Senior Manager Global Trade Operations

At Western Digital, we are on a mission to unlock the potential of data so people, companies and organizations everywhere can create what’s next. To fulfill our vision, we are always on the lookout for potential team members who share our passion for solving problems to empower others.

When you join Western Digital, you join a legacy more than 50 years in the making. Across our Western Digital®, SanDisk®, SanDisk® Professional, WD® and WD_BLACK™ brands, we have brought some of the most storied advancements in memory and data storage technology to market—and our best, most innovative work is yet to come.

From energizing gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Here’s how you can help.

Role can be remote, but San Jose or Irvine is preferred.

Western Digital is seeking a Senior Manager for their Global Trade Operations Organization. This is position is a pivotal role within the organization at it aims to derive business value through compliance practices.  In this role the incumbent must possess an amalgamation of subject matter expertise in the area of Import and Export operations and compliance with a flair for business facilitation, data analytics and team management.

This is a global role and the incumbent will manage a team of regional trade experts and lead them in paving the path for supporting WD’s business units and functions in managing their trade compliance obligations with US Export and customs compliance and other local country regulations and requirements and create business value by pro-active engagement, regulatory monitoring and developing initiates/projects that support market accessibility, mitigates risk for the organization and derives cost effectiveness.

You will be an integral member of the Global Logistics/Global Trade Operations team and report to the Senior Director Transportation and Trade Operations.

We are looking for a highly motivated and a self-driven candidate, who is able to imbibe the corporate vision and execute on the organization’s strategy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• High working knowledge of international import/export operations and must be able to effectively troubleshoot any issues that may arise in international trade and transportation.
• Responsible for customs and trade operations support in United States and International locations  
• Develop strategies and actionable plans to support compliant and efficient international movement of products and services through partnership with internal and external stakeholders.
• Engages with internal stakeholders to provide consultation and guidance in managing their compliance obligations.
• Interface with freight forwarders, US government officials, custom brokers, internal and external customers on all matters pertaining to import and export regulations.
• The job entails managing and executing on both operational tasks and problem-solving, as situations arise.
• Design a global customs brokerage, forwarder, and logistic partner program with the intent to deploy and support trade operations.
• Responsible for Key Performance Indicators (KPI) with a goal to drive ongoing process improvement.
• Evaluate new government and trade compliance requirements to ensure standard operating procedures are updated accordingly.
• Partner with the legal team to understand the regulatory changes that impact business and engage internal functions to develop and execute defined procedures.
• Serve as a functional expert in Global Trade matters for the region by using experience and knowledge of customs regulations, as well as other partner governmental agencies, to promote increased compliant market access for efficient flow of goods across borders.
• Drive improvements on cost, lead time and process efficiency through data analytics, automated tool utilization and robust data management
• Build communications, training plans and desk/standard operating procedures to ensure all internal and external partners are aware and aligned to trade compliance governance processes.
• Work in collaboration with leadership, product and business teams, and external partners to create and enforce regional trade compliance
• Build, track and maintain content and metrics to monitor for actionable insights that enhance the trade compliance experience for customers and partners.
• Monitor proposed changes in import and export control law and regulations and assesses the impact of these proposed changes on the Company's business.
• Manage daily tasks related to providing trade compliance governance guidance of all global governance standards and programs implemented, including conducting research, updating status reports, and coordinating team deliverables.
• Assist with technology, product classification, including Harmonized Commodity Codes (HTS, Schedule B, ECCN) classifications specific to in country requirements.
• Proactively identify and drive automation, accuracy, friction reduction, and process improvement initiatives

Experience & Expertise

• Deep technical knowledge of global customs, import and export topics, including incoterms, valuation, classification, country of origin, free-trade agreements, export controls, licensing, and sanctions
• Approximately 10 or more years of related work experience in industry, a professional services firm, a Fortune 500 company or a major importer or exporter
• Being informed on current on global trade developments and work to identify savings opportunities and compliance improvements
• Excellent team leader with great organizational skills, strong motivation to succeed, and ability to cultivate strong internal and external relationships
• Flexibility to work with colleagues around the world, foreign language capabilities a plus
• Experience with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Foreign Assets Control, or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and similar organizations in other countries
• Experience managing/supervising teams
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Able to successfully execute multiple projects from start to finish
• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree and a US Customs broker license
• Knowledge of Global Trade Management system is a definite plus

Capability and Competencies

• Is a proven Trusted Partner who exuberates authenticity, empathy, integrity, accountability, and professional ethics.
• Communicates effectively
• Invests in the team and relationship with stakeholders
• Encourages collaboration cross functionally, culturally and countries
• Creates a respective and safe environment

REQUIRED:

• Minimum 8-12 years of experience in the industry of Trade Controls and Compliance
• Outstanding leadership and influencing skills.
• Ability to consistently discern strategic insights from data analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, ability to interact effectively with executive leadership and cross functional teams.
• Proven self-starter with ability to work in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment.
• Intellectual curiosity and ability to navigate and predict ambiguous circumstances.
• Ability to succinctly and accurately present findings to management and executive leadership.

Required Education and Training 

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in International Trade / Supply Chain Management or equivalent
• US License Customs Broker a plus
• Certified US Export Compliance Officer a plus.

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (dol.gov)

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 01/08/2025 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance.  Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.