Head of Customs Compliance

Job Description Summary

The Head of Customs Compliance is a senior leadership role within the Global Trade Compliance organization, responsible for directing and overseeing customs and import/export compliance across the company's global footprint. This individual will develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive customs compliance program that supports the company's complex energy sector supply chain while ensuring business segments adhere to all applicable customs laws, regulations, and trade agreements worldwide. The Head of Customs Compliance serves as the enterprise-wide subject matter expert on customs matters and partners closely with business segments, sourcing, legal, tax, finance, and government affairs functions to enable efficient cross-border movement of goods, equipment, and technology critical to the company's global operations.

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight. The Head of Customs Compliance will design, implement, and continuously enhance the company's global customs and import/export compliance strategy, including policies, procedures, and internal controls designed to ensure business segment compliance with trade regulations while enabling efficient cross-border operations. This leader will set the strategic direction for the customs function, aligning customs compliance objectives with broader corporate strategy and the company's risk appetite.

• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management. The Head of Customs Compliance will ensure business segment compliance with all applicable customs laws and regulations in every jurisdiction in which the company operates, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, European Union customs codes, and the customs regimes of all other countries in the company's operational footprint. This includes policy oversight and governance for managing tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin determinations, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) qualification and utilization, temporary importation programs, foreign trade zone operations, and duty drawback programs. The Head of Customs will lead the identification, assessment, and support the mitigation of customs-related risks across the enterprise, including risks arising from shifting trade policies, tariff changes, sanctions developments, and evolving regulatory requirements.

• Advisory to Customs Operations and Supply Chain Optimization. The Head of Customs Compliance will provide advice and counsel to the day-to-day customs operations globally that are embedded in the business segment and sourcing teams, including the management of customs brokers, freight forwarders, and other third-party service providers involved in customs clearance activities. This individual will provide counsel and advice on business initiatives to optimize duty spend, leveraging preferential trade agreements, duty suspension and deferral programs, bonded warehouse / Free Trade Zone arrangements, and other lawful mechanisms to reduce total landed cost. The Head of Customs will collaborate closely with supply chain particularly the business segment customs leaders, procurement, and logistics teams to ensure that customs considerations are integrated into sourcing decisions, supply chain design, and project planning for major capital projects and exploration activities.

• Training and Communication. The Head of Customs Compliance will develop and deliver training to a appropriate company employees, either in person, or utilizing automated training delivery platform such as GEV Learning.
  
  Communication is a key aspect of this role and the Head of Customs Compliance will ensure that relevant changes in regulations, changes in Customs trends or any other relevant customs initiatives are communicated as appropriate in a way that enables the business segments to implement any necessary changes.

• Technology and Data Analytics. The Head of Customs Compliance will champion the use of technology, automation, and data analytics to modernize customs compliance and enhance operational efficiency. This includes overseeing the implementation and management of global trade management (GTM) software, automated customs filing systems, and data analytics tools to monitor compliance metrics, identify trends, and support decision-making.

• Government Relations and Trusted Trader Programs. The Head of Customs Compliance will support the company's relationships with customs authorities worldwide and serve as the primary point of contact for customs audits, inquiries, and investigations. This individual will oversee the company's participation in trusted trader and authorized economic operator (AEO) programs, including the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), EU AEO, and equivalent programs in other jurisdictions. The Head of Customs will proactively monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting customs and trade, assess their impact on the business, and develop strategies to adapt to changes in the trade landscape.

• Global ITR Finance Leadership: Provide end-to-end financial leadership for a global commercial pipeline, including multi-regional Long Term Service Agreements (LTSA), Transactional sales.
• Regional Partnership: Form close partnerships with Region GMs and ITR leadership to ensure deal structures are competitive in local markets while adhering to the global commercial strategy
• Global Standardization: Drive the creation and adoption of a standardized "Global Commercial Toolbox" and pricing frameworks to ensure consistency in how we quote customers from Singapore to Houston.
• Complex Deal Modeling: Own and evolve financial models for global accounts, managing the complexities of multi-currency (FX) strategies, international tax/billing considerations, and cross-border risk.
• Global DOA Governance: Act as the primary gatekeeper for the global commercial Delegation of Authority (DOA), ensuring all deals meet segment-wide profitability and risk thresholds.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate with the Global Fulfillment and Risk Finance Leader to validate that quoted cost assumptions (inflation, parts yields, and local labor rates) are accurate for the specific region of execution.
• Strategic Advisory: Provide expert financial counsel to Global GMs on market positioning, competitor pricing benchmarks, and geopolitical risks affecting the commercial portfolio.
• Transformation Excellence: Lead global initiatives to automate the "As Sold vs. As Executed" feedback loop, ensuring data from one region improves pricing accuracy for the entire global business.
• Global Team Development: Lead and develop a diverse team across different time zones, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college.
• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressive experience in customs compliance, international trade, or a closely related field is required, coupled with at least seven (7) years in a leadership role managing global customs operations.
• Fluency in English
• Ability to travel internationally from 25 to 40%

• Licensed Customs Broker (LCB) designation or equivalent international certification is highly desirable.
• Juris Doctor (JD) or master's degree in international trade, supply chain management, business administration, or a related field.
• Experience operating in a Fortune 200 or similarly large, complex multinational organization with a presence in numerous jurisdictions is preferred

• Prior experience in the energy, oil and gas, mining, or heavy industrial sector is highly desirable
• Demonstrated experience managing customs compliance programs across multiple regions, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

• Deep expertise in customs laws and regulations across major trading jurisdictions, including the Harmonized System (HS) of tariff classification, WTO Valuation Agreement principles, rules of origin, and preferential trade agreements.
• Strong understanding of the interplay between customs compliance and related trade compliance disciplines, including export controls, economic sanctions, antiboycott regulations, and anti-corruption laws.
• Proven ability to build and lead large, geographically dispersed teams and manage through influence in a matrixed organizational structure.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to synthesize complex regulatory information and translate it into practical business guidance.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present complex customs matters clearly to senior executives, Board members, and regulators.
• Proficiency with global trade management software platforms and a strong command of data analytics as applied to customs operations.
• One or more additional languages in additions to English is preferred.