OPT Trade Compliance Manager Jobs
Trade Compliance Manager roles qualify as specialty occupations under OPT, typically requiring a degree in international trade, supply chain, or law. Your 12-month OPT window (or 24-month STEM extension if eligible) gives you time to prove your value and secure H-1B visa sponsorship from an employer.
Find OPT Trade Compliance Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 14+ Trade Compliance Manager jobs
See all Trade Compliance Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Trade Compliance Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsWho We Are:
Kontoor Brands is a portfolio of three of the world’s most iconic lifestyle, outdoor and workwear brands: Wrangler®, Lee® and Helly Hansen®. Kontoor Brands is a purpose-led organization focused on leveraging its global platform, strategic sourcing model and best-in-class supply chain to drive brand growth and deliver long-term value for its stakeholders.
Job Posting:
Trade Compliance Specialist
Kontoor Brands is seeking a proactive Trade Compliance Specialist to ensure compliance with US and CA Customs regulations and trade laws. This role will be responsible for overseeing at least one functional area of Trade Compliance—such as Import Compliance, Export Compliance, Supply Chain Security, or Special Programs—while serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in at least two areas. The specialist will play a key role in identifying and mitigating trade risks, developing and managing compliance processes, and ensuring regulatory adherence in daily operations. While this position has no direct reports, it will require strong cross-functional collaboration with logistics, distribution center operations, finance, and legal teams. The role will also involve managing audits, engaging with government agencies, and participating in industry groups as needed. Additionally, the specialist will lead process improvements and efficiency initiatives to enhance Kontoor’s trade compliance framework. Ongoing professional development and continuous learning will be essential to keeping Kontoor ahead of regulatory changes.
Responsibilities:
- Demonstrate working knowledge in Trade Compliance functional areas (i.e. Imports, Exports, Special Programs (Free Trade Agreements, Drawback, FTZ, First Sale), Supply Chain Security (i.e. CTPAT)).
- Liaison with external brokers ensuring Import and Export Compliance.
- Ensure compliance for product classification (HTS).
- Serve as a consultant and subject matter expert (SME) to provide necessary services to other departments concerning Trade Compliance or Customs issues.
- Support the standardization and harmonization for Customs compliance operations and processes.
- Deliver compliance improvements and savings opportunities.
- Research and provide insight on Trade Compliance regulatory changes in US and CA.
- Define and maintain compliance KPI’s and KCI’s (Key Control Indicators).
- Maintain appropriate record keeping as required.
- Perform other duties as required/assigned by the Trade compliance Manager.
- Create and analyze reports from ACE, CARM, or other sources.
Requirements
- 3 – 5 years' experience in Trade Compliance, working directly with Customs and overseeing and participating in compliance programs.
- Bachelor’s degree in international business, finance, or supply chain management.
- Proficient in Microsoft office applications (i.e. Outlook, Excel, PowerBI, and SharePoint).
- Effective communication skills and experience working in a customer-focused environment.
- Working knowledge in classification, import and export compliance.
- In-depth knowledge of Trade Compliance regulations.
- Analytical skills and able to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proactive in recognizing and adjusting to shifting priorities.
- Ability to complete assignments accurately and within specified time frames, with minimal supervision and direction.
Preferred Experience:
- Footwear & Apparel Industry experience and or working for an importer.
- SAP Finance Experience.
- Customs Broker License or equivalent experience.
Leadership Competencies Expected for this Role:
Emerging Leader
Global Agility – Open to diverse views, adapts to new ways of working
Purposeful Integrity – Demonstrates ethical behavior, follows through on commitments
Strategic Foresight – Understands team goals, asks strategic questions
Customer Centric Innovation – Suggests improvements from customer feedback, tries new methods
Urgency for Impact – Act quickly and take ownership of outcomes
Bold Accountability – Own your work and deliver consistently strong results
Empowered Collaboration – Share ideas, listens well, collaborates with peers
Why Kontoor Brands?
At Kontoor, we offer a comprehensive benefit package to fit your lifestyle. Our benefits are crafted with the same care as our products.
