimization. The role leads global risk management for import and export operations, oversees compliant execution of high-volume cross-border shipments, and ensures compliance with GE Aerospace Enterprise Standards and regulatory requirements across regions.

The leader owns significant annualized duty avoidance, savings, and refunds and is accountable for building a high-performing global organization, strengthening controls, enabling business growth, and protecting GE Aerospace’s license to operate. The position leads teams and functional experts across the UK, EMEA, Americas, and APAC, overseeing customs brokers, vendors, and processes for approximately 150 locations and 150,000–200,000 shipments annually. It leads a team of 34 direct reports and 66 contingent workers.

The role oversees global customs and trade compliance operations, including classification, valuation, origin determination, special programs, recordkeeping, export operations compliance, audits, investigations, government disclosures, broker and vendor management, policy, training, and continuous improvement. It also ensures Foreign Trade Zone operations and leads business continuity. Travel up to 10% may be required based on business needs. Access to U.S. export-controlled information requires the employee to demonstrate U.S. Person status as defined in the posting.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Law, International Trade, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• At least 8 years of experience in customs, trade compliance, global logistics, or related operations roles.
• At least 5 years of direct people leadership experience.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% based on business needs.
• Ability to meet the posting’s U.S. Person status requirement for access to U.S. export-controlled information.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Business, Law, Supply Chain, or a related discipline.
• 12 or more years of experience in customs, trade compliance, global logistics, or related operations roles.
• Proven experience leading global or multi-regional teams and managing leaders of teams.
• Deep expertise in customs regulations, import/export requirements, tariff management, and global trade regimes across multiple jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale programs or initiatives, including risk and cost reduction.
• Professional customs or trade compliance certifications, such as CCS or LCB, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in aerospace, industrial, or similarly regulated global industries.
• Experience leading duty optimization, tariff mitigation, and special program strategies with material financial impact.
• Experience managing external audits and voluntary disclosures with customs authorities.
• Experience using digital tools, data analytics, and dashboards to drive performance and risk reduction.
• Experience partnering with Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, IT, Engineering, and business leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the global customs and trade compliance strategy, including tariff management and special program optimization.
• Establish governance mechanisms and maintain a global risk assessment framework and methodology.
• Own global KPIs and reporting for risk indicators, Enterprise Standard conformance, audit outcomes, lead times, tariff exposure, and duty optimization results.
• Lead the global customs and trade compliance operations team across the UK, EMEA, Americas, and APAC.
• Oversee classification, valuation, origin determination, special programs, and recordkeeping across approximately 150 sites.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Logistics, Finance, Legal, Engineering, and business units to integrate customs and trade requirements into end-to-end processes.
• Manage, develop, and control global customs brokers and vendors, including selection, onboarding, contractual conformance, and performance management.
• Establish and maintain controls, standards, and operating procedures for brokerage activities.
• Manage duty avoidance, savings, and refunds through tariff management, trade programs, and special regimes.
• Lead tariff strategies, including classification governance, origin planning, and valuation strategies, and mitigate tariffs, trade remedies, and surcharges.
• Optimize special programs, including FTAs, duty drawback, inward and outward processing, bonded warehouses, foreign trade zones, and Trusted Trader Programs.
• Lead the global HS classification program and provide executive oversight of global BPO provider programs supporting customs and trade compliance.
• Investigate compliance defects, identify root causes, and lead corrective actions through closure.
• Manage government disclosures, including voluntary disclosures and related corrective actions.
• Lead global external audit preparation and execution, and serve as an escalation point for regulatory matters.
• Ensure global Trusted Trader Program requirements, such as AEO, ISA, and CTPAT-equivalent requirements, are met and maintained.
• Lead global export operations compliance, embedding licensing, screening, sanctions and embargo compliance, documentation, and recordkeeping requirements into processes and systems.
• Assess complex or high-risk shipments and provide guidance while supporting delivery needs.
• Advise on customs, trade, and tariff considerations for new engines, services, and contract negotiations.
• Lead policy and procedure management, including global standards, work instructions, and internal controls.
• Lead training programs for customs and trade compliance, tariff management, and special program usage.
• Champion continuous improvement using lean principles and digital solutions to reduce lead time, improve quality, and enhance visibility and control.
• Lead, coach, and develop a global team; build capability, support career development, and plan for succession.
• Foster integrity, accountability, learning, and continuous improvement, and model GE Aerospace behaviors and values in alignment with safety, quality, delivery, and cost priorities.
• Oversee customs brokers, vendors, and site-level processes for approximately 150 locations and 150,000–200,000 imports annually.
• Ensure Foreign Trade Zone operations and lead business continuity.
• Travel up to 10% based on business needs.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Access to a Health Coach.
• Employee Assistance Program with confidential assessment, counseling, and referral services.
• 401(k) savings plan with company matching and company retirement contributions.
• Access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants.
• Tuition assistance.
• Adoption assistance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid time off for vacation or illness.
• Relocation assistance.
• Professional development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive