Customs Compliance Manager in Vancouver

We are seeking an experienced Customs Compliance Manager for an established manufacturing client of ours in the Vancouver area. This newly created position will own all import and export activity for our clients' brands in multiple markets. They will be the go-to trade expert and personally handle the classification, analysis, and filing work that keeps the brands compliant with CBSA, CBP, SAT, and international customs rules while driving down duty and brokerage costs.

The role works directly with the logistics and compliance teams within each brand, and closely with operations, supply chain, finance, engineering, sales, and legal. It manages the customs compliance function, minimizes risk, and optimizes the organization's trade operations.

Responsibilities

• Own regulatory compliance for all LMPG brands, ensuring adherence to the customs laws and regulations of each country (CBSA in Canada, CBP in the U.S., and SAT in Mexico) for all imports and exports.
• Set up and maintain compliance procedures: HTS classification, country of origin, valuation, recordkeeping, carnets, and TIBs.
• Confirm 'Made in COO' claims based on last substantial transformation and production costs.
• Run regular self-assessment audits, file voluntary disclosures when needed, and fix root causes and implement corrective actions as required.
• Support Corporate Legal on any customs non-compliance investigation.
• Review BOMs to set correct HTS codes and customs values.
• Apply for binding classification rulings in Canada, the U.S., and other markets as needed.
• Advise and support brands in maintaining and updating their product databases, ensuring the correct country of origin and harmonized tariff schedule code for imported parts and exported products are reflected on all items in the ERP system.
• Run the yearly CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC certificate program for our brands and suppliers.
• Find and deliver duty savings through rulings, free trade agreements, duty drawback, duty relief programs, and TIBs.
• Reduce brokerage costs through consolidation and better contracts.
• Manage our customs brokers day to day and hold them to service levels, reporting, and regular reviews.
• Work with carriers and 3PLs on the customs side of shipments.
• Act as the main contact with customs authorities when a brand cannot resolve an issue on its own.
• Advise on customs and trade compliance for projects, forward stocking locations, and site expansions.
• Advise on complex cross-border inventory moves.
• Secure the certificates and approvals needed to enter new markets, for example, certificates of conformity.
• Support FDA clearance of product into the U.S. and compliance with Buy American Act requirements.
• Train and advise management, finance, engineering, sales, marketing, supply chain, and logistics on customs rules and changes.
• Be the go-to contact for customs questions from any brand, promoting compliance through day-to-day support.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years in customs brokerage and global trade compliance, including Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
• Strong knowledge of tariff classification, valuation, country of origin, export controls and sanctions, duty drawback, and trade programs.
• Proven track record developing, implementing, and administering customs compliance strategies and procedures, preferably in the manufacturing industry.
• Working knowledge of CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC and the Buy American Act.
• Track record of winning classification rulings and delivering measurable duty savings.
• Experience managing customs brokers, including selection.
• Experience driving cross-functional projects without direct authority, ideally international site setups or market entry.
• Able to read BOMs and turn them into correct HTS codes and values.
• Strong analytical and audit skills; comfortable collecting and presenting trade data.
• Clear writer and speaker with internal teams, service providers, and government officials.
• Self-starter who works well with little direction and shifting priorities.
• Able to travel.