LATAM Trade Governance Manager

The LATAM Trade Governance Manager supports seed business operations across Latin America by managing trade compliance activities, acting as a regional focal point with customs and regulatory authorities, and ensuring adherence to global trade policies and local legal requirements.

The role is highly operational and requires close coordination with internal stakeholders, customs brokers, and government entities to maintain business continuity and compliance.

Core Responsibilities

Serve as the regional trade compliance focal point for LATAM seeds, with primary accountability for Brazil and interaction with other countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile .

Maintain active monitoring and control of customs, tax, and administrative processes, including disputes, penalties, refunds, and historical cases that may span multiple years.

Track all active and historical cases using structured control spreadsheets to ensure deadlines, documentation, and follow-up actions are met.

Review, interpret, and respond to complex and often retrospective customs requests related to imports, exports, royalties, and contractual obligations.

Coordinate documentation gathering across Legal, Finance, ITO, Procurement, R&D, and external customs brokers to meet strict regulatory deadlines.

Compliance Programs and Certifications

Own or support Authorized Economic Operator (AEO/AO) certification activities for the seeds business, including maintaining evidence, preparing for audits, and supporting government inspections.

Participate in and support internal and external audits of export and import sites to ensure compliance with country specific program requirements.

Collaborate with global trade governance leaders to align regional practices with global trade compliance policies, particularly for sensitive destinations and high-risk scenarios.

Import and Export Operations

Support and oversee import operations compliance for both commercial and R&D materials.

Implement and maintain import workflows, ensuring required permits are obtained, accurately recorded in systems, and that all products are properly registered prior to import.

Manage product catalogs and master data required for customs declarations, including manual uploads from internal control files into government portals.

Provide guidance on sample shipments, courier workflows, and exemption criteria while ensuring regulatory compliance is maintained.

Monitor export-related risks, particularly where R&D operates independently, and provide guidance when issues are identified post-shipment.

Government Systems, Tools, and Data Management

Operate government customs and compliance systems using Power of Attorney credentials granted through internal tax workflows.

Maintain SharePoint repositories and structured digital records for seeds related cases, ensuring traceability and audit readiness.

Manage and update spreadsheets and control tools that feed required data into government systems for imports, certifications, and audits.

Coordinate with third-party service providers supporting certifications and compliance-related submissions.

Stakeholder Coordination and Training

Act as a central coordinator connecting business teams, Legal, Finance, ITC, ITO, customs brokers, and external consultants.

Provide subject-matter guidance to internal teams on trade governance topics, including incoterms, sensitive destinations, and regulatory escalation requirements.

Support and, where needed, deliver compliance training sessions, including localized training in regional languages, to address knowledge gaps and recurring issues.

Work closely with global trade governance leadership on escalations, decision-making, and policy interpretation for high-risk or sensitive cases.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, International Trade, Business, Logistics, Finance, Law, or related field

Strong understanding of LATAM trade compliance, customs processes, and regulatory frameworks, particularly in Brazil and Argentina.

Deep knowledge of customs regulations, export controls, sanctions, and international trade compliance frameworks.

Fluent english

Strong understanding of Incoterms and their operational, financial, and risk implications.

This is a flexible position based in the Alphaville (São Paulo) region, requiring on-site presence at the office approximately twice a week

Key Skills and Capabilities

Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder issues under tight deadlines with high attention to accuracy and documentation.

High level of organization, process discipline, and ability to maintain long-term records across multiple years.

Comfort working with government systems, manual data entry, spreadsheets, and SharePoint-based documentation.

Strong communication skills to translate regulatory requirements into operational actions for business teams.