Director, Global Logistics & Customs Compliance

Position Summary:

The Director, Global Logistics & Customs Compliance is responsible for overseeing and optimizing global performance, cost and compliance in transportation, international trade activities (imports, exports & duties optimization), and our Foreign Trade Zones. Driving both the performance and strategy in these areas, the Director will partner closely with internal regional teams and external partners (carriers, brokers, Customs and Border agencies) to deliver operational performance with cost efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and optimize global logistics strategies to support organizational goals, emphasizing efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Provide Logistics and Customs Compliance leadership in a matrix organization, collaborating effectively across the organization to drive results with and through others.
• Ensure compliance with transportation industry standards and quality requirements, drawing on a robust understanding of transportation supply chain practices and legal frameworks.
• Build and sustain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including cross-functional teams, suppliers, and logistics providers.
• Develop strategy for all freight-related elements for the business including costs, quality, capacity, operations, etc.
• Collaborate with procurement partners to lead contract negotiations and contract review for existing and new providers.
• Scout, qualify and onboard carriers and new service providers to provide diverse solutions whilst balancing the need to leverage consolidation for cost economies
• Lead freight contracts, cost, and capacity negotiations for all logistics-related services with NVOCCs and VOCCs, including ocean & air freight, land transport, warehousing, transloading, customs brokerage etc.
• Collaborate with Sales and Project Managers to optimize freight costs & capacity for strategic projects, transfers and customer initiatives.
• Collaborate with the rest of the operations teams to devise supply strategies to optimize total landed costs and meet the required delivery schedule.
• Manage relationships with third-party customs brokers, carriers and foreign trade zone partners, ensuring performance standards are met, and any service issues are promptly resolved and communicated. Conduct quarterly business reviews.
• Foster a results-driven yet collaborative team culture by balancing a sense of urgency with the ability to de-escalate and reassure during high-stakes situations.
• Maintain relationships, conduct quarterly business reviews, and ensure active measurement of performance for all service providers.
• Independently manage escalations from the operations team by analyzing root causes, mitigating risks, and ensuring resolution.
• Leverage data to track KPIs, monitor performance, identify trends and provide insights to senior leadership.
• Keep abreast of pertinent regulations, such as tariff applications, and respond accordingly to update all departments that are affected by the changes.
• Closely monitor and identify new technologies to continuously improve capabilities and automation in support of the business. (track & trace technology, last mile logistics, claims mitigation, FBAP, Control Towers)
• Other duties as assigned
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Logistics or Trade Management
• >10 years of domestic and international Logistics experience in a high-performance, results-driven organization; preferably in automotive or electronics industry
• >5 years of leadership experience in a discipline of Logistics Management, preferably Automotive
• Fluent English Language
• Strong working knowledge of Import/Export activities and Foreign Trade Zones
• Strong working knowledge of duty drawback and duty optimization strategies
• Strong working knowledge of CTPAT and other US trade programs Robust network of industry contacts, including freight forwarders, customs brokers, government agencies, and other key stakeholders
• Experience with Fourkites, Project44 or similar transportation platforms and TMS systems
• Experience of managing Global transportation bid processes.
• Experience of driving Continuous Process Improvements to deliver business change
• Experience in the automotive or electronics industry with a deep understanding of logistics network optimization and third-party performance management.
• Proven ability to lead in a large, matrixed organization, with a strong track record of collaboration, influence, and results.
• Skilled in managing a multi-cultural team, with sensitivity to diverse perspectives and an inclusive leadership style.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally (~20% travel, higher during first 6 months to meet the local teams)
• Provide subject matter expertise on special trade programs and partner with trade compliance teams to keep current on the rapidly changing trade environment, trade-related regulatory and legislative changes, customs rulings, and court decisions; assess and communicate impacts to key stakeholders and take appropriate actions to deliver required changes to maintain efficient/compliant processes for import, export and transportation
• Review and develop organizational structure to ensure current and future business needs are met
• In coordination with the leadership team, create and drive the culture of people, performance, compliance, and improvement

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage regional operational Logistics teams, within a dynamic matrix organization, to support daily operations while meeting both plant and functional performance goals.
• Strong capability to work and influence cross-functionally and drive continuous process and system improvements.
• Excellent skills in planning, roadmap development, and the tactical execution to implement complex initiatives
• Extensive knowledge of TMS, Control Tower and Network Optimization software solutions.
• Capable of adapting and effectively responding to rapid changes in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Spanish or Arabic Language would be an advantage
• Supply chain certifications e.g. APICS CPIM / CSCP
• MSc in Supply-Chain, Logistics or MBA
• Advance knowledge of, and experience in implementing, digital supply chain systems
• 3-5 years' experience planning, leading, and executing global supply chain initiatives

The base pay hiring rate expected for this position is: $156k to $180k. This position is eligible to participate in an incentive plan.Metrics and level of participation are determined annually.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Frequent hand motion and repetitive tasks including using a computer for typing. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally do immediate reaching and overhead reaching to perform various duties, frequent standing for varied amounts of time to perform various duties, frequent walking for varied amounts of time to perform various duties. Squat or bend to perform various duties. Occasionally climb stairs.

Benefits and Perks

Methode offers US employees Medical, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Life & Disability insurance, a wellness program, and time off benefits.

Voluntary benefit plans include Accident, Hospital Indemnity and Pet Insurance.

Methode provides an Employee Assistance Program, and participation in the Company's 401(k) plan which includes a company contribution.

Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.

Methode Electronics is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics per the EEO Poster available here . If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting@methode.com or call (708) 867-6777 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.