Trade Compliance Program Manager

Overview

Waters Corporation is seeking a highly skilled Trade Compliance Program Manager to lead our global program for core product attributes, including HS/HTS tariff classification, export control classification (US ECCN, EU Dual‑Use), and country of origin determination. These attributes form the foundation of our global trade compliance framework, and we are looking for someone who is passionate about translating complex technical information into accurate, defensible customs and export classifications.

In this role, you will build and maintain global standards, ensure local regulatory relevance, optimize classification systems, and drive continuous improvement across our classification and country‑of‑origin programs.

Responsibilities

Core Program Ownership

• Manage global standards for HS/HTS codes, export control classifications (ECCN/ECN), and country of origin.
• Translate technical specifications into accurate tariff codes, export classifications, and origin determinations.
• Monitor classification accuracy and ensure adherence to internal guidelines.
• Provide input to create automated classification logic and rule-based engines.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Product Development, and Project Management to understand product functionality and technical attributes.
• Work with Master Data teams to ensure product attributes are correctly created, maintained, and available to global import teams.
• Collaborate with local trade compliance teams to validate classification relevance and document country‑specific nuances.

Governance, Documentation & Standards

• Develop and maintain global classification and country‑of‑origin determination guidelines.
• Provide guidance to manufacturing teams on origin determination, process mapping, and documentation requirements.
• Ensure audit‑ready documentation supporting all classification and origin decisions.
• Create SOPs, standards, and processes to strengthen global compliance.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure HS codes are mapped to all import countries and extended through SAP/GTS.
• Optimize classification workflows to increase efficiency, consistency, and scalability.
• Gather and interpret import/export requirements applicable to products across global markets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• LCB.
• 7–10 years of trade compliance experience, with a strong focus on tariff and export control classification.
• Demonstrated expertise as a classifier with a track record of accurate, defensible decisions.
• Experience with SAP GTS or comparable global trade management platforms.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Strong critical‑thinking skills and the ability to navigate ambiguous or technically complex classification scenarios.
• Ability to train and mentor teams on classification methodology and regulatory interpretation.
• Comfortable working with large datasets and leveraging classification engines to validate or enrich master data.
• Experience working across multiple regions and understanding local classification nuances (EU CN codes, US HTSUS, India Customs Tariff, non‑preferential origin rules).
• Strong collaboration skills with engineering, legal, procurement, and product teams.

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT)  is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide.  

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.