Senior Manager, Global Transportation and Customs Compliance

Brown‑Forman Corporation • Louisville, KY

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

As the leader of Brown‑Forman’s global transportation and customs compliance function, you’ll play a pivotal role in how our brands reach consumers around the world. You’ll oversee the safe, legal, and efficient movement of products across international markets, managing carriers, customs brokers, regulatory relationships, and a team of Global Logistics Analysts while shaping the company’s global transportation strategy. This role sits at the center of how Brown‑Forman moves product worldwide, offering the opportunity to solve complex logistics challenges, influence global strategy, build strong cross-border partnerships, and drive continuous improvement alongside a collaborative, high-performing team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree preferably in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering or related area with a minimum of 8 years of Logistics/Transportation experience.
• Proven experience in managing global transportation logistics for finished goods, raw materials, and equipment across an international network.
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. and international customs regulations, including tariff classifications, valuation, and country of origin determinations.
• Demonstrated ability in sourcing, selecting, and negotiating global freight rates and service agreements with carriers and brokers.
• Regulatory expertise across DOT (Department of Transportation), FMC (Federal Maritime Commission), hazardous materials, customs, and alcohol‑related regulations.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing a team of logistics professionals.
• Commercial and systems skills including incoterms, pricing, budgeting, SAP or equivalent ERP system, and data analysis.
• Leadership and execution capability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a fast‑changing environment.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in Business or Supply Chain.
• Distilled spirits or beverage industry experience.
• Global Trade Experience/ Licensed Customs Broker.
• APICS certification.
• Foreign Language skills and familiarity with foreign currency exchange.
• Project Management experience.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulation that govern the movement of alcoholic beverage products including rules of U.S. Customs, hazardous materials, and TTB regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage global transportation oversight for finished goods, bulk spirits, raw materials, and equipment across Brown-Forman’s international network.
• Handle carrier and broker management, including sourcing, selection, and negotiation of global freight rates and service agreements.
• Foster strong professional relationships with Brown Forman's beverage and production facilities, distributors, customers, marketing/sales teams, customs, customs brokers, and other departments.
• Engage with external contacts, including steamship lines, NVOCCs, freight forwarders, truck lines, intermodal carriers, courier services, third-party warehouses, and government agencies.
• Ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements for freight payment and claim filing procedures.
• Lead regulatory compliance across U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, including alcohol regulations, hazardous materials, customs, and serving as Brown-Forman’s trade account owner with (Customs Border & Protection) CBP.
• Oversee freight audit and payment processes for more than $60M annually and resolve transportation claims.
• Direct import/export operations, documentation, and compliance for ocean, air, truck, and intermodal shipments, including bulk whiskey and cooperage.
• Shape transportation strategy to support Route to Consumer initiatives, peak‑season planning, and market‑entry cost studies.
• Drive cross‑functional partnership with Customer Service, Supply Planning, External Manufacturing, Legal, Marketing, and global production sites.
• Develop and enforce transportation policies and procedures across Brown-Forman facilities and third‑party warehouses.
• Lead Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) compliance and drawback programs and represent Brown-Forman with Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and government agencies.
• Manage and develop a team of Global Logistics Analysts.
• Produce logistics reporting and analytics, including transportation cost studies, freight comparisons, distributor cost reporting, and SOX‑compliant documentation.

Benefits

• equitable pay structures for individual and company performance
• premium employee experience
• premium benefits that reflect our company values and meet the needs of our diverse workforce

What This Job Offers

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