The posting
Role: Trade Compliance Leader
Team: Customs & Trade
Scope: People Manager, M4
Years of Experience: 10+
Location: Ventura, CA (Hybrid)
General Summary:
Owns the strategy, governance, and continuous improvement of the Company’s global trade compliance program, ensuring compliant, resilient, and cost-effective cross-border movement of goods. Partners with Sourcing, Product, Logistics, Finance, Legal, and IT to build an end-to-end trade strategy that optimizes duty and tariff exposure (within the bounds of law), strengthens supply chain security, and enables business growth. Leads the design of risk-based controls, audit/self-testing, and escalation processes; serves as a key interface with U.S. Customs and other government agencies. Drives modernization through data, automation, and AI-enabled process improvements, while coaching and developing a high-performing team of trade compliance analysts and specialists.
What You’ll Do:
- Serve as the Company’s primary point of contact with U.S. Customs and other applicable government agencies; ensure end-to-end compliance with customs laws and regulations while enabling efficient and predictable clearance. Represent the Company with the Center for Excellence and Expertise for Apparel and Footwear.
- Own and evolve the Company’s Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) program, including risk assessment, controls testing, corrective action management, and executive/agency reporting; present program outcomes, trends, and remediation plans to senior leadership and U.S. Customs as required.
- Lead the Company’s C-TPAT program, including annual security risk assessments, partner validation, training, audits, and certification/validation activities; collaborate with Supply Chain and Security partners to maintain and continuously improve the program.
- Lead technical compliance programs for classification, valuation, origin, and entry—including governance, standard work, training, and quality controls. Maintain deep expertise in HTSUS interpretation (GRIs, notes, Explanatory Notes), CROSS research, and binding ruling strategy.
- Create and execute a multi-year global trade strategy aligned to the Company’s sourcing and growth plans—balancing compliance, speed-to-market, cost, resilience, and brand/ESG commitments.
- Identify and lead lawful duty and tariff mitigation opportunities (e.g., tariff engineering, sourcing/manufacturing shifts, first sale, special programs, FTAs, duty drawback, U.S. Goods Returned), including feasibility assessment, documentation requirements, and sustained operating controls.
- Develop tariff exposure models and “what-if” scenarios to support sourcing decisions, product design/material choices, Incoterms negotiation, and geopolitical disruption planning; translate insights into clear recommendations for senior leaders.
- Lead technology modernization and AI-enabled efficiency gains across trade processes (classification/origin workflow, document review, broker entry quality, audit sampling, and exception management); define the roadmap, controls, and success metrics in partnership with IT and key vendors.
- Origin: Own country-of-origin determinations and origin substantiation; manage U.S. Goods Returned, preferential trade programs/FTAs, duty drawback, and other special program eligibility with strong documentation, supplier engagement, and audit-ready records.
- Valuation: Lead valuation governance (e.g., first sale, assists, related-party considerations, chargebacks/rebates, reconciliations) and partner with Finance to ensure accurate declarations, sustainable processes, and defensible documentation.
- Entry: Establish entry standards and broker governance (e.g., ISF quality, pre-entry review, post-entry audit, PGA requirements) and optimize workflows within GT-Nexus and related systems to reduce exceptions, rework, and compliance risk.
- Lead the Company’s first sale valuation program (where applicable), owning the legal/operational framework, controls, and supplier/broker enablement to support compliant use and sustained savings.
- Manage factory relationships with respect to import compliance requirements. Provide training and feedback on their documentation and operating procedures.
- Assess and meet the training needs of compliance-facing departments; including IT, Materials Development, Product Development, Design, PLMs, Finance, Legal DC Receiving & Production and Sourcing departments. Work closely with Product Development to pre-classify all products and optimize duty rates. Conduct targeted trainings for direct reports, supervisors, and vendors.
- Manage relationships with external functional partners to identify and rectify any information/process gaps; to include customs brokers, legal consultants, and technology vendor partners.
- Monitor global import/export regulatory or procedural changes that could impact planning for import or related requirements and clearly communicate those guidelines to stakeholders during the export/import planning process.
- Develop and maintain internal and external standard operating procedures and compliance manuals. Write, review and enforce internal and external SOPs to manage expectations and performance of vendors and employees.
- Define and report trade compliance and duty-savings KPIs (e.g., audit findings/closure rate, entry quality, cycle times, savings realized vs. plan). Identify automation opportunities and leverage analytics/AI responsibly to increase throughput, reduce error rates, and strengthen compliance with global trade regulations.
- Maintain professional competence in compliance of applicable laws; membership in industry group such as ICPA (International Compliance Professionals Association), OIA (outdoor industry Association) and AAFA (American Association of Footwear and Apparel)
- Managing and mentoring a team of import compliance professionals by providing training, goal setting, career guidance and managing absence requests and compensation/bonus reviews.
- Departmental budget management responsibilities including travel, consulting, outside services, conference and entertainment line items.
Who You Are:
- Strategic trade leader who connects customs requirements to business outcomes—balancing compliance, cost, service, and risk across product and supply chain decisions.
- Proven people leader with the ability to coach, develop, and inspire teams through change; sets clear standards, builds capability, and creates a culture of continuous improvement.
- Ability to influence and negotiate across all levels and functions, including with external partners (brokers, forwarders, suppliers, and counsel); exercises sound judgment, discretion, and calm decision-making in high-stakes situations.
- Strong prioritization and program management skills; comfortable operating with ambiguity, using data to focus effort, managing multiple workstreams, and driving measurable outcomes.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex trade topics into clear guidance for executives and operational teams; strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
- Digitally fluent and improvement-minded—able to identify automation opportunities, partner with IT, and responsibly apply analytics/AI tools to increase efficiency and strengthen controls.
- Works well in a fast-paced environment and minimal day-to-day supervision.
- Collaborative - As Yvon Chouinard writes in Let My People Go Surfing, “Our best efforts are collaborative, and the Patagonia culture rewards the ensemble player while it barely tolerates those who need the limelight.”
Experience You Bring:
- 10+ years of general experience in business, supply chain, procurement or related field.
- 7+ years of experience and demonstrating application of trade compliance knowledge in operational and compliance environment, preferably within the apparel industry.
- 5+ years' experience in dealing with external government authorities
- 5+ years’ experience leveraging technology, analytics, and automation to drive process improvements; experience evaluating and implementing AI-enabled workflow enhancements is a plus.
- 5+ years' experience in working with Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers, Technology/Automation companies, Trade Lawyers, and the use of INCOTERMS
- 3+ years of experience leading a team.
- 2+ years of direct management of a compliance team or equivalent. Experience using data-driven process improvement methods, metrics, and automation (including AI-enabled tools where appropriate) to deliver measurable gains.
- Experience analyzing business problems using different tools (such as Microsoft Office, and statistical analysis) bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required
- Licensed Customs Broker strongly preferred. Equivalent experience leading large-scale importer compliance programs (ISA, CTPAT, valuation, classification, origin, and FTA governance) will also be considered.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to look at a computer screen for extended periods of time.
- Ability to maintain a composed and professional demeanor within a flexible and (at times noisy) work environment. Must be able to travel internationally and domestically utilizing various transportation methods.
Hiring range: $150,000 - $160,000 USD Annual
At Patagonia, pay ranges are assigned to a job based on the location specific market median of similar jobs according to 3rd party salary benchmark surveys. Individual pay within that range can vary for several reasons including skills/capabilities, experience, and available budget.
Benefits
Patagonia offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement and leave of absence plans. Benefit plans may vary slightly depending on the nature of your employment.
Workplace Location Overview
This position is Hybrid, with a standard schedule of Tuesday - Thursday on-site and remote work on other days. Occasional additional office visits may be required for team events or critical meetings.
Employee Conduct
It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers, and vendors.
Equal Employment Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.
