Trade Compliance Program Manager

Waters Corporation; New Castle (DE); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Waters Corporation seeks a skilled Trade Compliance Program Manager to lead global product attribute classifications, including HS/HTS codes, ECCN/ECN export classifications, and origin determinations. You will standardize practices, validate classifications, and improve the compliance framework across regions.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Product Management, and Master Data teams to ensure accurate attributes, audit-ready documentation, and scalable processes for import/export

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in International Trade, Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.
• LCB certification or equivalent qualification.
• 7–10 years of trade compliance experience, with a strong focus on tariff and export control classification.
• Demonstrated expertise as a classifier with a track record of accurate, defensible decisions.
• Experience with SAP GTS or comparable global trade management platforms.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Strong critical-thinking skills and the ability to navigate ambiguous or technically complex classification scenarios.
• Ability to train and mentor teams on classification methodology and regulatory interpretation.
• Comfortable working with large datasets and leveraging classification engines to validate or enrich master data.
• Experience working across multiple regions and understanding local classification nuances (EU CN codes, US HTSUS, India Customs Tariff, non‑preferential origin rules).
• Strong collaboration skills with engineering, legal, procurement, and product teams.

Responsibilities

• Core Program Ownership: Manage global standards for HS/HTS codes, export control classifications (ECCN/ECN), and country of origin.
• Translate technical specifications into accurate tariff codes, export classifications, and origin determinations.
• Monitor classification accuracy and ensure adherence to internal guidelines.
• Provide input to create automated classification logic and rule-based engines.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Product Development, and Project Management.
• Work with Master Data teams to ensure product attributes are correctly created, maintained, and available to global import teams.
• Collaborate with local trade compliance teams to validate classification relevance and document country‑specific nuances.
• Governance, Documentation & Standards: Develop and maintain global classification and country‑of‑origin determination guidelines.
• Provide guidance to manufacturing teams on origin determination, process mapping, and documentation requirements.
• Ensure audit‑ready documentation supporting all classification and origin decisions.
• Create SOPs, standards, and processes to strengthen global compliance.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure HS codes are mapped to all import countries and extended through SAP/GTS.
• Optimize classification workflows to increase efficiency, consistency, and scalability.
• Gather and interpret import/export requirements applicable to products across global markets.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field

LCB

Tools

SAP GTS

Job description

Waters Corporation is seeking a highly skilled Trade Compliance Program Manager to lead our global program for core product attributes, including HS/HTS tariff classification, export control classification (US ECCN, EU Dual‑Use), and country of origin determination. These attributes form the foundation of our global trade compliance framework, and we are looking for someone who is passionate about translating complex technical information into accurate, defensible customs and export classifications.

In this role, you will build and maintain global standards, ensure local regulatory relevance, optimize classification systems, and drive continuous improvement across our classification and country‑of‑origin programs.

Responsibilities:

Core Program Ownership

• Manage global standards for HS/HTS codes, export control classifications (ECCN/ECN), and country of origin.
• Translate technical specifications into accurate tariff codes, export classifications, and origin determinations.
• Monitor classification accuracy and ensure adherence to internal guidelines.
• Provide input to create automated classification logic and rule-based engines.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Product Development, and Project Management to understand product functionality and technical attributes.
• Work with Master Data teams to ensure product attributes are correctly created, maintained, and available to global import teams.
• Collaborate with local trade compliance teams to validate classification relevance and document country‑specific nuances.

Governance, Documentation & Standards

• Develop and maintain global classification and country‑of‑origin determination guidelines.
• Provide guidance to manufacturing teams on origin determination, process mapping, and documentation requirements.
• Ensure audit‑ready documentation supporting all classification and origin decisions.
• Create SOPs, standards, and processes to strengthen global compliance.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure HS codes are mapped to all import countries and extended through SAP/GTS.
• Optimize classification workflows to increase efficiency, consistency, and scalability.
• Gather and interpret import/export requirements applicable to products across global markets.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• LCB.
• 7–10 years of trade compliance experience, with a strong focus on tariff and export control classification.
• Demonstrated expertise as a classifier with a track record of accurate, defensible decisions.
• Experience with SAP GTS or comparable global trade management platforms.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Strong critical‑thinking skills and the ability to navigate ambiguous or technically complex classification scenarios.
• Ability to train and mentor teams on classification methodology and regulatory interpretation.
• Comfortable working with large datasets and leveraging classification engines to validate or enrich master data.
• Experience working across multiple regions and understanding local classification nuances (EU CN codes, US HTSUS, India Customs Tariff, non‑preferential origin rules).
• Strong collaboration skills with engineering, legal, procurement, and product teams.