International Trade Compliance Specialist

Sonaca North America • St. Charles, MO

26d

About The Position

Sonaca North America is seeking an International Trade Compliance Specialist to support import and export controls, ensuring adherence to international trade laws and regulations. This role involves managing documentation processes for permits, licenses, and certifications, and staying updated on regulatory changes. The specialist will possess in-depth knowledge of customs rules and regulations for global shipping, resolve escalated complex issues, and expedite solutions with clients, customs officials, and shippers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in International Business, Law or a related field
• Minimum of 2-4 years of experience in international trade compliance or a similar role.
• Demonstrated computer skills, especially Microsoft Office applications (Access, PowerPoint and Excel)
• In-depth knowledge of U.S. and international trade laws and regulations, including ITAR, EAR, and OFAC.
• Experience with import/export operations and documentation.
• Familiarity with global customs regulations and tariff classification.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in compliance management software and tools.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Bi-lingual in Spanish preferred
• Certification in trade compliance (e.g., CUSECO, CCS) is preferred
• Experience in developing and delivering compliance training programs.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, as required.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve trade compliance procedures and controls
• Ensure proper documentation is stored and traceable
• Support internal questions and external audits
• Identify risks early and escalate issues proactively, and suggest and implement solutions
• Maintain accurate tariff classifications across all products and challenge vendor classification as necessary
• Review duty payments and entry data to ensure accuracy and identify discrepancies
• Support efforts to reduce duty exposure through classification and sourcing insights
• Stay current on regulatory changes and communicate business impact clearly
• Partner with supply chain teams to understand product flow, sourcing, and logistics decisions
• Evaluate landed cost impacts tied to duties and tariffs
• Provide early input to prevent costly downstream corrections
• Support strong documentation practices for smooth cross-border movement
• Identify situations where ITAR compliance is required
• Assist with preparation, submission, and tracking of duty & tariff refund claims
• Maintain organized, audit-ready documentation for refunds
• Help improve processes to increase recovery consistency and reduce missed opportunities for refunds
• Coordinate with commercial team to assert tariff and duties to customers
• Work closely with customs brokers on day-to-day activity
• Review broker filings and entries for accuracy and completeness
• Escalate and resolve classification or documentation issues with brokers
• Support monitoring of broker performance and responsiveness
• Track duty spend, refund activity, and key metrics
• Support development of clear, simple reporting for finance and operations
• Identify trends, recurring errors, and cost-saving opportunities

Benefits

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with a percentage company-match contribution
• Competitive wages
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental insurance
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Employee assistance plan — for access to counseling, consulting and other community resources
• Wellness program
• Tuition assistance

What This Job Offers

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