The Regional Customs Compliance Specialist, Americas supports Pentair's customs and import/export compliance activities across the Americas, a region that spans North and South America, including the United States, Mexico, and LATAM. Working within the Global Trade Compliance Team, the Specialist helps ensure that goods move across borders accurately, lawfully, and on time. The role concentrates on the core fundamentals of customs compliance: Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification, country of origin and free trade agreement qualification, customs valuation, duties, and import/export documentation.  

Day to day, the Specialist provides hands-on support, maintains accurate records, assists with audits and training, and helps put standard customs processes into practice at regional sites. A basic awareness of export controls and economic sanctions is expected, with more complex questions escalated to the appropriate Regional Trade Compliance Manager. 

The Specialist will be based in Pentair’s Golden Valley, MN corporate headquarters and will report to Pentair’s global Trade Compliance Lead. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

HTS Classification & Customs Compliance 

• Support the governance of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification to ensure accuracy, consistency, and defensibility across a regional environment. 

• Research classification questions and help prepare determinations, supporting documentation, and classification records. 

• Help ensure customs processes and procedures are followed correctly across regional sites, escalating complex or high-risk matters to the Regional Trade Compliance Manager. 

Country of Origin & Free Trade Agreements 

• Support country of origin determinations and maintain origin records for imported and exported goods. 

• Assist with free trade agreement (FTA) qualification, including soliciting and reviewing supplier declarations and preparing certificates of origin. 

• Help confirm that origin marking and documentation meet customs requirements. 

Import/Export Operations & Documentation 

• Track and help resolve routine customs issues to keep cross-border movements on schedule. 

Duties, Tariffs & Recovery 

• Support and ensure the accurate calculation, reporting and payment of duties, fees, and applicable trade remedy tariffs (e.g., Section 301/232). 

• Assist with duty recovery activities such as drawback and post-summary corrections under the guidance of the Regional Trade Compliance Manager. 

Audits, Assessments & Recordkeeping 

• Perform quarterly import/export audits of the entities under the role’s remit to verify that cross-border activities are compliant from a customs standpoint (HTS classification, country of origin, FTA qualification, valuation, duties, and documentation). 

• Follow up on audit findings with local stakeholders, agree corrective actions, and track them through to closure. 

• Support the business to maintain accurate, audit-ready import/export records. 

Training & Cross-Functional Support 

• Provide basic guidance to business and operations teams on customs and import/export requirements. 

• Help draft and update standard operating procedures and training materials. 

• Support the use of ERP/SAP and trade compliance software for customs data and recordkeeping. 

• Travel to regional sites as needed (up to approximately 15%). 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered. 

• 3+ years of relevant customs or trade compliance experience, ideally supporting U.S. import and export operations. 

• Working knowledge of customs regimes, HTS classification, country of origin, customs valuation, FTA qualification, and import/export documentation. 

• Familiarity with U.S. trade remedy tariffs (e.g., Section 301/232) and a general awareness of export controls and economic sanctions. 

• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; exposure to ERP/SAP and customs classification software (e.g., Descartes CustomsInfo) is a plus. 

• Strong attention to detail, good organizational skills, and a high level of accuracy in a fast-paced environment. 

• Good written and verbal communication skills in English. 

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with a willingness to learn and take direction. 

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally on occasion.