Senior Trade Advisor
About The Position
The Senior Trade Advisor delivers specialized trade compliance and customs advisory services to clients across industries and supply chains. Reporting to the Trade Services Director, the role independently executes assigned client projects and provides technical expertise in areas such as classification and product compliance, customs valuation, country of origin and Free Trade Agreement qualification, duty optimization and reconciliation, compliance assessments, and trade compliance program development. Expertise across every service offering is not required; candidates may bring depth in particular areas of the advisory portfolio. The role applies sound technical judgment, communicates complex regulatory requirements clearly, and takes accountability for project scope, timelines, and deliverables. It also provides recurring client advisory support, develops practical solutions to complex compliance challenges, and helps clients strengthen compliance practices, mitigate risk, and optimize duty exposure. The position contributes to proposals, presentations, service development, reusable methodologies, and knowledge sharing within the team.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in customs brokerage, international trade compliance, global trade management, or trade advisory consulting.
- Demonstrated technical expertise in one or more trade compliance areas, such as HTS classification, product compliance, customs valuation, country of origin, FTA qualification, duty optimization, reconciliation, or compliance assessments.
- Experience independently managing projects, analyzing complex issues, developing recommendations, and delivering client-facing work products.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex regulatory requirements to varied audiences.
- Demonstrated accountability for project scope, deadlines, deliverable quality, and client commitments.
- Strong analytical, research, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Nice To Haves
- Licensed Customs Broker (LCB).
- Experience developing or evaluating trade compliance programs, SOPs, internal controls, and training materials.
- Experience conducting compliance assessments, identifying duty-saving opportunities, or supporting duty recovery initiatives.
- Experience advising clients with complex or highly regulated supply chains, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, aerospace, food and beverage, or other regulated sectors.
- Familiarity with U.S. Customs and Border Protection processes, ACE, ABI, and relevant trade compliance systems.
- Experience with global trade management systems, compliance automation tools, or trade data analysis.
Responsibilities
- Independently execute assigned client projects in areas such as HTS classification, product compliance, customs valuation, country-of-origin determination, and FTA qualification.
- Analyze customs regulations, CBP rulings, trade agreements, and other requirements to develop practical client recommendations.
- Identify opportunities for duty optimization, duty recovery, reconciliation, and improved trade compliance and cost management.
- Research complex trade questions and translate regulatory requirements into clear guidance and actionable next steps.
- Monitor regulatory developments and assess their potential effects on clients’ products, supply chains, and compliance programs.
- Review and validate product master and customs data for classification, origin, and PGA discrepancies; support data remediation and ongoing governance.
- Manage assigned projects from scoping through completion, including plans, deadlines, deliverables, and client expectations.
- Serve as a technical resource for client stakeholders and provide recurring advisory support on compliance questions, regulatory changes, risks, and process improvements.
- Conduct client compliance assessments, identify gaps, and develop prioritized recommendations and improvement roadmaps.
- Support client discussions regarding CBP inquiries, post-entry issues, audit findings, and other regulatory concerns as applicable.
- Coordinate with internal colleagues and client stakeholders to obtain information, resolve questions, and deliver advisory services.
- Develop and improve client-specific trade compliance programs, policies, SOPs, and supporting documentation.
- Design and deliver training on customs compliance and other relevant trade topics based on client needs.
- Recommend controls and process improvements to strengthen accountability and reduce regulatory exposure; support implementation and effectiveness evaluation.
- Evaluate duty-saving and recovery opportunities through classification reviews, valuation analysis, FTA qualification, reconciliation, and other applicable programs.
- Analyze client data, transactional records, product information, and supporting documentation to identify compliance issues and optimization opportunities.
- Prepare project findings, analyses, and recommendations that explain potential impacts, risks, and implementation considerations.
- Collaborate with the Director of Trade Services and internal stakeholders to scope engagements, prioritize client needs, and deliver projects.
- Contribute technical expertise to proposals, presentations, business development discussions, and advisory service offerings.
- Develop reusable methodologies, templates, guidance materials, and resources for consistent, high-quality deliverables.
- Share regulatory insights and technical knowledge with colleagues to strengthen team capabilities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