When our employees are healthy, secure, and well, they bring their best selves to work. Kontoor Brands supports you with a competitive benefits program that provides choice and flexibility to meet your and your family’s needs – now and in the future. We offer resources to support your physical, emotional, social, and financial wellbeing, plus benefits like discounts on our apparel. Kontoor Brands also provides four weeks of Paid Parental Leave to eligible employees who are new parents, Flexible Fridays, and Tuition Reimbursement.
We are proud to offer a workplace culture centered on equitable opportunities and a sense of belonging for all team members. Here we have a global workforce of high-performing teams that both unlocks our individual uniqueness and harnesses our collaborative talents.
Who We Are:
Kontoor Brands is a portfolio of three of the world’s most iconic lifestyle, outdoor and workwear brands: Wrangler®, Lee® and Helly Hansen®. Kontoor Brands is a purpose-led organization focused on leveraging its global platform, strategic sourcing model and best-in-class supply chain to drive brand growth and deliver long-term value for its stakeholders.
Job Posting:
Trade Compliance Specialist
Kontoor Brands is seeking a proactive Trade Compliance Specialist to ensure compliance with US and CA Customs regulations and trade laws. This role will be responsible for overseeing at least one functional area of Trade Compliance—such as Import Compliance, Export Compliance, Supply Chain Security, or Special Programs—while serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in at least two areas. The specialist will play a key role in identifying and mitigating trade risks, developing and managing compliance processes, and ensuring regulatory adherence in daily operations. While this position has no direct reports, it will require strong cross-functional collaboration with logistics, distribution center operations, finance, and legal teams. The role will also involve managing audits, engaging with government agencies, and participating in industry groups as needed. Additionally, the specialist will lead process improvements and efficiency initiatives to enhance Kontoor’s trade compliance framework. Ongoing professional development and continuous learning will be essential to keeping Kontoor ahead of regulatory changes.
Responsibilities:
- Demonstrate working knowledge in Trade Compliance functional areas (i.e. Imports, Exports, Special Programs (Free Trade Agreements, Drawback, FTZ, First Sale), Supply Chain Security (i.e. CTPAT)).
- Liaison with external brokers ensuring Import and Export Compliance.
- Ensure compliance for product classification (HTS).
- Serve as a consultant and subject matter expert (SME) to provide necessary services to other departments concerning Trade Compliance or Customs issues.
- Support the standardization and harmonization for Customs compliance operations and processes.
- Deliver compliance improvements and savings opportunities.
- Research and provide insight on Trade Compliance regulatory changes in US and CA.
- Define and maintain compliance KPI’s and KCI’s (Key Control Indicators).
- Maintain appropriate record keeping as required.
- Perform other duties as required/assigned by the Trade compliance Manager.
- Create and analyze reports from ACE, CARM, or other sources.
Requirements
- 3 – 5 years' experience in Trade Compliance, working directly with Customs and overseeing and participating in compliance programs.
- Bachelor’s degree in international business, finance, or supply chain management.
- Proficient in Microsoft office applications (i.e. Outlook, Excel, PowerBI, and SharePoint).
- Effective communication skills and experience working in a customer-focused environment.
- Working knowledge in classification, import and export compliance.
- In-depth knowledge of Trade Compliance regulations.
- Analytical skills and able to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proactive in recognizing and adjusting to shifting priorities.
- Ability to complete assignments accurately and within specified time frames, with minimal supervision and direction.
Preferred Experience:
- Footwear & Apparel Industry experience and or working for an importer.
- SAP Finance Experience.
- Customs Broker License or equivalent experience.
Leadership Competencies Expected for this Role:
Emerging Leader
Global Agility – Open to diverse views, adapts to new ways of working
Purposeful Integrity – Demonstrates ethical behavior, follows through on commitments
Strategic Foresight – Understands team goals, asks strategic questions
Customer Centric Innovation – Suggests improvements from customer feedback, tries new methods
Urgency for Impact – Act quickly and take ownership of outcomes
Bold Accountability – Own your work and deliver consistently strong results
Empowered Collaboration – Share ideas, listens well, collaborates with peers
Why Kontoor Brands?
