Specialist Integral Trade Compliance
Position Title: Specialist Global Trade Compliance
Reports to Title: Mgr Global Trade Compliance CoE
Job Code:
Dept / Function: Global Trade Compliance
Summary
The Global Trade Compliance Specialist is a key contributor to Hershey’s international trade operations, responsible for ensuring product qualification under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) for both export and import activities across Hershey’s. With a strong emphasis on Mexico, LATAM, EMEA, Canada, and the United States, this role supports compliance with an extensive network of trade agreements worldwide.
This position manages the end-to-end origin qualification process, including the evaluation of product eligibility in systems such as SAP GTS, issuance and validation of Certificates of Origin, and coordination with domestic and international suppliers to collect and verify origin documentation. The specialist determines Country of Origin based on treaty-specific rules and ensures all data is complete, traceable, and audit-ready.
Beyond operational responsibilities, the specialist will play a strategic role in the development, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of global trade compliance processes and policies within Hershey. This includes aligning local practices with corporate standards, identifying process gaps, and driving initiatives to enhance efficiency and regulatory adherence.
This role also supports the performance management of the Integral Trade Compliance function by helping define, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect the health and effectiveness of compliance operations. These include metrics related to regulatory compliance, timely and accurate documentation, audit readiness, supplier engagement, system integration, and adherence to internal and external trade requirements. Through data analysis and reporting, the specialist will provide insights that support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement across the global trade landscape.
Major Duties/Responsibilities
Time % - Summary of major duties:
1. 50% - Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) Qualification
- Support the end-to-end qualification process of products under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), ensuring compliance for both export and import operations across the region.
- Analyze product eligibility based on tariff classification, bill of materials, and applicable rules of origin, using systems such as SAP GTS or equivalent platforms.
- Issue and validate Certificates of Origin for qualified shipments, ensuring accuracy and alignment with treaty requirements.
- Request, collect, and review origin declarations and supporting documentation from domestic and international suppliers to substantiate FTA claims.
- Determine Country of Origin in accordance with specific FTA rules, including regional value content (RVC), tariff shift, and other criteria.
- Maintain complete and audit-ready documentation to support origin determinations and FTA claims, ensuring traceability and regulatory compliance.
- Monitor and interpret changes in FTA regulations and proactively update internal procedures and documentation to reflect new requirements.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (e.g., supply chain, procurement, legal) to ensure alignment and awareness of FTA-related obligations and opportunities.
- Provide training and guidance to relevant teams on FTA qualification processes and documentation standards.
2. 30% - Compliance Process & Policy Execution
- Develop and implement standardized processes and policies to support global trade compliance across Hershey’s.
- Align local trade compliance practices with Hershey’s corporate standards and global governance frameworks.
- Identify gaps or inefficiencies in existing procedures and lead initiatives to improve operational effectiveness and regulatory alignment.
- Monitor the performance and consistency of compliance processes, ensuring they meet internal quality standards and external legal requirements.
- Update and maintain trade compliance documentation, including process maps, SOPs, and policy manuals, in response to regulatory changes or business needs.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., legal, supply chain, procurement) to ensure integrated and compliant trade operations.
- Provide guidance and training to internal stakeholders on trade compliance procedures and policy updates.
- Support internal audits and external assessments by ensuring process documentation is complete, current, and accessible.
3. 20% - Compliance Metrics & Reporting
- Support the definition and refinement of key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure the effectiveness, accuracy, and compliance of global trade operations.
- Monitor and report on metrics related to regulatory compliance, documentation timeliness and accuracy, audit readiness, supplier responsiveness, and system integration.
- Analyze performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement across trade compliance activities.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure KPI alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain dashboards and reporting tools that provide visibility into compliance performance at regional and global levels.
- Provide actionable insights and recommendations based on KPI results to support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Ensure that KPI tracking supports Hershey’s ability to remain compliant with international trade laws, customs regulations, and internal governance standards.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Understanding of Mexican customs regulations and international trade law - Medium
- Process improvement mindset - High
- Data analysis and reporting proficiency - High
- Regulatory research and interpretation skills - High
- Solid Knowledge of Free Trade Agreements and rules of origin - High
- Strong attention to detail and analytical skills - High
- Time Management and Prioritization - High
- Effective communication and collaboration abilities - High
- Fluent in English and Spanish (written and spoken) - High, Business English
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Education: Bachelor’s in international business or similar
Experience: Minimum 1-4 years in Global Trade Compliance area
Approvals
Carlos Francisco Garcia Perez - Immediate Supervisor/Manager - Date
Rene Fernando Velasco Tostado - 2nd Level Supervisor/Manager - Date
Compensation - Date
📌 Specialist Global Trade Compliance
🏢 The Hershey
📍 Jalisco