Customs Associate Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Associate Director, Cell Therapy Trade Compliance Operations
Introduction to role:
Are you ready to build a world-class trade compliance engine that keeps life-changing cell therapies moving on time to patients who are waiting? In this role, you will turn complexity into clarity-designing the operating model, shaping standards, and setting the pace for compliant, reliable import/export and FTZ execution across a growing cell therapy network.
You will own the execution cadence and first-line escalation framework that safeguards chain of identity and chain of custody while meeting strict regulatory expectations. Your leadership will ensure patient materials, critical manufacturing inputs, intermediates, and finished goods move precisely when and where they must-aligned to patient schedules and manufacturing timelines.
You will lead a high-performing team of Senior Specialists and partner across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Logistics, Quality, Tech Ops, and Digital to simplify workflows, scale through data and digitization, and strengthen vendor performance. Do you thrive at the intersection of regulation, operations, and data, where decisive action and sound judgment make an immediate difference?
Accountabilities:
- Trade compliance operating model: Build, maintain, and enforce the network operating model for import/export and FTZ activities. Establish execution rhythms, governance routines, escalation paths, and cross-site coverage to support daily continuity and reliable execution.
- Shipment and FTZ execution leadership: Lead shipment and FTZ execution across the network, including shipment booking coordination, slot alignment, broker management, exception resolution, and escalation support. Ensure activities are executed in line with 19 CFR Part 146, customs requirements, FDA/CBER import expectations, and internal procedures.
- People management: Provide direct people leadership for Senior Specialists supporting global trade compliance operations. Set priorities, clarify roles and accountabilities, coach performance, support development, and ensure effective workload balancing and cross-coverage across the network.
- Process improvement and scalability: Identify and implement process improvements that increase operational reliability, efficiency, control, and scalability. Simplify workflows, remove bottlenecks, standardize execution, and build processes that can support future site, volume, and shipment growth.
- Digitization and reporting: Partner with business and digital stakeholders to improve system workflows, operational reporting, KPI visibility, and exception tracking. Advance digitization opportunities that reduce manual effort, improve control, and enable more scalable and data-driven trade compliance operations.
- SOPs, work instructions, and playbooks: Develop, implement, and maintain SOPs, work instructions, training materials, and operational playbooks for shipment execution, FTZ processes, broker coordination, issue management, and business continuity. Ensure documentation remains current, practical, and aligned with regulatory and business requirements.
- Performance management and KPIs: Own dashboards and reporting for key operational metrics, including on-time shipment rate, exception closure time, FTZ execution performance, inventory accuracy, broker performance, hold rates, and duty deferral or avoidance value. Use data and supply chain analysis to identify trends, manage risk, and improve execution.
- Vendor and broker management: Oversee day-to-day operational performance of customs brokers, freight forwarders, and logistics vendors. Manage service issues and escalations, reinforce execution standards, and provide input to scorecards and performance reviews.
- Coverage and continuity: Ensure daily continuity of trade compliance operations across East and West Coast activities through effective resource planning, cross-cover, and incident coordination. Support urgent issues affecting patient materials, manufacturing inputs, critical shipments, or FTZ controls.
- Cross-functional leadership: Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Logistics, Quality, Tech Ops, and Digital teams to align trade compliance operations with patient schedules, manufacturing timelines, cryogenic handling requirements, and network priorities. Influence decisions through clear communication and sound judgment in complex or novel situations.
- Impact roadmap: Immediate focus on standardizing execution rhythms and broker governance; mid-term acceleration of automation, visibility, and KPI-driven management; longer term, design a scalable digital operating model that supports new sites, higher volumes, and increasing complexity.
Essential Skills/Experience:
- Minimum education: a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, International Business, Life Sciences, Logistics, Engineering, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience in customs brokerage, import/export operations, trade compliance, global logistics, or supply chain operations in a regulated environment
- Strong experience with FTZ or bonded operations, customs entry processes, broker governance, and import/export execution
- Demonstrated experience leading operating models, process improvement, digitization, and scalable business processes
- Clear communication, stakeholder management, sound judgment, and the ability to lead within a matrixed organization are essential.
Desirable Skills/Experience:
- Experience in biopharma, advanced therapies, temperature-controlled logistics, or other complex regulated supply chains preferred
- Understanding of 19 CFR Part 146, HTS classification, customs valuation, origin, and FDA/CBER import requirements is preferred.
- Patient focus and integrity: Protects chain of identity, chain of custody, product quality, and data integrity in support of patient timelines.
- Deliver results: Ensures shipment and FTZ activities are completed accurately, on time, and through a disciplined operating model.
- Problem solving and judgment: Anticipates risks, resolves operational issues, and makes sound evaluative judgments in complex or novel situations.
- Collaborate and influence: Communicates effectively within the team and influences stakeholders, brokers, carriers, and partners to achieve compliant and reliable execution.
- Data and digital: Uses data, reporting, and digitization to strengthen visibility, control, and decision-making.
- Operational leadership: Provides leadership, direction, motivation, and development within the function while building scalable ways of working for future growth.
The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from 115,919.2 to 173878.8 USD. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives-an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.
Why AstraZeneca:
Here, you are trusted to take accountability and make change real-pairing scientific ambition with digital innovation to speed therapies to patients. You will work with expert partners across disciplines, using data, automation, and practical problem-solving to reimagine how critical materials flow through a complex, regulated network. We move decisively and learn fast, valuing kindness alongside ambition, so you can contribute boldly, grow your craft, and see the impact of your decisions reflected in patient outcomes and enterprise progress.
Call to Action:
If you are ready to design, lead, and scale a disciplined, data-driven trade compliance operation that keeps cell therapies moving to patients, take the next step and share your story with us today.
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Date Posted
02-Jun-2026
Closing Date
28-Jun-2026
Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.