Customs Compliance Associate Manager

The Customs Compliance Associate Manager will be responsible for managing all aspects of customs compliance operations and ensuring adherence to trade compliance regulations set by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other regulatory authorities. In addition, the Manager will be accountable for owning, developing and executing strategies, streamlining processes, driving performance improvement, and acquiring resources for the efficient management of customs and trade compliance.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Proactively identify emerging trade compliance issues and initiatives to determine potential impact on the business and develop mitigation plans.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customs brokers and other external providers.
• Continually identify and implement trade compliance process improvement opportunities and strategies to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
• Oversee harmonized tariff classification (HTS) for all products and ensure the accuracy of HTS codes for all import and export transactions.
• Own and manage all aspects of import and export customs compliance related issues to ensure timely entry and customs release of all inbound and outbound shipments.
• Supervise the management of export customs requirements and filings for shipments from the US to Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
• Manage the annual CTPAT audit and security review to ensure compliance.
• Ensure timely reconciliation, validation, and reporting of import entries, duty rates, and duty payment.
• Identify cost-saving initiatives for duty reduction, duty drawback, free trade agreement (FTA), and other opportunities with the global customs compliance team.
• Lead cross-functional projects related to customs compliance and collaborate with remote teams in France and other locations.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for all customs compliance processes and ensure adherence to all customs and documentation requirements with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other governmental regulatory bodies.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• In-depth knowledge of CBP systems including ACE and other customs brokerage systems.
• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience in import customs brokerage in a corporate environment or customs brokerage firm
• Customs Broker License a plus.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with the ability to work cross-functionally and cross-culturally between departments, external providers, and remote teams.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Power Point, and Word).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Expert knowledge of Harmonized Tariff Classification (HTS), US customs regulations, duty drawback, entry documentation, in-bond cross-border shipments, and incoterms.
• Comprehensive understanding of US, Canada, and Mexico, import customs, trade compliance, and regulations
• Excellent data analytics and visualization skills.
• Outstanding organization skills (planning, scheduling, and budgeting).
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while working to meet deadlines and driving results.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present in front of large groups and key stakeholders.

Core Values and Traits:

Play as One Team:

• Commitment for the team’s work and decisions
• Showing respect towards everyone

Play with Elegance:

• Striving for excellence
• Treating others with fair play and humility

Play by Daring:

• To explore new opportunities
• Having the courage to speak up, experiment and take initiative

Play with Tenacity:

• Constantly seek continuous improvement
• Learning from our failures

At Lacoste, we’re committed to building the best team we can. We hire for potential and support every team member through each step of their career development. Building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space for our team to think differently and push the status quo is incredibly important to us; and we strive to use these guiding principles as the foundation for how we interact with each other, how we build our business, and how we hold ourselves accountable to our core values.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

At Lacoste, we’re committed to providing equal opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, color, religion, creed, gender/sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, military status, veteran status, and/or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws.

* This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. They can be changed orally or in writing at any time by the discretion of management. We as Lacoste associates must also always ensure that all functions of our position are represented with our core values.