Customs Lead

FTAI Aviation Ltd.; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

FTAI Aviation Ltd. is seeking a Customs Lead to oversee the company’s internal customs function across the United States, Canada, Italy, and Portugal. You will coordinate with external brokers and outsourced consultants while ensuring compliance and efficiency.

The role requires deep knowledge of CBP, CBSA, and EU procedures, plus strong analytical and cross‑functional communication skills to optimize duties and drive process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, International Trade, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in customs operations or trade compliance, preferably in the aviation or aerospace industry.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. customs regulations (CBP), with familiarity with Canadian (CBSA) and EU customs procedures.
• Hands-on experience with HS/HTS classification, country of origin, customs valuation, and duty drawback.
• Experience managing customs brokers and freight forwarders.
• U.S. Customs Broker License (LCB) or a recognized customs designation, such as CCS, is a plus.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally.
• Fluency in English required; Italian or Portuguese is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee U.S., Canadian, and EU customs operations.
• Manage relationships and performance of external customs brokers, recurring errors, delays, and broker KPIs.
• Oversee HS/HTS classification, country of origin, customs documentation, and entry review.
• Develop and maintain customs procedures, SOPs, and controls.
• Manage customs audits, recordkeeping, corrections, and issue resolution.
• Identify opportunities for duty optimization and process improvements.
• Manage duty drawback claims and identify recovery opportunities.
• Manage temporary import/export procedures for repairs, exchanges, and asset movements.
• Monitor customs‑related regulatory changes and assess operational impact.
• Standardize customs processes across international locations.
• Serve as the internal liaison with outsourced Trade Compliance consultants.
• Work closely with the outsourced Trade Compliance consultants.

Skills

Customs operations

Trade compliance

Analytical thinking

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or related field

Job description

The Customs Lead is responsible for the company’s internal customs function across the United States, Canada, Italy, and Portugal, acting as the internal subject‑matter expert and primary point of contact for customs‑related matters. The role manages the performance of external customs brokers and coordinates with outsourced Trade Compliance consultants, while specialized Trade Compliance remains outsourced.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee U.S., Canadian, and EU customs operations.
• Manage relationships and performance of external customs brokers, recurring errors, delays, and broker KPIs.
• Oversee HS/HTS classification, country of origin, customs documentation, and entry review.
• Develop and maintain customs procedures, SOPs, and controls.
• Manage customs audits, recordkeeping, corrections, and issue resolution.
• Identify opportunities for duty optimization and process improvements.
• Manage duty drawback claims and identify recovery opportunities.
• Manage temporary import/export procedures for repairs, exchanges, and asset movements.
• Monitor customs‑related regulatory changes and assess operational impact.
• Standardize customs processes across international locations.
• Serve as the internal liaison with outsourced Trade Compliance consultants.
• Work closely with the outsourced Trade Compliance consultants.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, International Trade, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in customs operations or trade compliance, preferably in the aviation or aerospace industry.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. customs regulations (CBP), with familiarity with Canadian (CBSA) and EU customs procedures.
• Hands‑on experience with HS/HTS classification, country of origin, customs valuation, and duty drawback.
• Experience managing customs brokers and freight forwarders.
• U.S. Customs Broker License (LCB) or a recognized customs designation, such as Certified Customs Specialist (CCS), is a plus.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work cross‑functionally.
• Fluency in English required; Italian or Portuguese is a plus.