Global Trade Manager

Global Trade Manager

Wolverine Worldwide is a global footwear and apparel company driven by a vision to Make. Every Day. Better. Founded in 1883, the Company builds and grows iconic brands including Merrell, Saucony, Wolverine, Sweaty Betty, Chaco, Hush Puppies, Stride Rite, HYTEST, and Bates, along with footwear licenses for Cat and Harley-Davidson. Headquartered in Rockford, Michigan, the Company's products are sold in approximately 170 countries and territories worldwide.

The Global Trade Manager provides strategic leadership for the company's global trade compliance program and trade operations across all regions. This position leads a team of trade professionals and specialists, ensuring compliance with international import and export regulations, customs requirements, export controls, free trade agreements, and sanctions programs. The Manager is responsible for supporting and executing global trade strategies, managing regulatory risk, overseeing trade compliance initiatives, and driving continuous improvement across trade operations. By aligning trade programs with business objectives, this role protects the company from regulatory exposure, enables global supply chain efficiency, and supports sustainable international growth.

Primary Duties:

• Manage a team of global trade professionals and specialists, providing coaching, performance management, and career development.
• Establish team goals, allocate resources, and ensure alignment with strategic business priorities and compliance objectives.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on compliance, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across global trade functions.

Global Trade Strategy & Execution:

• Direct and optimize global import and export operations, ensuring efficient execution of customs processes, classification, valuation, country of origin determination, and broker management activities.
• Support implementation of global trade strategies developed by department leadership that align with business goals while ensuring compliance with international trade regulations and operational requirements.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Logistics, Legal, Finance, Sourcing, and commercial teams to support business growth, market expansion, and trade compliance objectives.
• Monitor global trade activities, regulatory developments, and geopolitical factors to identify risks and opportunities and adjust strategies proactively.

Compliance Management:

• Oversee compliance with international trade regulations, including customs laws, export controls, sanctions, anti-boycott regulations, and free trade agreement requirements.
• Support maintenance and improvements of the company's global trade compliance program, including policies, procedures, controls, and governance frameworks.
• Identify, manage, and escalate complex trade compliance matters and coordinate resolution with internal stakeholders, legal counsel, and regulatory authorities.

Risk Management & Regulatory Oversight:

• Lead efforts to identify, assess, and mitigate trade compliance risks across global operations.
• Oversee internal investigations related to trade compliance issues, disclosures, corrective actions, and regulatory inquiries.
• Provide strategic guidance to leadership regarding trade compliance risks, regulatory changes, and business implications.

Process Improvement & Technology:

• Drive initiatives to streamline trade processes, improve operational efficiency, and enhance compliance effectiveness.
• Champion the implementation and optimization of global trade management systems, automation tools, and digital solutions.
• Oversee the development and analysis of compliance and operational performance dashboards, providing actionable insights and strategic recommendations to leadership for continuous improvement and risk mitigation.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Partner with Supply Chain, Logistics, Legal, Finance, Sourcing, commercial teams, customs brokers, and other stakeholders to support trade compliance execution, resolve operational questions, and reinforce established policies and procedures.
• Manage relationships with customs brokers, freight forwarders, trade consultants, government agencies, and other external trade partners.

Audit & Regulatory Engagement:

• Coordinate the preparation and coordination of internal and external trade compliance audits, assessments, and regulatory reviews, ensuring audit readiness through accurate documentation, strong controls, and proactive process improvements.

Training & Program Development:

• Oversee the creation and maintenance of trade compliance training programs, SOPs, playbooks, and best practices to ensure consistent execution globally. Promote a culture of compliance, learning, and continuous improvement.

Strategic Execution:

• Implement the Global Trade strategy to support business objectives by overseeing key trade compliance functions while aligning trade initiatives, analytics, and reporting with broader supply chain and organizational goals.
• Contribute to long-term trade planning by developing business cases for system enhancements, automation initiatives, regulatory compliance investments, and global expansion activities. Collaborate with senior leadership to shape trade strategy and support enterprise-wide initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Supply Chain Management, International Business, Logistics, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in Global Trade, Customs Compliance, International Logistics, Supply Chain, or related disciplines.
• 2+ years of supervisory or team leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, and team development.
• Preferred: U.S. Customs Broker License (LCB), Certified Customs Specialist (CCS), Certified Export Specialist (CES), or other relevant trade compliance certifications.
• Strategic Communication: Communicates regulatory requirements, compliance risks, and strategic priorities effectively across all levels of the organization. Translates complex trade regulations into actionable business guidance.
• Team Leadership: Builds and develops high-performing teams through coaching, mentorship, accountability, and talent development. Promotes collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement while providing strategic direction and operational oversight.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism while building strong relationships across functions and influencing key stakeholders. Balances independent decision-making with collaborative leadership.
• Global Trade Compliance Expertise: Deep knowledge of customs regulations, export controls, sanctions, free trade agreements, and international trade laws. Provides proactive guidance to leadership on regulatory exposure and compliance strategies.
• Risk Management: Identifies, assesses, and mitigates trade compliance risks while strengthening governance, controls, and regulatory readiness across global operations.
• Process Optimization: Leads cross-functional initiatives to improve trade processes, system capabilities, and operational efficiencies while ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Data Analysis: Synthesizes complex trade, compliance, and operational data to inform strategic decisions, identify trends, measure program effectiveness, and uncover opportunities for improvement.
• Strategic Program Leadership: Oversees major trade compliance programs, business initiatives, and regulatory projects, ensuring alignment of resources, timelines, and deliverables with organizational objectives.

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment. Some travel is required.

Wolverine Worldwide has a flexible, hybrid work schedule, with three days in office and two days remote.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.

Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. is committed to creating a company that is as diverse as our consumers. We value the differences in one another and believe our differences make us stronger. Our diverse and inclusive corporate culture starts with the recruitment process. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We aim to create equal opportunities for our associates, customers, and suppliers regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic.