Logistics and Trade Compliance Manager

Brief description of position with main outputs and tasks:
•    The Logistics & Trade Compliance Manager owns end-to-end (E2E) import-export operations for Company's brand portfolio across Vietnam and Cambodia.
•    This role is accountable for the outcome: shipments clear customs correctly and on time, duties and taxes are optimized in full compliance with the law, and C/O and FTA preferences are maximized to reduce landed cost.
•    The role acts as Company's technical authority on customs, tax, Incoterms, cargo insurance and trade compliance, representing the company before Customs, the Tax Department, forwarders, carriers, insurers and brand principals.
Main task:
2.1 End-to-End Import-Export Operations
•    Own and monitor the full E2E import-export process (booking, shipping documents, customs declaration, clearance, delivery) executed through appointed forwarders, with close attention to high-value or high-risk cargo, ensuring on-time and compliant clearance for all brands.
•    Setup, monitor and continuously improve SOPs for shipment routing, including multi-country models in coordination with brand principals.
•    Resolve shipment exceptions (shortages, damages, disputes) by coordinating between forwarder, carrier, insurer and brand to determine liability and drive resolution to closure.
2.2 Customs, Tax, C/O & FTA Management
•    Act as Company's subject-matter expert on Vietnamese (and Cambodian, where applicable) import- export law, customs regulations, tax policy and post-clearance audit/inspection procedures.
•    Directly manage and sign off on customs declarations, duty payments and tax filings, ensuring accuracy of HS codes, dutiable value and applicable preferential tax treatment.
•    Drive the full C/O and FTA lifecycle: eligibility assessment, application, validity tracking and expiry monitoring by brand, proactively flagging brands with declining C/O validity ratios and recommending corrective action.
•    Manage duty refund and duty drawback processes (e.g., re-export/buy-back shipments), coordinating dossier resubmission as customs requirements evolve and any required on-site customs inspection.
•    Work directly with Customs and Tax authorities to resolve declaration disputes, respond to inspections/audits, and negotiate practical, compliant solutions.

2.3 Forwarder, Carrier & Freight Cost Management
•    Manage day-to-day and strategic relationships with freight forwarders and shipping lines, holding them accountable for service level, transit time and cost competitiveness.
•    Lead freight rate negotiations and competitive bidding/benchmarking across forwarders and carriers to secure rate reductions and improved commercial terms.
•    Evaluate and recommend forwarder/carrier changes or dual-sourcing strategies based on total landed cost, reliability and service quality.
•    Track and control logistics cost performance against budget; identify and execute cost-saving initiatives.
2.4 Insurance & Risk Management
•    Manage cargo insurance arrangements and coverage terms appropriate to shipment value and Incoterms risk transfer point.
•    Lead cargo claims (loss, damage, shortage) from filing through settlement, coordinating evidence, liability allocation and negotiation with insurers, forwarders and brands.
2.5 Regulatory Compliance & Product Conformity
•    Manage compliance documentation required for import, including textile and other product conformity/declaration obligations, ensuring sampling, testing and declaration dossiers meet applicable QCVN standards.
2.6 Reporting, Governance & Stakeholder Management
•    Produce accurate, timely weekly/periodic logistics reports for internal management and the Board, highlighting shipment status, risks, cost trends and action items.
•    Maintain organized, audit-ready records of shipping documents, customs dossiers, contracts and compliance files in shared systems.
•    Build and manage direct working relationships with brand principals' logistics/compliance teams to align on process changes, cost claims and reporting requirements.
•    Supervise, coach and develop logistics team members responsible for customs, C/O and documentation execution.

Education & Experience
•    Bachelor's degree in international Trade, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Customs, Economics, or a related field.
•    Minimum 6-8 years of experience in import-export / logistics operations, of which at least 3 years in a managerial or senior specialist role with direct customs and tax handling responsibility.
•    Prior experience in retail, fashion, FMCG or a multi-brand distribution environment is a strong advantage; experience managing shipments for international brand principals preferred.
•    Demonstrated hands-on experience working directly with Customs authorities, Tax authorities, and post- clearance audits/inspections (not solely through a forwarder).
Technical Knowledge
•    Expert-level knowledge of Vietnamese import-export law, customs regulations, tax law (import/export duty, VAT) and duty refund/drawback procedures, including C/O and FTA eligibility rules, application procedures, validity management and audit defence; working knowledge of Cambodian customs regulations is a plus.
•    Strong command of Incoterms (2020) and their implications for cost, risk transfer, and insurance responsibility.
•    Familiarity with product conformity/regulatory declaration requirements for imported textile and consumer goods in Vietnam (QCVN standards).
•    Working knowledge of freight/forwarding commercial structures (ocean, air, trucking) sufficient to negotiate rates and evaluate forwarder proposals.
Competencies and skills required (be specific e.g. typing speed, MS Office, Smart suite, etc.)
•    Strong negotiation skills, able to represent Company's interests effectively with Customs, Tax authorities, forwarders, carriers, insurers and brand principals.
•    Excellent problem-solving and dispute-resolution skills, comfortable owning complex, multi-party issues (e.g., Cargo shortages, C/O disputes) to resolution.
•    Strong analytical and reporting skills; proficient in Excel and comfortable working with ERP/customs declaration systems.
•    Good business English (spoken and written) for direct communication with international brand principals; Vietnamese fluency required.
•    Leadership and people-management skills to guide and develop a small logistics/compliance team.