Senior Global Trade Controls Lead

Summary

Join Western Digital as a Global Trade Compliance professional and leverage your expertise in international import/export operations. You will be responsible for customs and trade operations support, developing compliant strategies, and engaging with stakeholders. This role requires deep technical knowledge of global customs regulations and 10+ years of relevant experience. You will design global partner programs, manage KPIs, and evaluate new compliance requirements. The position demands strong analytical and communication skills, along with the ability to manage multiple projects. Western Digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, health insurance, retirement benefits, and more.

Requirements

• Deep technical knowledge of global customs, import and export topics, including incoterms, valuation, classification, country of origin, free-trade agreements, export controls, licensing, and sanctions
• Approximately 10 or more years of related work experience in industry, a professional services firm, a Fortune 500 company or a major importer or exporter
• Being informed on current on global trade developments and work to identify savings opportunities and compliance improvements
• Excellent team leader with great organizational skills, strong motivation to succeed, and ability to cultivate strong internal and external relationships
• Flexibility to work with colleagues around the world, foreign language capabilities a plus
• Experience with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Foreign Assets Control, or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and similar organizations in other countries
• Experience managing/supervising teams
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Able to successfully execute multiple projects from start to finish
• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree and a US Customs broker license

Responsibilities

• High working knowledge of international import/export operations and must be able to effectively troubleshoot any issues that may arise in international trade and transportation
• Responsible for customs and trade operations support in United States and International locations
• Develop strategies and actionable plans to support compliant and efficient international movement of products and services through partnership with internal and external stakeholders
• Engages with internal stakeholders to provide consultation and guidance in managing their compliance obligations
• Interface with freight forwarders, US government officials, custom brokers, internal and external customers on all matters pertaining to import and export regulations
• The job entails managing and executing on both operational tasks and problem-solving, as situations arise
• Design a global customs brokerage, forwarder, and logistic partner program with the intent to deploy and support trade operations
• Responsible for Key Performance Indicators (KPI) with a goal to drive ongoing process improvement
• Evaluate new government and trade compliance requirements to ensure standard operating procedures are updated accordingly
• Partner with the legal team to understand the regulatory changes that impact business and engage internal functions to develop and execute defined procedures
• Serve as a functional expert in Global Trade matters for the region by using experience and knowledge of customs regulations, as well as other partner governmental agencies, to promote increased compliant market access for efficient flow of goods across borders
• Drive improvements on cost, lead time and process efficiency through data analytics, automated tool utilization and robust data management
• Build communications, training plans and desk/standard operating procedures to ensure all internal and external partners are aware and aligned to trade compliance governance processes
• Work in collaboration with leadership, product and business teams, and external partners to create and enforce regional trade compliance
• Build, track and maintain content and metrics to monitor for actionable insights that enhance the trade compliance experience for customers and partners
• Monitor proposed changes in import and export control law and regulations and assesses the impact of these proposed changes on the Company's business
• Manage daily tasks related to providing trade compliance governance guidance of all global governance standards and programs implemented, including conducting research, updating status reports, and coordinating team deliverables
• Assist with technology, product classification, including Harmonized Commodity Codes (HTS, Schedule B, ECCN) classifications specific to in country requirements
• Proactively identify and drive automation, accuracy, friction reduction, and process improvement initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Global Trade Management system is a definite plus
• Is a proven Trusted Partner who exuberates authenticity, empathy, integrity, accountability, and professional ethics
• Communicates effectively
• Invests in the team and relationship with stakeholders
• Encourages collaboration cross functionally, culturally and countries
• Creates a respective and safe environment

Benefits

• Paid vacation time
• Paid sick leave
• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• Life, accident and disability insurance
• Tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts
• Employee assistance program
• Other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit
• The Applause Program
• Employee stock purchase plan
• The Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance
• Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan
• RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards