North America Customs Systems Lead

The ICT Corporate Systems (CORF) Customs Systems Lead serves as the technical and functional lead for North American customs systems, providing strategic oversight, solution leadership, and operational governance for mission-critical import/export platforms. This role is accountable for end-to-end system ownership, ensuring operational continuity, compliance, data integrity, and alignment with evolving business and regulatory requirements.

The role partners closely with North American Customs Operations, Logistics & Export Operations, external customs brokers, consulting and audit partners, and strategic suppliers to deliver scalable and secure customs technology solutions supporting vehicle and parts cross-border operations.

As a senior SME and trusted advisor, this position drives modernization initiatives, process standardization, and enterprise-wide improvements that enhance customs compliance, operational efficiency, and duty optimization outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical & Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary technical and functional authority for North American customs systems and related integrations.
• Provide strategic solution direction, governance, and decision-making support for mission- and business-critical customs processes.
• Lead cross-functional alignment between ICT, Customs Operations, Logistics, external brokers, and strategic vendors.
• Influence enterprise customs technology strategy and roadmap planning.
• Operational Ownership & Production Support
• Ensure stability, availability, and performance of customs systems supporting vehicle and parts import/export operations and production schedules.
• Lead production incident, problem, and risk management activities for critical operational issues.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and long-term process and system improvements.
• Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, audit, and enterprise operational standards.

Compliance & Trade Operations

• Support key compliance pillars including:
  
  
  
  • Mandatory Declarations
  • USMCA enforcement
  • Trade security initiatives
  • Free Trade Agreement (FTA) compliance
  • Duty recovery and optimization
  • Customs reporting and audit support
  
  
  
  
• Partner with business stakeholders to ensure systems align with changing customs regulations and operational requirements.
• Support audit readiness and regulatory compliance activities across North American operations.

Solution Delivery & Modernization

• Translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions and executable delivery plans.
• Lead modernization initiatives leveraging automation, analytics, AI, and data quality improvements.
• Drive standardization and simplification of customs processes and systems across regions where feasible.
• Oversee supplier delivery execution, ensuring alignment to scope, timelines, budget, and quality expectations.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Act as the primary liaison between ICT leadership, customs business teams, and external strategic suppliers.
• Provide concise executive-level communication regarding project status, operational risks, escalations, and key decisions.
• Ensure vendors and service providers meet SLAs, cybersecurity standards, operational requirements, and delivery expectations.
• Mentor and guide junior analysts, project contributors, and support teams as needed.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Supply Chain, Logistics, Finance, Business, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience supporting enterprise business systems, operational platforms, or mission-critical applications in automotive, manufacturing, logistics, or industrial environments.
• Proven experience serving as a lead SME, systems owner, or technical lead for business-critical applications.
• Strong understanding of customs operations, trade compliance, import/export processes, or cross-border logistics.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Excellent communication, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Experience managing vendors, external partners, or strategic suppliers in a complex enterprise environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting customs brokerage systems, trade compliance platforms, or global logistics technologies.
• Knowledge of USMCA, Free Trade Agreements, customs regulations, and duty recovery processes.
• Experience with ERP integrations, EDI/API integrations, and enterprise data management.
• Familiarity with automation technologies, AI-enabled solutions, analytics platforms, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience with ITIL processes, production support governance, and operational service management.

The ICT Corporate Systems (CORF) Customs Systems Lead serves as the technical and functional lead for North American customs systems, providing strategic oversight, solution leadership, and operational governance for mission-critical import/export platforms. This role is accountable for end-to-end system ownership, ensuring operational continuity, compliance, data integrity, and alignment with evolving business and regulatory requirements.

The role partners closely with North American Customs Operations, Logistics & Export Operations, external customs brokers, consulting and audit partners, and strategic suppliers to deliver scalable and secure customs technology solutions supporting vehicle and parts cross-border operations.

As a senior SME and trusted advisor, this position drives modernization initiatives, process standardization, and enterprise-wide improvements that enhance customs compliance, operational efficiency, and duty optimization outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical & Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary technical and functional authority for North American customs systems and related integrations.
• Provide strategic solution direction, governance, and decision-making support for mission- and business-critical customs processes.
• Lead cross-functional alignment between ICT, Customs Operations, Logistics, external brokers, and strategic vendors.
• Influence enterprise customs technology strategy and roadmap planning.
• Operational Ownership & Production Support
• Ensure stability, availability, and performance of customs systems supporting vehicle and parts import/export operations and production schedules.
• Lead production incident, problem, and risk management activities for critical operational issues.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and long-term process and system improvements.
• Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, audit, and enterprise operational standards.

Compliance & Trade Operations

• Support key compliance pillars including:
  
  
  
  • Mandatory Declarations
  • USMCA enforcement
  • Trade security initiatives
  • Free Trade Agreement (FTA) compliance
  • Duty recovery and optimization
  • Customs reporting and audit support
  
  
  
  
• Partner with business stakeholders to ensure systems align with changing customs regulations and operational requirements.
• Support audit readiness and regulatory compliance activities across North American operations.

Solution Delivery & Modernization

• Translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions and executable delivery plans.
• Lead modernization initiatives leveraging automation, analytics, AI, and data quality improvements.
• Drive standardization and simplification of customs processes and systems across regions where feasible.
• Oversee supplier delivery execution, ensuring alignment to scope, timelines, budget, and quality expectations.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Act as the primary liaison between ICT leadership, customs business teams, and external strategic suppliers.
• Provide concise executive-level communication regarding project status, operational risks, escalations, and key decisions.
• Ensure vendors and service providers meet SLAs, cybersecurity standards, operational requirements, and delivery expectations.
• Mentor and guide junior analysts, project contributors, and support teams as needed.