Senior Global Customs Compliance Manager

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka. 

We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.

Bio: The Senior Global Customs Compliance Manager is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and oversight of a robust global import and export compliance framework across all countries where Sazerac operates as the importer of record or exporter of goods. This leadership role ensures alignment with international customs regulations, internal controls, and strategic business objectives, while proactively identifying risk, driving cost efficiency, and ensuring operational continuity.  Ensure that the Company’s Customs Bonded Warehouses and Foreign Trade Zones operate in strict compliance with all applicable customs regulations, and that duties and taxes are properly calculated, reported, and paid.  Develop and lead global strategies that identify duty savings opportunities, optimize customs valuation practices, and reduce costs through the use of tariff engineering, import and export regimes, and other preferential trade programs. Provide leadership and direct management of multiple compliance coordinators across various company sites, ensuring consistent execution of customs policies and timely resolution of operational challenges. Serving as a key advisor to supply chain, legal, and finance teams on matters related to trade regulations, risk mitigation, and customs policy shifts that may impact commercial operations.

• Lead performance reviews with direct reports to strengthen skills, drive performance, and support ongoing growth. Leverage tools such as MyPerformance for consistent evaluations, effective performance conversations, progress tracking, and action planning.
• Develop and implement global policies to ensure compliance with import/export regulations and the management of U.S. Customs Bonded Warehouses and Foreign Trade Zones. Oversee audits, training, and export documentation accuracy. Ensure proper classification, valuation, and tax liability claims, including CBMA tax credits. Lead annual physical inventories and ensure reporting compliance with TTB and other regulatory bodies. Serve as liaison on trade policy changes and compliance risks.
• Collaborate with global teams to develop and implement export compliance policies and procedures. Provide training and oversight to ensure consistent execution across regions. Strengthen the export compliance program to reduce global out-of-stocks, improve supply continuity, and ensure alignment with regulatory requirements.
• Efficient and compliant flow of products globally will reduce out of stock situations.
• Partner with Human Resources Business Partner & Talent Acquisition to ensure thorough candidate evaluations are occurring in the hiring process leading to high-quality candidates and good hiring decisions. Ensures use of Sazerac hiring and staffing system and processes.
• Provide mentorship, training, and growth opportunities to support individual career development within Sazerac. Leverage My Career to understand team members’ goals and development plans, and actively work to build, retain, and advance key talent and successors across the organization.
• Drive continuous improvement of global import and export compliance processes to align with the company’s strategic objectives. Enhance and refine procedures related to customs regulations, bonded warehouses, and CBMA tax credit assignments. Provide training, conduct audits, and serve as the primary point of contact for process optimization across global trade functions.
• Establish and communicate clear priorities, projects, and timelines for both yourself and the broader compliance team. Ensure alignment across functions by setting expectations, assigning ownership, and providing timely updates to key stakeholders. Monitor progress, remove roadblocks, and deliver results that support business and regulatory objectives.

MUST

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements, import/export regulations, and compliance standards relevant to the spirits industry.
• 10 years relevant experience (minimum)
• Bachelor’s degree in international business, supply chain, business administration, or related field
• Experience managing multi-country customs programs and compliance across diverse regulatory frameworks
• Deep knowledge of customs laws, tariff classification, valuation, origin determination, and ftz/bonded warehouse programs
• Proven leadership experience, including managing direct reports and influencing cross-functional teams
• Strong knowledge of u.s. regulations (cbp, ttb, ear) and trade programs (e.g., usmca, cbma)
• Experience preparing for and managing customs audits and inquiries

PREFERRED

• Master’s degree in business, law, or a related field
• Licensed customs broker (u.s.)
• Certifications such as cuseco, ctcs, or certified trade compliance specialist
• Experience with sap gts, oracle gtm, or other global trade management systems
• Demonstrated cost-saving initiatives (e.g., duty drawback, tariff engineering, compliance automation)
• Experience advising legal, finance, and executive leadership on global trade strategy and regulatory risk
• Involvement in government affairs or external customs committees

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel (up to 25%)

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