At Kontoor, we offer a comprehensive benefit package to fit your lifestyle. Our benefits are crafted with the same care as our products.
When our employees are healthy, secure, and well, they bring their best selves to work. Kontoor Brands supports you with a competitive benefits program that provides choice and flexibility to meet your and your family’s needs – now and in the future. We offer resources to support your physical, emotional, social, and financial wellbeing, plus benefits like discounts on our apparel. Kontoor Brands also provides four weeks of Paid Parental Leave to eligible employees who are new parents, Flexible Fridays, and Tuition Reimbursement.
We are proud to offer a workplace culture centered on equitable opportunities and a sense of belonging for all team members. Here we have a global workforce of high-performing teams that both unlocks our individual uniqueness and harnesses our collaborative talents.
See all OPT Trade Compliance Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Trade Compliance Manager Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Trade Compliance Manager
Target employers with active import/export operations
Companies with global supply chains, customs filings, and export control programs hire trade compliance managers regularly. These employers already understand sponsorship and are more likely to support your OPT and future H-1B visa petition without needing to be convinced.
Highlight your jurisdiction-specific credentials
Certifications like Licensed Customs Broker or Certified Export Specialist signal you've invested in the field. Employers sponsoring OPT students want proof of specialization, and credentials reduce the perceived risk of hiring someone who still needs long-term immigration support.
Apply before your OPT start date, not after
Trade compliance hiring cycles can take 60 to 90 days. Starting your job search three to four months before your OPT authorization begins gives you realistic runway to receive an offer and have your employer file required EAD documentation in time.
Frame your international background as a compliance asset
Deep familiarity with a specific country's trade regulations is genuinely valuable in this field. If you understand customs procedures in India, China, or the EU from lived experience, position that knowledge as a direct qualifier for roles covering those regions.
Focus on large manufacturers and logistics firms first
Companies in aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, and third-party logistics regularly hire trade compliance staff and have established immigration processes. Smaller firms may lack HR infrastructure to handle OPT paperwork, making the sponsorship conversation harder to start.
Understand your STEM extension eligibility before interviewing
If your degree is in supply chain, data analytics, or a STEM-designated field, you may qualify for 24 additional months of OPT. Knowing this upfront lets you communicate a longer authorized work window, which directly improves your sponsorship conversation with employers.
Trade Compliance Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Trade Compliance Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT and H-1B purposes?
Yes. Trade Compliance Manager positions typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in international trade, supply chain management, business, or law, which meets the specialty occupation standard. USCIS has approved H-1B petitions for this role category when the job description clearly ties the duties to a specific degree field. Make sure your offer letter reflects those requirements explicitly.
Can I work as a Trade Compliance Manager on OPT without my employer filing any visa petition?
Yes, during your OPT period you're authorized to work using your EAD card, and your employer doesn't need to file a petition on your behalf. However, if you want to stay beyond your OPT window, your employer will need to sponsor an H-1B or another qualifying visa. Starting that conversation early, ideally within your first six months, gives both parties time to plan.
Which degree fields make F-1 students eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension in trade compliance?
Supply chain management, operations research, logistics, and data analytics are common STEM-designated fields that can qualify. International business and trade law degrees are generally not STEM-eligible. Check the Department of Homeland Security's CIP code list to confirm your specific degree program qualifies before counting on the extension in your job search timeline.
How do I find Trade Compliance Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the best starting point. It's built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters roles by visa sponsorship willingness, so you're not sifting through listings from employers who won't consider work authorization candidates. Trade compliance roles with active customs, export control, or sanctions compliance functions are the ones most likely to support OPT and eventual H-1B sponsorship.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I'm between jobs as a Trade Compliance Manager?
F-1 OPT rules allow up to 90 days of cumulative unemployment during your standard OPT period. STEM OPT extension holders are limited to 150 days total across both periods combined. If you lose a job or a contract ends, the unemployment clock starts immediately. Staying proactive about your next role rather than waiting until you have an offer is critical to protecting your status.