customs · export controls · sanctions
Trade compliance recruiting
The people who keep goods, technology and money moving across borders legally: import and customs specialists, export-control officers, sanctions screeners and licensed customs brokers.
Where the jobs are posted
Trade compliance is thin on dedicated job boards. The association boards carry the most signal; the big general boards carry the volume.
- SIA Job BoardSociety for International Affairs The most export-controls-focused board: ITAR, EAR and licensing roles, often in aerospace and defense.
- ICPAInternational Compliance Professionals Assn. Trade compliance community with a career section; some listings are members-only.
- ASCM Job Boardsupply chain association Supply-chain roles, including import/export and global trade positions.
- JobsInLogisticscommercial job board Large logistics board; search "trade compliance", "customs" or "import".
- USAJOBSfederal Customs, trade and enforcement roles at CBP, Commerce and other agencies.
- ITA Enforcement & Compliance careersCommerce Dept. Trade-remedy and enforcement analyst roles at the International Trade Administration.
Credentials
Only one of these is a government license: the customs broker license. The rest are industry certifications that signal training.
| Credential | For | From |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Broker License gov license | Conducting customs business for others; requires passing the CBP exam | U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
| CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) | Import compliance staff | NCBFAA Educational Institute |
| CES (Certified Export Specialist) | Export regulations and documentation | NCBFAA Educational Institute |
| ECoP (EAR and ITAR tracks) | Export-controls compliance | Export Compliance Training Institute |
| CLTD / CSCP | Logistics and end-to-end supply chain | ASCM |
| CGBP | Broad international business | NASBITE |
Associations
Conferences and local chapters are where most hiring in this field happens by referral.
- NCBFAAcustoms brokers & forwarders The national association for customs brokers and freight forwarders.
- AAEIimporters & exporters American Association of Exporters and Importers: policy, compliance and member events.
- SIAexport controls Export-control and ITAR education, conferences and networking.
- ICPAcompliance professionals Annual conference, forum and peer network for trade compliance staff.
The rules & the agencies
Free, official sources. Worth knowing before an interview.
- CBP Basic Import & ExportCBP The plain-language primer on how importing and exporting work in the U.S.
- CBP Tradecustoms Import rules, programs, rulings and enforcement.
- Bureau of Industry and SecurityEAR Export Administration Regulations, export licenses and the Entity List.
- Directorate of Defense Trade ControlsITAR Defense articles and services: the State Department side of export controls.
- OFACsanctions Treasury sanctions programs and the SDN list.
- Consolidated Screening Listtrade.gov One search across the federal restricted-party lists used in denied-party screening.
Hiring for trade compliance?
For employers filling compliance seats.
- CBP Permitted Brokers ListingCBP Licensed customs brokers by port. Useful for sourcing licensed talent or outsourcing entry work.
- CS Recruitingsupply-chain recruiter Supply chain and logistics search firm.
- SCM Talent Groupsupply-chain recruiter Supply chain search firm. Ask either firm whether it handles trade-compliance searches before engaging.