Trade Compliance Leader

Patagonia • Ventura, IA

6d • $150,000 - $160,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Trade Compliance Leader owns the strategy, governance, and continuous improvement of the Company’s global trade compliance program, ensuring compliant, resilient, and cost-effective cross-border movement of goods. In this role, you partner with Sourcing, Product, Logistics, Finance, Legal, and IT to build an end-to-end trade strategy that optimizes duty and tariff exposure, strengthens supply chain security, and enables business growth. This role leads the design of risk-based controls, audit/self-testing, and escalation processes; serves as a key interface with U.S. Customs and other government agencies as well as drives modernization through data, automation, and AI-enabled process improvements.

Requirements

• 10+ years of general experience in business, supply chain, procurement or related field.
• 7+ years of experience and demonstrating application of trade compliance knowledge in operational and compliance environment, preferably within the apparel industry.
• 5+ years' experience in dealing with external government authorities
• 5+ years’ experience leveraging technology, analytics, and automation to drive process improvements; experience evaluating and implementing AI-enabled workflow enhancements is a plus.
• 5+ years' experience in working with Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers, Technology/Automation companies, Trade Lawyers, and the use of INCOTERMS
• 3+ years of experience leading a team.
• 2+ years of direct management of a compliance team or equivalent.
• Experience using data-driven process improvement methods, metrics, and automation (including AI-enabled tools where appropriate) to deliver measurable gains.
• Experience analyzing business problems using different tools (such as Microsoft Office, and statistical analysis)
• bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required
• Customs Broker License required

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Company’s primary point of contact with U.S. Customs and other applicable government agencies; ensure end-to-end compliance with customs laws and regulations while enabling efficient and predictable clearance of goods.
• Represent the Company with the Center for Excellence and Expertise for Apparel and Footwear.
• Own and evolve the Company’s Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) program, including risk assessment, controls testing, corrective action management, and executive/agency reporting; present program outcomes, trends, and remediation plans to senior leadership and U.S. Customs as required.
• Lead the Company’s C-TPAT program, including annual security risk assessments, partner validation, training, audits, and certification/validation activities; collaborate with Supply Chain and Security partners to maintain and continuously improve the program.
• Lead technical compliance programs for classification, valuation, origin, and entry—including governance, standard work, training, and quality controls.
• Maintain deep expertise in HTSUS interpretation (GRIs, notes, Explanatory Notes), CROSS research, and binding ruling strategy.
• Support and help execute elements of a multi-year global trade strategy aligned with the Company’s sourcing and growth plans, with a focus on compliance, speed-to-market, cost, resilience, and brand/ESG commitments.
• Identify and lead lawful duty and tariff mitigation opportunities (e.g., tariff engineering, sourcing/manufacturing shifts, first sale, special programs, FTAs, duty drawback, U.S. Goods Returned), including feasibility assessment, documentation requirements, and sustained operating controls.
• Participate in technology modernization initiatives and AI-enabled efficiency improvements across key trade workflows (e.g., classification and origin, document review, broker entry quality, audit sampling, and exception management), in partnership with IT and external vendors
• Own country-of-origin determinations and origin substantiation; manage U.S. Goods Returned, preferential trade programs/FTAs, duty drawback, and other special program eligibility with strong documentation, supplier engagement, and audit-ready records.
• Lead valuation governance (e.g., first sale, assists, related-party considerations, chargebacks/rebates, reconciliations) and partner with Finance to ensure accurate declarations, sustainable processes, and defensible documentation.
• Establish entry standards and broker governance (e.g., ISF quality, pre-entry review, post-entry audit, PGA requirements) and optimize workflows within Infor Nexus and related systems to reduce exceptions, rework, and compliance risk.
• Lead the Company’s first sale valuation program (where applicable), owning the legal/operational framework, controls, and supplier/broker enablement to support compliant use and sustained savings.
• Manage factory relationships with respect to import compliance requirements. Provide training and feedback on their documentation and operating procedures.
• Assess and meet the training needs of compliance-facing departments; including IT, Materials Development, Product Development, Design, PLMs, Finance, Legal DC Receiving & Production and Sourcing departments.
• Work closely with Product Development to pre-classify all products and optimize duty rates.
• Conduct targeted trainings for direct reports, supervisors, and vendors.
• Manage relationships with external functional partners to identify and rectify any information/process gaps; to include customs brokers, legal consultants, and technology vendor partners.
• Monitor global import/export regulatory or procedural changes that could impact planning for import or related requirements and clearly communicate those guidelines to stakeholders during the export/import planning process.
• Develop and maintain internal and external standard operating procedures and compliance manuals.
• Write, review and enforce internal and external SOPs to manage expectations and performance of vendors and employees.
• Define and report trade compliance and duty-savings KPIs (e.g., audit findings/closure rate, entry quality, cycle times, savings realized vs. plan).
• Identify automation opportunities and leverage analytics/AI responsibly to increase throughput, reduce error rates, and strengthen compliance with global trade regulations.
• Maintain professional competence in compliance of applicable laws; membership in industry group such as ICPA (International Compliance Professionals Association), OIA (outdoor industry Association) and AAFA (American Association of Footwear and Apparel)
• Manage and mentor import compliance professional by providing training, goal setting, career development guidance, and support with performance and absence management.
• Work with manager to ensure departmental budget supports needed travel, consulting and outside services.

Benefits

• Patagonia offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement and leave of absence plans.
• Benefit plans may vary slightly depending on the nature of your employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees