Head of U.S. Customs & Trade Compliance_Mandarin Fluency

JUSDA Supply Chain North America; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

JUSDA Supply Chain North America in Houston is seeking an experienced Head of U.S. Customs & Trade Compliance to lead U.S. import/export programs, ensure CBP compliance, and drive cost optimization across the cross-border network.

This senior role requires deep knowledge of U.S. customs laws, strong leadership, and strategic thinking to mitigate regulatory risk and guide senior management on policy developments and trade strategies.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in U.S. customs operations or international trade compliance.
• 5+ years of people management or leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. customs laws, CBP regulations, import/export procedures, tariff classification, valuation, and country of origin requirements.
• Experience with FTZ, USMCA, duty optimization, or related programs.
• Experience with cross-border supply chains in multinational environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the U.S. import/export compliance strategy and operations.
• Manage CBP audits, inquiries, and regulatory issues.
• Oversee FTZ and origin, valuation, classification processes.
• Drive cost optimization including duties, tariffs, and brokerage expenses.
• Provide strategic guidance to senior management on trade compliance and cross-border opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory risk

CBP regulations

Strategic thinking

Cross-cultural collab

Data analytics

Communication

AI tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Logistics/International Trade

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of U.S. Customs & Trade Compliance to lead and oversee the company's U.S. customs operations, international trade compliance, and regulatory risk management. This senior leadership role is responsible for developing and executing customs compliance strategies, ensuring adherence to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, optimizing duty and tariff costs, and driving operational excellence across the company's cross-border supply chain.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of U.S. customs laws, international trade regulations, and customs brokerage practices, together with strong leadership capabilities and strategic business acumen. This individual will serve as a key advisor to senior management on trade policy developments, regulatory risks, duty optimization opportunities, and cross-border supply chain strategies.

Experience in the logistics, freight forwarding, or 3C electronics manufacturing industries, particularly within multinational business environments, is highly preferred.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Customs Compliance & Regulatory Risk Management

• Lead the overall U.S. import and export customs compliance strategy, including tariff classification (HTS), customs valuation, country of origin determination, and applicable trade regulations.
• Ensure full compliance with CBP requirements and all applicable federal, state, and international trade regulations.
• Oversee customs clearance operations for import and export shipments, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and timely submission of required documentation.
• Serve as the primary liaison with CBP and other relevant government authorities on customs matters, audits, inquiries, and regulatory issues.
• Lead and manage customs audits, investigations, disputes, penalties, and corrective action plans.
• Establish proactive compliance monitoring, internal controls, and risk assessment mechanisms to identify, mitigate, and prevent potential regulatory exposure.
• Oversee Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) compliance, including inventory control, recordkeeping, and regulatory requirements.

2. Trade Policy Intelligence & Strategic Advisory

• Monitor U.S. trade policies, tariff developments, customs regulations, and international trade agreements, assessing their potential impact on business operations.
• Develop proactive strategies to address regulatory changes, geopolitical risks, tariff adjustments, and evolving international trade requirements.
• Provide strategic recommendations to senior management on trade compliance, customs-related business risks, and cross-border supply chain opportunities.
• Lead cross-regional and cross-functional customs initiatives to strengthen global trade compliance and operational coordination.
• Provide expert guidance on trade compliance strategies, duty savings opportunities, and international logistics solutions.

3. Customs Operations & Cost Optimization

• Establish standardized customs management procedures and operational frameworks to improve consistency, compliance, and efficiency across U.S. operations.
• Drive process optimization and digital transformation initiatives, leveraging technology and automation to enhance customs operations and reporting capabilities.
• Identify and implement duty optimization programs, including FTZ, USMCA, applicable duty exemptions, and other preferential trade programs where eligible.
• Optimize overall customs-related costs, including duties, tariffs, brokerage fees, and clearance expenses.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs to evaluate customs performance, clearance lead times, compliance accuracy, and cost efficiency.
• Analyze operational data, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions to enhance service quality and productivity.
• Prepare and present regular customs compliance and operational performance reports to senior leadership.

4. Broker, Stakeholder & Team Management

• Oversee customs brokerage licensing, certifications, and other relevant regulatory qualifications required for U.S. operations.
• Manage relationships with external customs brokers, service providers, and relevant government agencies.
• Establish performance standards and KPI evaluation mechanisms for external customs brokerage partners to ensure service quality, compliance, and cost effectiveness.
• Lead, develop, and empower the local customs and trade compliance team, including workforce planning, talent development, and succession planning.
• Set clear departmental objectives, conduct regular performance evaluations, and provide coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and regulatory excellence.
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders across logistics, freight forwarding, warehousing, finance, sales, and global operations to ensure effective customs coordination throughout the supply chain.

QUALIFICATION AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above in Logistics, International Trade, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent relevant professional experience may also be considered.
• Minimum 10 years of directly related experience in U.S. customs operations, customs compliance, or international trade compliance.
• Minimum 5 years of people management or leadership experience, preferably leading customs or trade compliance teams.
• In-depth knowledge of U.S. customs laws, CBP regulations, import/export procedures, tariff classification, customs valuation, and country of origin requirements.
• Strong experience in customs brokerage operations, regulatory compliance, customs audits, and risk management.
• Proven ability to develop and implement customs compliance strategies, operational controls, and process improvement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese (written and spoken), with the ability to communicate effectively across international teams and multicultural business environments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to analyze operational data and present strategic insights to senior management.
• Strong ability to leverage AI tools and digital solutions to support regulatory research, compliance reviews, process optimization, and operational efficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active U.S. Licensed Customs Broker (LCB) credential strongly preferred.
• Professional certifications in international trade, customs compliance, or supply chain management are a plus.
• Experience with Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ), USMCA, duty drawback, tariff engineering, or other duty optimization programs.
• Experience working with Taiwan-based enterprises, multinational corporations, or global manufacturing organizations.
• Background in the 3C electronics, technology, or manufacturing industries is highly preferred.
• Experience managing customs operations and cross-border supply chain activities across multiple regions or business units.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to understand the broader business landscape, anticipate regulatory developments, and translate trade compliance requirements into business strategies.
• Compliance & Risk Awareness: Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating regulatory risks.
• Leadership & Talent Development: Mature leadership style with the ability to empower teams, develop talent, and drive organizational performance.
• Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to bridge cultural and organizational differences and influence stakeholders across regions.
• Business Acumen: Ability to balance regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall business profitability.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Openness to technology, AI-enabled solutions, and process innovation to improve compliance management and operational effectiveness.