Manager, Transportation, Customs & Control Tower

Holt Renfrew•Etobicoke, ON

1d•CA$80,000 - CA$90,000

About The Position

The Manager, Transportation, Customs & Control Tower is responsible for overseeing all customs compliance and transportation activities across Canada. This role leads a small internal team, manages external consultants and brokers, and acts as the internal subject matter expert for customs and carrier strategy. The position ensures regulatory compliance, cost control, and operational readiness across all channels. This role works closely with Finance, Buying, Store Operations, DC operations, and external partners to ensure smooth cross-border and domestic movement of goods.

Requirements

Post-secondary degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
5+ years of experience in customs, trade compliance, and transportation management.
Proven experience managing teams and external service providers.
Strong working knowledge of Canadian customs regulations, CSA requirements, free trade agreements, and valuation principles.
Hands-on experience working with customs brokers and transportation carriers.
Strong business partnership skills with Buying, Finance, and Operations teams.
Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyze large data sets, complete audits, and build reporting tools.
Experience working in retail, luxury, or high-volume distribution environments

Nice To Haves

CCS designation strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee all national customs operations and inquiries, ensure compliance with Canadian customs regulations and the CSA program, and manage all audits.
Maintain oversight of free trade agreement utilization and eligibility.
Ensure correct HS code classification, valuation, and country of origin determinations through broker governance and internal reviews, and complete regular compliance sweeps and audits to validate accuracy across entries, documentation, and broker filings.
Identify, assess, and manage duty drawback and duty recovery opportunities.
Oversee national transportation strategy across all modes and carriers, and manage carrier relationships, including performance reviews, issue resolution, and service level governance.
Partner with Sales and Planning teams to pre-plan carrier capacity and execution for promotions, peak periods, and major sales events.
Ensure commercial invoices and international shipping documentation are completed accurately and consistently.
Oversee vendor shipping requests and documentation to ensure alignment with what buyers have purchased.
Partner with Buying and Accounts Payable to resolve discrepancies and prevent repeat issues.
Identify AI automation and process improvement opportunities in customs and transportation workflows.