Senior Trade Compliance Specialist

Who We Are:

Kontoor Brands is a portfolio of three of the world’s most iconic lifestyle, outdoor and workwear brands: Wrangler®, Lee® and Helly Hansen®. Kontoor Brands is a purpose-led organization focused on leveraging its global platform, strategic sourcing model and best-in-class supply chain to drive brand growth and deliver long- term value for its stakeholders.

Job Posting:

Job Summary

Kontoor Brands is seeking a proactive and highly experienced Senior Trade Compliance Specialist to ensure compliance with U.S. and Canadian Customs regulations and trade laws while serving as a strategic advisor to the business. This role will oversee one or more functional areas of Trade Compliance, including Import Compliance, Export Compliance, Supply Chain Security, and Special Programs, while serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in multiple areas.

The Senior Trade Compliance Specialist bridges day-to-day compliance execution with long-term trade strategy, driving regulatory compliance, operational excellence, cost savings, and risk mitigation across the organization. This position will lead major trade compliance initiatives, develop processes and governance frameworks, influence sourcing and supply chain decisions, and represent Kontoor Brands in industry and government forums.

While this position has no direct reports, it serves as a structured mentor and advisor to team members and business stakeholders, providing guidance on complex compliance matters and strategic trade initiatives.

Responsibilities

Trade Compliance Leadership and Strategy

Act as a senior SME in multiple Trade Compliance disciplines, including Imports, Exports, and Special Programs (such as FTZ, Drawback, First Sale, and Free Trade Agreements), and Supply Chain Security (such as CTPAT).

• Bridge operational trade compliance execution with strategic business objectives.
• Develop and maintain trade compliance frameworks, governance processes, internal protocols, and controls.
• Advise management on high-risk customs and trade compliance issues and develop mitigation strategies and corrective action plans.
• Proactively identify regulatory risks and implement preventative compliance protocols.
• Influence sourcing, procurement, and supply chain strategies through trade compliance expertise and duty optimization opportunities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor across Logistics, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Sourcing, and Distribution Center Operations.

Compliance Operations

• Liaise with customs brokers and government agencies to ensure import and export compliance.
• Ensure accurate product classification and tariff assignments under the HTSUS and Canadian Customs Tariff.
• Conduct frequent post-entry audits and monitor customs transactions for compliance.
• Support standardization and harmonization of trade compliance processes across business operations.
• Maintain customs records and documentation in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Create, analyze, and manage import and export trade-data reports from ACE, CARM, and other sources.
• Define, maintain, analyze, and communicate compliance KPIs and KCIs.

Process Improvement and Automation

• Lead automation initiatives and workflow improvements to increase compliance efficiency and reduce manual processes.
• Standardize and optimize trade compliance procedures across the organization.
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on compliance effectiveness, operational efficiency, and cost reduction.
• Serve as SME for trade compliance system enhancements, implementations, troubleshooting, and process optimization.

Savings and Special Programs

• Lead major duty-savings and cost-avoidance programs, including Foreign Trade Zones, Duty Drawback, First Sale, Free Trade Agreements, and other customs optimization initiatives.
• Identify and implement opportunities that reduce customs duties, fees, and trade-related costs while maintaining compliance.
• Assist Logistics and Customs Compliance Management with strategic projects that improve efficiency, compliance, and cost performance.

External Engagement

• Research, interpret, and communicate evolving trade regulations in the United States and Canada.
• Represent Kontoor Brands in discussions with Customs authorities, regulatory agencies, and industry organizations.
• Participate in trade associations, government outreach initiatives, and industry working groups as needed.
• Support customs audits, government inquiries, validations, and compliance reviews.

Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing

• Serve as a structured mentor and advisor to trade compliance team members and business partners without direct-report responsibility.
• Provide training, guidance, and best practices on customs and trade compliance matters.
• Promote continuous learning and regulatory awareness across the organization.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned by the Trade Compliance Manager.

Required Qualifications

7+ years of progressive Trade Compliance experience, including direct interaction with Customs authorities and oversight of compliance programs.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, International Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Active Customs Broker License (CBL) required.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least two Trade Compliance functional areas, such as Import Compliance, Export Compliance, FTZ, Duty Drawback, First Sale, Free Trade Agreements, or CTPAT.
• In-depth knowledge of U.S. and Canadian customs and trade compliance regulations.
• Working knowledge of product classification, import compliance, and export compliance.
• Experience developing compliance processes, controls, protocols, and mitigation plans.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, risk-assessment, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a customer-focused environment and adjust proactively to shifting priorities.
• Ability to complete assignments accurately and within specified time frames with minimal supervision and direction.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, Power BI, and SharePoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Footwear and apparel industry experience and/or experience working for an importer.
• SAP Finance or broader ERP-system experience.

Experience with ACE, CARM, Integration Point, SAP, or similar trade compliance platforms.

• Demonstrated success leading compliance automation, process improvement, and cost-savings initiatives.

Leadership Competencies Expected for this Role:

Emerging Leader

Global Agility – Open to diverse views, adapts to new ways of working

Purposeful Integrity – Demonstrates ethical behavior, follows through on commitments

Strategic Foresight – Understands team goals, asks strategic questions

Customer Centric Innovation – Suggests improvements from customer feedback, tries new methods

Urgency for Impact – Act quickly and take ownership of outcomes

Bold Accountability – Own your work and deliver consistently strong results

Empowered Collaboration – Share ideas, listens well, collaborates with peers

Why Kontoor Brands?

At Kontoor, we offer a comprehensive benefit package to fit your lifestyle. Our benefits are crafted with the same care as our products.

When our employees are healthy, secure, and well, they bring their best selves to work. Kontoor Brands supports you with a competitive benefits program that provides choice and flexibility to meet your and your family’s needs – now and in the future. We offer resources to support your physical, emotional, social, and financial wellbeing, plus benefits like discounts on our apparel. Kontoor Brands also provides four weeks of Paid Parental Leave to eligible employees who are new parents, Flexible Fridays, and Tuition Reimbursement.

We are proud to offer a workplace culture centered on equitable opportunities and a sense of belonging for all team members. Here we have a global workforce of high-performing teams that both unlocks our individual uniqueness and harnesses our collaborative talents.