Lead Trade Compliance Specialist

Title: Lead Trade Compliance SpecialistLocation: ChicagoShift: 1st Shift - Hybrid schedule, 3 days in office, 2 at homeHire Type: Direct HirePay Rate: $120,000–$130,000 per yearCompensation & Benefits: - Hybrid schedule- Full medical, dental and vision and life insurance coverage - Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) with 3% of salary in company stock- Paid 7-10 day shutdown in December each year- Matching 401k up to 6%- Available ½ days, Flexible PTO, 10 paid holidays, 5 sick daysSterling Engineering is hiring a Lead Trade Compliance Specialist for a highly respected, global manufacturer with a strong presence in the energy and industrial sectors for more than 100 years. This is a rare opportunity to step into a high-impact role where you’ll have full ownership to build and shape a trade compliance function from the ground up. If you enjoy solving complex problems, creating structure in unstructured environments, and driving real organizational change. This role offers visibility, autonomy, and long-term career growth in a stable, industry-leading company.Key Responsibilities:Lead and rebuild the company’s trade compliance function, establishing scalable processes and best practicesServe as the subject matter expert on import/export regulations, compliance controls, and documentationDevelop and standardize product classification processes (HTS, Schedule B, HS codes)Clean, validate, and organize large datasets to ensure accurate classification and duty optimizationCreate and improve workflows for trade documentation (Certificates of Origin, affidavits, invoices, etc.)Evaluate and correct import/export documentation to ensure compliance and audit readinessOversee post-entry corrections, duty drawback opportunities, and reconciliation processesDevelop KPIs, dashboards, and reporting tools to track compliance performance and risk areasSupport internal and external audits, implementing corrective actions and long-term improvementsPartner with legal, supply chain, procurement, and finance teams to ensure regulatory complianceManage relationships with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and external partnersMonitor regulatory changes (CBP, BIS, OFAC, EAR) and implement necessary process updatesTrain and educate internal teams on trade compliance requirements and best practicesQualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, International Trade, or related field7+ years of experience in trade compliance, import/export, or global logisticsStrong knowledge of U.S. trade regulations (CBP, BIS, EAR, OFAC, FTA, valuation, origin rules)Expertise in HTS, Schedule B, and HS classification systemsExperience building or improving trade compliance programs, processes, and documentation workflowsStrong data analysis skills (Excel, pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data cleansing)Experience working with ERP systems (Oracle, SAP, or similar)Knowledge of duty drawback, post-entry corrections, and audit processesExperience managing broker and freight forwarder relationshipsAbility to work in ambiguous environments and build structured, scalable solutionsHelpful Credentials and Skills:Certified Customs Specialist (CCS) or Licensed Customs BrokerCertified International Trade Professional (CITP)Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)Experience with Global Trade Management (GTM) systemsQualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.