Senior Trade Advisor – Customs Brokerage
Reports to: Trade Services Director
Role type: People Manager
Location: Valley Stream, NY In Office Presence: Hybrid
Overview
The Senior Trade Advisor delivers specialized trade compliance and customs advisory services to clients across a range of industries and supply chains. Reporting to the Director of Trade Services, this role independently executes assigned client projects and provides technical expertise across classification and product compliance, customs valuation, country of origin and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) qualification, duty optimization and reconciliation, compliance assessments, and trade compliance program development.
The Senior Trade Advisor applies sound technical judgment, communicates complex regulatory requirements clearly, and maintains accountability for project scope, timelines, and deliverables. The role also supports recurring client advisory needs, develops practical solutions to complex trade compliance challenges, and helps clients strengthen compliance practices while identifying opportunities to mitigate risk and optimize duty exposure.
Candidates may bring deep expertise in particular areas of the advisory portfolio; expertise across every service offering is not required.
Key Responsibilities
Trade Compliance & Technical Advisory
- Independently execute client projects across assigned service areas, including HTS classification, product compliance, customs valuation, country-of-origin determination, and FTA qualification.
- Analyze applicable customs regulations, CBP rulings, trade agreements, and other regulatory requirements to develop technically sound, practical recommendations for clients.
- Identify opportunities for duty optimization, duty recovery, reconciliation, and other strategies to improve clients’ trade compliance and cost-management outcomes.
- Research complex trade questions and translate regulatory requirements into clear guidance, recommendations, and actionable next steps.
- Monitor relevant regulatory developments and assess their potential impact on clients’ products, supply chains, and compliance programs.
- Review and validate product master and customs data to identify classification, origin, and PGA discrepancies.
- Support data remediation and ongoing governance to maintain data accuracy and compliance.
Client Project Management & Advisory Support - Manage assigned projects from scoping through completion, maintaining accountability for project plans, deadlines, deliverables, and client expectations.
- Serve as a trusted technical resource for client stakeholders, communicating findings, recommendations, and regulatory considerations clearly and professionally.
- Provide recurring advisory support to clients on trade compliance questions, regulatory changes, emerging risks, and opportunities for process improvement.
- Conduct client compliance assessments, evaluate existing practices, identify gaps, and develop prioritized recommendations and improvement roadmaps.
- Support client discussions involving complex compliance matters, including CBP inquiries, post-entry issues, audit findings, and other regulatory concerns, as applicable to the engagement.
- Coordinate with internal colleagues and client stakeholders to obtain necessary information, resolve questions, and deliver high-quality advisory services.
Compliance Programs, Procedures & Training
- Develop and improve client-specific trade compliance programs, policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and supporting documentation.
- Design and deliver training on customs compliance, classification, valuation, origin and FTA requirements, and other relevant trade topics based on client needs.
- Recommend practical controls and process improvements to address compliance gaps, strengthen internal accountability, and reduce regulatory exposure.
- Support the implementation of advisory recommendations and help clients evaluate their effectiveness over time.
Duty Optimization & Specialized Advisory Projects
- Evaluate opportunities for duty savings and recovery through classification reviews, valuation analysis, FTA qualification, reconciliation, and other applicable trade programs.
- Analyze client data, transactional records, product information, and supporting documentation to identify potential compliance issues and optimization opportunities.
- Prepare project findings, supporting analyses, and recommendations that clearly articulate potential impacts, risks, and implementation considerations.
- Contribute specialized technical expertise to client engagements based on individual experience and strengths across the broader trade advisory portfolio.
Collaboration & Service Development
- Collaborate with the Director of Trade Services and other internal stakeholders to scope engagements, prioritize client needs, and deliver advisory projects effectively.
- Contribute technical expertise to client proposals, presentations, business development discussions, and the development of advisory service offerings.
- Develop reusable methodologies, templates, guidance materials, and other resources that support consistent, high-quality client deliverables.
- Share relevant regulatory insights and technical knowledge with colleagues to strengthen the team’s collective advisory capabilities.
Qualifications
Required
- 5+ years of relevant experience in customs brokerage, international trade compliance, global trade management, or trade advisory consulting.
- Demonstrated technical expertise in one or more areas of trade compliance, such as HTS classification, product compliance, customs valuation, country of origin, FTA qualification, duty optimization, reconciliation, or compliance assessments.
- Experience independently managing projects, analyzing complex issues, developing recommendations, and delivering client-facing work products.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex regulatory requirements to varied audiences.
- Demonstrated accountability for project scope, deadlines, deliverable quality, and client commitments.
- Strong analytical, research, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Preferred - Licensed Customs Broker (LCB).
- Experience developing or evaluating trade compliance programs, SOPs, internal controls, and training materials.
- Experience conducting compliance assessments, identifying duty-saving opportunities, or supporting duty recovery initiatives.
- Experience advising clients with complex or highly regulated supply chains, including industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, aerospace, food and beverage, or other regulated sectors.
- Familiarity with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processes, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), Automated Broker Interface (ABI), and relevant trade compliance systems.
- Experience with global trade management systems, compliance automation tools, or trade data analysis.
Key Competencies - Technical judgment: Applies regulatory knowledge, analytical reasoning, and practical experience to develop defensible recommendations.
- Client communication: Explains complex issues clearly, manages expectations, and builds credibility with client stakeholders.
- Project ownership: Independently manages assigned work, anticipates challenges, and delivers quality results within agreed timelines and scope.
- Analytical problem-solving: Evaluates data, documentation, and regulatory requirements to identify risks, root causes, and opportunities.
- Adaptability: Applies specialized expertise across different client needs and advisory engagements without requiring mastery of every service offering.
- Collaboration: Works effectively with internal colleagues and client teams to deliver coordinated, practical solutions.
- Continuous improvement: Identifies ways to improve advisory methodologies, client deliverables, and the effectiveness of trade compliance programs.
Why This Role Matters
This role turns trade expertise into practical client solutions, delivering high-quality advisory projects that strengthen compliance, identify duty-saving opportunities, and support the growth of Alba’s trade services business. They protect clients from costly compliance failures, unlock duty‑saving opportunities, and ensure the brokerage maintains the highest standards of accuracy and integrity. Their expertise directly influences client trust, operational excellence, and the brokerage’s competitive advantage.
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