International Trade Compliance Manager

ACE Hardware•Oak Brook, IL

1d•$137,700 - $175,600

About The Position

The International Trade Compliance Manager (ITCM) will provide subject matter expertise on all import and export compliance matters, ensuring Ace Hardware follows trade laws and regulations. Provides support and oversight to documentation, customs classification, and management of Ace Hardware’s import broker. Provide direct leadership to 3 team members; 2 on Oakbrook and 1 in Panama Manage daily import operations while providing tactical and strategic support, analysis, and reporting. The ITCM will have the Import Compliance Specialist reporting directly to them. The Import Compliance Manager will also lead CTPAT, ISA, First Sale Duty Drawback, and all other programs related to compliance, while also managing Ace Hardware’s relationship with US Customs and Border Protection. The ITCM will also provide strategic leadership on current and future product and category compliance requirements for export around the world supporting Ace International. In this capacity they will be responsible for understanding international trade compliance and/or country speciﬁc import/export compliance requirements and be able to develop clear benchmarks and processes required to meet these standards. The individual will be communicating with AIH team (Oak Brook, Mexico, China, and Global Sales teams) regarding documentation and requirements to achieve these country speciﬁc compliance requirements and meet international trade regulation. The individual will maintain processes and policies that support the collection, accessibility, and communication of the category compliance documentation and retention. What you will do: Management of Daily Operations: Serve as a liaison for broker and suppliers to resolve import compliance issue and ensure shipments are delivered timely. Assist with new item additions and product maintenance of trade data, as needed. Act as back-up to assist with product classification, for US Import and Export. Assists with educating Ace Hardware Suppliers with Trade Data and US and all other Government compliance. Oversee the filing of all AES for export shipments. What you will need: Ensure Ace Hardware’s Compliance to Trade Regulations Minimize exposure to governmental penalties by ensuring compliance with US Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies’ laws and regulations. Work closely with Customs officials to request Binding Rulings, respond to requests information (CF28 and CF29) and obtain guidance on port regulations. Assist with post-entry audits to proactively prohibit penalties for non-compliance. Maintain Import Compliance Manual on an annual basis. Drive international trade compliance excellence in accordance with country specific regulations pertaining to global trade and ensuring compliance with corporate, group and divisional policies. Strategic Support: Optimize efficiency of import logistics and supply chain by resolving compliance matters. Manage special project/requests for import/export teams and internal/external legal counsel relating to CBP and associated laws and regulations. Support International Leadership team with projects as needed. Support the growth of multiple international teams and programs in over 69 import countries. Act as an advisor and liaison on behalf of the AIH retailer, working closely with site leadership and program managers on applicable trade compliance matters. Ensure International standards for global highly regulated commodities, chemical, water, gas and electric for testing, packaging, and shipping requirements are adhere Cargo Security/C-TPAT: Act as subject matter expert to CTPAT. Ensure service vendors meet requirements to maintain Ace’s Tier 3 ranking, and that processes are in place and followed relating to International Transportation and Customs Brokerage. Integral component on company’s cross functional CTPAT team. ISA Program: Work with outside council to maintain current ISA program and annual audit. Long-term develop practice to bring management of ISA in house. Work cross-functionally throughout Ace Hardware to ensure compliance to program. Management: Work closely with Director of International Logistics and Compliance to ensure all matters related to trade compliance as communicated and addressed cross functionally throughout Ace Hardware. Manage the performance and professional development of 3 direct reports. Team may grow as business needs change. Knowledge, Experience, and Competencies: Ace Competencies Product Review – For testing. Regulations, and restrictions for intercountry importing/exporting and sale requirement. Strategic thinking – Ability to envision, create and present strategy trade barriers in additional options to drive disruptive wholesale and/or retail growth. Leadership – Demonstrated and active leadership across the organization, vendors, and retailers as authority in respective category. Superior problem-solving skills. Negotiation skills – Superior negotiation skills with proven results leveraging company scale, business drivers, and strategies Presentation skills – Ability to plan, assemble and present with excellence strategy, execution, and updates to leadership, across the organization, vendors, and retailers

Requirements

7+ years’ experience with logistics, customs brokerage, international trade documents, Harmonized Tariff Classification, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection and foreign compliance, including 2 years in leadership
Demonstrated ability to lead, inﬂuence and manage both internal and external partners to drive common goals and strategy and achieve continued improvements, results, and successes.
Ability to think strategically and cast a vision coupled with a realistic mission
Must understand different countries and their cultural challenges along with proven ability to work cross-functionally with internal departments
Knowledge and ability to lead CTPAT and ISA program.
Customs Broker required.
Excellent written and verbal communications.
High level of initiative, flexibility, organization and team orientation.
Fluent in English both written and spoken

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
second language of Spanish or Mandarin, a plus.
Must be a team player with the ability to collaborate with internal and external business partners

Responsibilities

Serve as a liaison for broker and suppliers to resolve import compliance issue and ensure shipments are delivered timely.
Assist with new item additions and product maintenance of trade data, as needed.
Act as back-up to assist with product classification, for US Import and Export.
Assists with educating Ace Hardware Suppliers with Trade Data and US and all other Government compliance.
Oversee the filing of all AES for export shipments.
Minimize exposure to governmental penalties by ensuring compliance with US Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies’ laws and regulations.
Work closely with Customs officials to request Binding Rulings, respond to requests information (CF28 and CF29) and obtain guidance on port regulations.
Assist with post-entry audits to proactively prohibit penalties for non-compliance.
Maintain Import Compliance Manual on an annual basis.
Drive international trade compliance excellence in accordance with country specific regulations pertaining to global trade and ensuring compliance with corporate, group and divisional policies.
Optimize efficiency of import logistics and supply chain by resolving compliance matters.
Manage special project/requests for import/export teams and internal/external legal counsel relating to CBP and associated laws and regulations.
Support International Leadership team with projects as needed.
Support the growth of multiple international teams and programs in over 69 import countries.
Act as an advisor and liaison on behalf of the AIH retailer, working closely with site leadership and program managers on applicable trade compliance matters.
Ensure International standards for global highly regulated commodities, chemical, water, gas and electric for testing, packaging, and shipping requirements are adhere
Act as subject matter expert to CTPAT.
Ensure service vendors meet requirements to maintain Ace’s Tier 3 ranking, and that processes are in place and followed relating to International Transportation and Customs Brokerage.
Integral component on company’s cross functional CTPAT team.
Work with outside council to maintain current ISA program and annual audit.
Long-term develop practice to bring management of ISA in house.
Work cross-functionally throughout Ace Hardware to ensure compliance to program.
Work closely with Director of International Logistics and Compliance to ensure all matters related to trade compliance as communicated and addressed cross functionally throughout Ace Hardware.
Manage the performance and professional development of 3 direct reports.

Benefits

Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 122% of your target opportunity!)
Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met).
Over the past 5 years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 10% of total eligible compensation
Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire
Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It’s a chance to be part of something meaningful.
We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities – and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching.
We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review
We know the work environment matters. That’s why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
Adoption cost reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
Identity theft protection