Job description
Role Overview
As the Sr. Global Trade Compliance Manager, you will be a key leader in developing, implementing, and overseeing Fluence's global trade compliance strategy and operations. You will provide strategic leadership to ensure the company navigates the complexities of international trade laws and regulations while optimizing for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Fluence's global import and export compliance strategy, ensuring compliant, efficient daily operations across all regions.
- Provide the Operations teams with expert guidance on HTS/ECCN classification, duty rates, and fees. Oversee license applications and the documentation needed for imports and exports (export licenses, FTA certificates, steel licenses, FCC 740, FDA 2877, etc.).
- Identify and lead initiatives to improve duty competitiveness, reduce compliance risk, and lower costs through trade programs such as duty drawback, Foreign Trade Zones, bonded warehouses, TIB, Chapter 98, and FTA utilization.
- Monitor the global regulatory environment, including trade tensions and tariff actions (Section 301, Section 232, AD/CVD, and evolving U.S. tariff authorities, plus IEEPA refund developments). Assess the impact on Fluence's business and brief senior leadership and stakeholders with clear recommendations.
- Design, implement, and maintain the Internal Control Compliance Program (ICP) governing the import and export of Fluence products, and drive continuous improvement in trade management processes and systems.
- Serve as the subject matter expert and escalation point for internal and external stakeholders on tariff classification, valuation, duty impacts, import requirements, and FTA rules of origin.
- Develop and deliver compliance training programs across the business.
- Partner with customs brokers, Logistics, Purchasing, Finance, Legal, and suppliers to ensure end-to-end global trade compliance, and manage broker performance.
- Establish and audit scorecard metrics for customs clearance documentation and broker entry accuracy. Lead corrective action, including prior disclosures and responses to government inquiries where needed.
- Ensure accurate record-keeping, internal audits, export declarations, and reporting, and lead responses to export and customs authorities.
- Collaborate with Product Development and Engineering to determine export jurisdiction and classification for all goods, software, and technology, and to document reasons for control.
- Screen against sanctions and restricted-party lists, and support supply chain compliance requirements such as forced-labor (UFLPA) due diligence.
- Build, mentor, and develop a trade compliance team, and set priorities and a multi-year roadmap for the function.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- A bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Tax, Law, or a related field, and 8+ years of progressive experience in customs and trade compliance, including people or project leadership.
- A U.S. Customs Broker License (LCB) is strongly preferred.
- Deep experience in tariff classification, valuation, duty drawback, FTZ, and free trade agreements.
- Working knowledge of U.S. export controls (EAR/ITAR) and sanctions regimes.
- Subject matter expertise in import and export requirements in EMEA and APAC (e.g., China, Taiwan, India) is a plus.
- Proficiency with the CBP ACE portal, SAP, and Incoterms.
- Strong communication, presentation, and training skills, including the ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional partners.
- Self-motivation, sound judgment, and strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- The ability to work effectively in a hybrid, global environment.
*Equal Opportunity Employer
At Fluence, we believe great teams are built on a collaborative and connected culture. We're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome qualified applicants of all backgrounds. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.*
*Work Authorization
To join our team, you'll need to be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout your employment, without the need for employer sponsorship. Please note that Fluence does not sponsor work visas for this position.*
Warning About Fraudulent Job Postings
Please be aware of fraudulent job postings and recruitment-related communications that falsely claim affiliation with Fluence. These scams may be used by cybercriminals to obtain personal information, financial details, or payments from job seekers. Fluence will never request payment, fees, or financial information from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process. All official communications from Fluence recruiters and representatives will originate from a legitimate Fluence email address.
Typical pay for similar roles
EstimateThe middle half of pay advertised on Rejobs for this group over the last 24 months. This employer has not stated a salary.
About this role
About Fluence
Company Overview
Fluence Energy
Arlington, VA, United States
2018
Approximately 600 employees globally (source: salestools.io).
What They Do
Fluence Energy focuses primarily on energy storage technology solutions and services, including design, delivery, integration, optimization software, and control platforms for renewables and storage integration into grids (source: fluenceenergy.com). Its core products encompass standardized energy storage systems such as Gridstack, Ultrastack, Sunstack, and Edgestack, designed for utility-scale, industrial, commercial, and renewable-integrated applications, paired with the Fluence IQ Digital Platform for AI-optimized asset management, rapid deployment, and maximization of clean energy usage (source: mapquest.com). These offerings build on pioneering technologies from AES Energy Storage (Advancion platform) and Siemens (Siestorage), providing container-based systems, comprehensive services, and cloud-based software to address grid challenges in a transforming energy landscape (source: pestel-analysis.com). Target markets include utilities, developers, commercial and industrial clients, and service providers across utility-scale projects, with a global footprint in 24 countries and territories (source: fluenceenergy.com). Fluence holds a competitive position as the global market leader in energy storage, having topped the Navigant Research utility-scale energy storage leaderboard in 2018, named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and deploying the largest fleet of energy storage projects worldwide (source: fluenceenergy.com).
Projects & Track Record
By 2021, Fluence had more than 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of energy storage projects in operation or awarded across 24 countries and territories, reflecting its early track record in utility-scale deployments (source: fluenceenergy.com). The company maintains the largest deployed fleet of energy storage projects globally, with deployments supporting grid integration of renewables in key markets, though specific completed project names, locations, capacities, and years are not detailed in available sources beyond aggregate figures (source: fluenceenergy.com). Ongoing operations emphasize global expansion, with projects and contracts secured through 2020 and beyond, focusing on new markets for storage (source: dcfmodeling.com). Key clients span utilities, developers, and industrial users, with partnerships rooted in its Siemens and AES origins, though specific client names are not listed; the company serves a broad ecosystem including power sector stakeholders worldwide (source: fluenceenergy.com).
Recent Developments
The provided sources, primarily from 2021 and earlier, do not cover major announcements, contracts won, acquisitions, mergers, funding rounds, awards, certifications, or milestones specifically from 2024-2025, limiting verifiable details to pre-2022 events such as the 2021 IPO raising $867.9 million (source: dcfmodeling.com). Fluence was recognized as topping the Navigant Research leaderboard in 2018 and listed among Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies around that period, but no awards from the last two years (2024-2025) are documented here (source: fluenceenergy.com). Expansion efforts continue through Fluence Next, a unit for commercializing new technology-driven opportunities in power and energy shifts, as noted in 2021 job descriptions (source: fluenceenergy.com).
Working There
Fluence Energy offers roles across engineering (software development and infrastructure), product management and design, sales and marketing (business development, customer success), operations (finance, HR, procurement, logistics), and executive leadership, with positions like Principal Fluence Next (focusing on new technology commercialization, M&A evaluation) and Operations Manager (handling sales planning, reporting, compliance) often based in Arlington, VA, or continental U.S. locations (source: salestools.io). Hiring occurs at the Arlington, VA headquarters (4601 Fairfax Drive, Suite 600) and remote/continental U.S. options, with global offices like Alpharetta, GA, and others potentially open based on expansion (source: fluenceenergy.com). Company culture emphasizes safety, quality, integrity, personal ownership, honest communication, agility, intellectual curiosity, collaboration, prioritizing high-impact efforts, fun through creativity and inclusivity, and a hands-on attitude, fostering innovation via modern workspaces with open-plan offices, collaboration spaces, high-speed tech, wellness facilities, dining, and recreation at headquarters (source: salestools.io). Benefits include comprehensive packages supporting well-being and growth, with Fluence positioned as an equal opportunity employer; candidates are directed to apply via LinkedIn for open roles (source: fluenceenergy.com).
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