Harman

The Director Global Trade Compliance (“Director GTC”) is responsible for ensuring HARMAN’s compliance and will be accountable for its compliance with all related trade and customs laws, rules, and regulations in all geographic locations applicable to HARMAN ‘s business. The Director GTC will report to the Vice President Regulatory Compliance & Sustainability and will be assigned to one of HARMAN’s U.S. locations but will interface with all of its global trade operations. The Director GTC will also provide strategic advice to HARMAN on various international trade matters; orchestrate creation, maintenance, and training of trade policies and procedures; and support HARMAN’s growth from a compliance perspective.

The successful candidate will serve as a subject matter expert for global trade compliance matters for all HARMAN divisions and functions. Considerable compliance knowledge of North American trade regulations and enforcement frameworks are a requirement as well as an understanding of European and Asian trade laws and enforcement practices. Prior experience successfully leading a large globally located team in a highly matrixed and fast paced environment is highly desirable. The Director GTC will be a peer to and work closely with the Director, Global Trade Operations and Trade Attorney to ensure the continuing development of a best-in-class global trade compliance program and proactively advise the business of trade related risk and mitigation options.

Your Team

The Director GTC will initially manage a team of 4-5 global trade employees and recruit, retain, and develop additional staff that is fit for purpose with respect to HARMAN’s global trade operations.  Some members of the Director GTC’s team also manage a number of direct reports.

What You Will Do

• Develop an annual global trade compliance strategic plan and budget consistent with the divisional business plans.
• Fully integrate global trade compliance into the enterprise end-to-end value chain.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders including, but not limited to supply chain risk management, procurement, sales, supplier quality, government affairs, enterprise risk management, manufacturing, planning, and strategy.
• Develop robust compliance management processes based on needs of the business.
• Perform global product classifications.
• Confirm or determine and maintain appropriate origin declarations/marking and trade/preference program qualifications (e.g. USMCA, AEO, IMMEX).
• Lead global implementation of any process changes needed to ensure that the business is fully compliant with trade regulations.
• Ensure compliance with trade programs (e.g. C-TPAT).
• Drive internal cross functional process improvements required to maintain status in qualified global programs.
• Serve as HARMAN’s primary liaison with government agencies relative to import and export control.
• Analyze applicability and develop mitigation strategies to implement, including duty drawback, Free-Trade-Zones, reconciliation, local content requirements.
• Develop and present internal compliance training; conduct regulatory compliance audits and develop and maintain associated databases, reports, and documentation to ensure compliance with legal requirements and Harman policies.
• Analyze and monitor trade compliance processes, drive continuous development cycle and standardization. 
• Review and develop enhancements to HARMAN’s existing trade compliance program, including development of appropriate metrics and KPIs.
• Field internal trade compliance questions from HARMAN employees, external partners, and/or regulatory agencies.
• Develop, maintain and update documented internal controls and operating procedures for trade compliance.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to facilitate trade in a cost-effective and compliant manner.
• Support the Internal Audit function by identifying areas of potential risk for testing.
• Ensure compliance with trade regulations (classification, valuation, origin declaration, monitoring, documentation, etc.)
• Identify and drive cost management and duty optimization activities.
• Interpret and communicate regulatory expectations and changes relative to export/import and trade compliance.
• Monitor customs broker activity.
• Monitor regulatory and legislative trade changes while maintaining/updating policies and procedures.
• Build partnerships with third-party customs brokerage firms, government agencies, trade compliance service providers, and industry trade associations.

What You Need

• 10+ years of international trade experience, focusing primarily on customs and trade compliance and risk mitigation.
• 5+ years of experience leading a global trade team in a complex organization and fast paced environment.
• BA / BS degree or equivalent required (e.g., international trade/business, supply chain risk management) or evidence of exceptional ability and/or experience.
• Well versed in responding to government inquiries.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver practical solutions to solve complex trade issues.
• Detail oriented and highly organized with ability to multi-task several projects at once, including a demonstrated ability to drive decision-making in a fast-paced environment with on-demand requests.
• Ability to drive complex, cross functional projects including setting scope, reaching consensus, executing on tasks, and presenting results.
• Strong experience with MS Office applications, including knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint, and Copilot and use of AI tools to support efficiency.
• Experience with implementing (or at a minimum utilizing) global trade automation solutions and supply chain and third-party due diligence automated tools and creating and implementing the related policies and procedures.

What is Nice to Have

• U.S. Customs Broker License or related certification.
• Multi-cultural awareness and ability to adjust communication accordingly.
• Logistics and customs operational experience; export/import activities; documentation; customs brokers and freight forwarder management.
• Previous experience working within a US government customs or trade department or trade sector association.

What Makes You Eligible

• Ability to travel as necessary; minimally 15% domestic and international travel required.
• This role is eligible to work remotely full-time with occasional trips into a U.S. HARMAN office location as necessary (this could be on 24-hour notice).

• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment.

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote work globally for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location.
• Access to employee discounts on world-class Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.).
• Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University.
• Competitive wellness benefits.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Access to HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria (at certain U.S. HARMAN locations).
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.

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