As part of our global team, you aren't stuck in the weeds of daily customs clearance; our local import teams handle that. Instead, you are the strategic brain overseeing the operations from regional. As our Global Trade Architect, you’ll be the "Data Detective" who loves diving into spreadsheets to spot the story—and the glitches—behind the numbers. You’ll act as a high-level partner to our local teams, providing the expert guidance and global standards needed to clear immediate bottlenecks and fix issues at the root. Ultimately, you will lead the charge in automating our manual workflows, transforming the team from paperwork-heavy "checkers" into strategic analysts who manage by exception.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Oversight & Governance

• Global Monitoring: Oversee the end-to-end flow of international trade without direct involvement in day-to-day clearance. Ensure local teams (consignees) are adhering to global compliance standards.

• Data-Driven Problem Solving: Use a strong sense of data to identify operational bottlenecks or compliance risks. You should see the "story" behind the numbers and suggest proactive solutions.

• Complex Ad-Hoc Resolution: Step in to resolve high-impact or non-routine problems that local teams cannot handle, acting as the subject matter expert.

• Strategic Reporting: Refine routine reporting into high-level dashboards that provide visibility into global performance for top management.

2. Process Transformation & Automation

• Operational Audit: Spend the initial phase learning the manual "as-is" logic of how GTPC oversees local teams. Identify areas where manual reporting can be replaced by automated data feeds.

• Automation Roadmap: Design and implement tools that reduce the manual workload for the GTPC team, moving from "checking documents" to "managing by exception."

• Systemic Improvement: Collaborate with IT and global stakeholders to build a "digital twin" of our compliance operations to reduce human error and increase speed.

3. Research & Strategic Advisory

• Mini-Research Projects: Lead investigative projects into new trade lanes, emerging regulations, or tax/duty optimization strategies (HTS/FTA).

• Strategic Playbook: Define the unified "plays" that ensure the foundational standards that local teams use to build seamless and compliant customs processes.

• Stakeholder Synergy: Partner closely with internal and external stakeholders to drive proactive problem-solving and turn departmental friction into smooth, efficient workflows.

4. Leadership & Ownership

• People Management: Lead a team of Assistant Managers and Executives, ensuring they transition from manual "checkers" to "analysts."

• Independent Thinking: Act as a partner to the business who doesn't wait for instructions. You are expected to own the GTPC roadmap and drive it forward.

• Influencing Local Teams: Exercise strong leadership to ensure local execution teams align with the global strategy and adoption of new automated tools.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in any discipline

• Knowledgeable and professional in customs requirements, HS classification, Origin rules, FTA study, customs valuation and other global trade knowledge.

• Experience in export/import regulations and regulatory compliance required. Working year >10 years. Industry background with some exposure to fast-moving consumer goods industry (FMCG) e.g. food, retail etc.

• Good leadership skills, and analytical thinking.

• Fluency in English writing and speaking. Can understand Mandarin will be an added advantage.