Purpose of this Function:
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is seeking a proven professional with Customs Compliance experience. You will part of a dynamic team that is responsible for ensuring corporate compliance to the rules and regulations of Customs and other government agencies while providing guidance to achieve lowest landed cost for a complex and broad product line.
The ideal candidate must have proven ability to think and perform strategically and will have at least 3 years’ experience in compliance role for a major retail company.
The performance expectations of this position include; acting with a sense of urgency while maintaining high compliance and due diligence, analyzing and determining root causes, thinking and planning strategically, elevating operational issues effectively and fostering positive communication between internal and external business partners.
Purpose of the Job:
Seek out and implement cost savings through Free Trade Programs and Duty Drawback. Establish review protocols for benefit analysis and risk mitigation. Develop and execute procedures and process to achieve greatest possible savings.
Key Responsibilities:
- Review/audit declarations from vendors that support duty free treatment of imported products under various Free Trade Agreements and obtain supporting documents related to these Free Trade Agreements.
- Assist customs team to review documentation and information related to customs compliance.
- Work with foreign vendors to resolve various import country compliance delays while working to improve overall data quality. Implement procedures to increase customs compliance.
- Develop and execute procedures that mitigate risk and demonstrate reasonable care standards for a global market.
- Define and implement metrics to demonstrate cost savings and promote cost savings opportunities.
- Establish & maintain relationships with both internal & external business partners such as suppliers, sourcing, finance etc. to facilitate success of operations & cost savings programs
- Keep current with changes in regulations and new regulatory obligations assumed through Global Expansion. Implement new policies and procedures accordingly.
- Work with global customs compliance team to manage US regulatory requirements related to CTPAT – Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, Annual Notification Letter, and other trade programs.
- Other duties as assigned.
Who Will You Work With:
You will work with multiple stakeholders, both internal and external. Internally, this role will partner closely with WSGO teams, such as Global Inventory team, Supply Chain team, International Transportation, etc. Externally, this role will require close partnership with WSI’s Customs Compliance partners and suppliers.
Desirable Qualifications and Competencies:
- Three years minimum experience in working in a compliance role for a retail company.
- Demonstrated experience in effectively working across multiple functions to achieve results.
- Knowledge of rules and regulations that govern Free Trade Programs.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and drive change based on findings.
- Excellent communication skills, ability to write, speak, and present effectively and persuasively with all levels of leadership and external partners.
- Good Leadership skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Tools –Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
- Knowledge of import and export regulations of other countries is a plus.
