Senior Director, Trade Services

FTI Consulting•Denver, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

FTI Consulting is seeking an experienced Senior Director with 12+ years of comprehensive trade compliance and international trade experience to lead complex client engagements and ensure the highest standards of technical accuracy and regulatory compliance while providing operational and commercial leadership across Trade Services engagements. The Senior Director will advise clients on complex regulatory environments and directly oversee trade compliance activities and deliverables. Deep expertise in customs compliance, tariff mitigation programs, Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs), and sourcing regulations is critical, along with a broad understanding of export controls, economic sanctions, and other international trade regulatory regimes. The role combines deep technical expertise with hands-on leadership of trade compliance operating models, managed services, and client delivery. This senior leadership role is execution-focused, delivery-driven, and essential to maintaining client confidence in highly regulated and high-risk environments.

Requirements

Advanced degree (JD or MBA) preferred
12+ years of progressive experience in trade compliance, international trade, customs, or regulatory consulting, including significant hands-on execution and leadership responsibility
Proven ability to lead complex, multi-jurisdictional client engagements while maintaining sufficient technical depth to challenge analyses, resolve complex issues, and serve as the escalation point for high-risk matters
Demonstrated success leading high-performing teams and managing complex, multinational client portfolios
Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and/or managing trade compliance operating models, recurring services, or managed services
Deep knowledge of U.S. and global customs laws and regulations, tariff classification, valuation, country of origin, tariff mitigation strategies, Foreign-Trade Zones, duty drawback, special tariff programs, sourcing regulations, and supply chain compliance, with a broad working knowledge of export controls and economic sanctions and the ability to identify when specialized subject-matter expertise is required
Experience managing customs broker relationships and/or importer-of-record activities, including broker governance, entry data requirements, exception management, post-entry processes, and broker performance oversight
Proven ability to establish scalable processes, controls, service-level expectations, and performance metrics for client service delivery
Willingness to travel up to 25%, as required by client engagements
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; this position does not provide visa sponsorship

Nice To Haves

Licensed Customs Broker (LCB) or equivalent certifications
Industry certifications such as CCS, CES, or similar
Experience working across multiple areas of international trade compliance, including customs, import operations, export controls, sanctions, sourcing, tariff mitigation, and supply chain compliance
Experience leveraging trade compliance technology, data analytics, automation, and digital solutions to improve compliance controls, operational efficiency, data quality, and service delivery
Demonstrated experience with Foreign-Trade Zone feasibility, implementation, operational design, governance, and ongoing compliance
Strong executive-level communication, presentation, and relationship management skills
Proven ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across industries and geographies

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee multiple high-impact, global client engagements with strategic, operational, and financial accountability
Provide authoritative guidance on complex trade compliance matters, including U.S. and international customs laws, export controls, economic sanctions, sourcing regulations, tariff mitigation, and trade policy developments, engaging appropriate subject-matter specialists where deeper expertise is required
Serve as senior technical advisor and final quality-control authority for high-risk or complex analyses, filings, and advisory deliverables
Establish, enforce, and continuously improve standardized methodologies, controls, and quality assurance processes to ensure consistent, accurate execution across engagements
Direct, mentor, and performance-manage Directors, Managers, and project teams to ensure adherence to technical standards, timelines, and client expectations
Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing operation of trade compliance operating models, including importer-of-record services, customs broker management, entry management, classification, valuation, country of origin, post-entry processes, tariff programs, Foreign-Trade Zones, and related compliance controls
Lead the development and delivery of recurring and managed trade compliance services, establishing scalable processes, governance structures, service-level expectations, quality controls, and performance metrics
Proactively identify compliance risks, gaps, and improvement opportunities within client operations and recommend practical, actionable guidance
Oversee service delivery against defined scope, service levels, milestones, quality standards, client commitments, and operational and financial performance metrics, ensuring issues are identified, escalated, resolved, and documented
Partner with Managing Directors on business development by identifying follow-on opportunities, shaping client solutions, contributing to proposals, and expanding existing client relationships
Stay current on regulatory developments and emerging trade compliance trends, translating changes into actionable guidance for clients and internal teams
Represent FTI in select client meetings, industry forums, and regulatory discussions as a subject-matter expert, as appropriate for the role
Maintain accountability for engagement economics, including staffing, utilization, budgets, scope management, forecasting, realization, and profitability.