Director - Global Trade

What Timken makes possible begins with you.
Those who came before us helped land a man on the moon, create the world's infrastructure, and introduce renewable energy alternatives. Now you can join the Timken team to write your own unique story and help drive what's next.

 

A career at Timken means you can have an immediate impact doing Work That Matters to the world— improving the efficiency of today's industrial equipment and preparing for the future of motion on our planet and beyond. New employees can start contributing right away, and there are many opportunities to advance your career at your own pace. Join our global team of 19,000 people in 45 countries, and start helping our customers push the limits of what's possible in their world of motion.

 

Purpose: 

The Director - Global Trade, reporting to the Vice President – Tax & Treasury is a highly visible role responsible for shaping and executing the company’s global customs and trade strategy across all regions where the company operates. This leader ensures full compliance with U.S. and international import/export regulations, optimizes duty and tariff exposure, and partners closely with supply chain, finance, legal, and business unit leaders to enable compliant, cost‑effective global operations. The role requires a blend of strategic leadership, technical customs expertise, financial acumen, and exceptional communication skills.

 

This role will work closely with external service providers and must also be able to lead internal teams and collaborate with the business within the dynamic global trade environment to ensure compliance for all import and export activities in a centralized manner.

This role provides the strategic vision and executive leadership necessary to transform the trade compliance function into a proactive, value-generating partner to the business.

 

 

Essential Responsibilites: 

Global Trade Strategy & Financial Optimization

• Execute a proactive global trade strategy that creates a competitive advantage through duty and tariff optimization programs (e.g., Section 232 and automotive tariff mitigation, FTZs, duty drawback, HTS & tariff engineering).
• Serve as the senior advisor to the business on trade matters, modeling impact of tariffs and trade policy to guide strategic sourcing, M&A due diligence, and business unit communication.
• Champion the digital transformation of the trade function by championing automation, analytics, and process improvements to drive efficiency and identify value.

Enterprise Risk Management & Compliance Governance

• Establish and direct a centralized governance framework to ensure enterprise-wide compliance with all U.S. and international trade regulations (e.g., CBP, BIS, OFAC, ITAR), serving as the company’s designated Empowered Official.
• Lead a robust risk management program that includes proactive internal controls, audit protocols, and training to mitigate financial and regulatory exposure.
• Direct all internal investigations, government inquiries, and disclosures, acting as the final authority on complex compliance determinations (including HTS, valuation, and country of origin).

Executive Leadership & Business Partnership

• Serve as the company’s primary trade representative and strategic advisor to senior leadership and government agencies.
• Embed trade compliance as a strategic partner across the enterprise, collaborating closely with supply chain, finance, legal, and product leaders to ensure alignment and enable compliant business growth.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global trade team, fostering a culture of accountability, partnership, and continuous improvement.

External Partnership & Network Management

• Command a global network of customs brokers, freight forwarders, and internal and external legal counsel, setting performance standards and ensuring high-quality, cost-effective execution.
• Represent the company in key industry associations and government forums, actively monitoring and influencing trade policy developments that impact the business.

 

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Deep expertise in U.S. import/export regulations, customs valuation, HTS & ECCEN classification, free trade agreements, and export frameworks. (EAR, ITAR, OFAC)
• Proven track record in designing and implementing compliance programs and managing complex trade compliance issues.
• Strong financial acumen with experience analyzing duty and tariff impacts, cost modeling, and trade‑related financi