Senior Trade Advisory Associate

As a Senior Trade Advisory Associate at Flexport, you'll be responsible for a variety of tasks that revolve around trade compliance and duty minimization strategies. This includes performing detailed analytics, drafting client deliverables, and coordinating multiple trade advisory projects while staying informed about regulatory changes. Your role will also see you actively interfacing with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ensuring effective communication with clients and internal teams.

To qualify for the Senior Trade Advisory Associate position at Flexport, applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and be a Licensed Customs Broker. A J.D. or graduate degree is highly preferred. Additionally, candidates should possess 3-5 years of trade-related experience, excellent analytical skills, and strong technical writing abilities to succeed in this role.

In the role of Senior Trade Advisory Associate at Flexport, you will directly support clients by helping them navigate complex trade regulations and compliance issues. This involves utilizing your industry knowledge to identify risks and opportunities for cost savings, ensuring that clients meet all regulatory requirements while maximizing their trade efficiency.

Success as a Senior Trade Advisory Associate at Flexport hinges on a blend of strong interpersonal skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks, and a solid foundation in trade regulations, classification, and compliance. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data analytics is also vital, along with an enthusiastic 'compliance first' attitude towards working with regulatory bodies.

Flexport prides itself on fostering a diverse, inclusive, and engaged work environment. As a Senior Trade Advisory Associate, you can expect a collaborative culture that empowers you to be your authentic self while contributing meaningfully to the company’s mission of making global trade easy and accessible.

When answering this question, highlight specific roles you’ve had that involved customs compliance. Discuss the types of regulations you worked with and how you stayed informed about changes in the industry. Emphasize your proactive approach to compliance as it relates to your past achievements.

In your response, consider mentioning specific strategies like tariff engineering or understanding Free Trade Agreements. Be ready to share examples from your past roles where you successfully implemented these strategies, highlighting tangible outcomes.

Discuss the methods you use to keep up with industry changes such as subscribing to relevant newsletters, attending webinars, or participating in professional networks. Show your commitment to continuous learning in trade by mentioning any resources you find particularly beneficial.

Explain your approach to prioritization, such as using project management tools or techniques to assess deadlines and project importance. Share an example from your experience where you successfully managed competing priorities, ensuring that client needs were met on time.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response. Describe the specific trade issue, your analysis of the situation, the actions you took to resolve it, and the outcome. This showcases your problem-solving abilities and expertise in navigating complexities.

Outline your experience with data analytics tools and techniques, explaining how you've used data to inform trade compliance decisions. Provide examples of reports you’ve created or analyzed and how they impacted trade strategies positively.

Emphasize your communication skills and proactive client engagement strategies. Discuss specific actions you take to build relationships, gather feedback, and maintain ongoing dialogues with clients to understand their evolving needs.

Share your experiences dealing with CBP or other trade authorities, including how you've navigated communications or regulatory challenges. Highlight your understanding of compliance requirements and how your engagements positively represented your past employers.

Reflect on current challenges such as regulatory complexities, changing trade agreements, or supply chain disruptions. Discuss your awareness of these issues and how you believe the role of trade advisory can mitigate them, showing your insight into the industry.

Convey your passion for global trade and how Flexport's mission aligns with your professional aspirations. Discuss specifics of the company's culture or innovation in technology that attract you, demonstrating that you've done your research on Flexport.