Head of Customs & National Trade Compliance – Global Freight Forwarder – Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, or Los Angeles
Salary: $150,000 – $225,000 (DOE) + Bonus
Keywords: Import compliance | CBP regulations | Trade governance | Drawback | Reconciliation | CTPAT | Audits | Leadership
About the Company
We’re representing a leading global freight forwarder with extensive U.S. gateway operations and a highly developed international network. The organization is investing heavily in strengthening its nationwide compliance framework and elevating trade governance standards across its brokerage and forwarding divisions. To support this continued evolution, the company is seeking a senior customs executive to lead all U.S. trade compliance functions.
Role Overview
The Head of Customs & National Trade Compliance will be responsible for directing all U.S. import governance programs, ensuring regulatory accuracy, seamless CBP engagement, and consistent compliance execution across multiple branches. This high-impact role covers major gateway markets—Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, and Los Angeles—and requires a seasoned expert capable of aligning compliance strategy with operational, commercial, and corporate objectives.
This position is suited for a veteran customs leader with extensive multi-site oversight, deep technical knowledge, and a track record of driving compliance transformation within a global forwarding environment.
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead the company’s national customs compliance and trade governance strategy.
- Oversee HTS classification, drawback, reconciliation, post-entry processes, and audit functions.
- Serve as the senior executive liaison with CBP, Partner Government Agencies, and related authorities.
- Direct internal audits, risk assessments, and corrective action plans across all U.S. branches.
- Deliver training, regulatory updates, and compliance support to brokerage and operations teams.
- Manage ACE account oversight, licensing matters, and all compliance-related recordkeeping systems.
- Ensure adherence to CTPAT, bonded warehouse, ISA, and other regulatory program requirements.
- Champion modernization efforts, technology adoption, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Candidate Profile
- Active U.S. Customs Broker License required.
- 15+ years of customs compliance, regulatory management, or brokerage leadership experience.
- Deep understanding of CBP and PGA regulations, including drawback, reconciliation, and audit processes.
- Proven ability to lead national or multi-branch compliance teams.
- Strong analytical skills with executive-level communication and decision-making capability.
- Willing to reside in or relocate to Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, or Los Angeles.
What the Role Offers
- Executive-level leadership with nationwide responsibility.
- Influence over compliance strategy across several major gateway markets.
- Direct collaboration with senior global leadership on trade and regulatory initiatives.
- Opportunity to modernize, optimize, and elevate compliance programs within a global logistics powerhouse.
- Competitive salary, bonus structure, and significant long-term career growth prospects.
