Director of Logistics and Customs

<p>Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets to enable a secure and resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resilience, we serve critical industries including defense, aerospace, and automotive—powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Transparency.</p> <p>As the Director of Logistics and Customs, you will architect and lead the end-to-end logistics, distribution, and international trade compliance strategy for our domestic magnet production. You will be responsible for building a world-class logistics and customs organization from the ground up, ensuring efficient, secure, and compliant movement of raw materials and finished goods across global supply chains while supporting rapid manufacturing ramp-up.</p> <p><strong>Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li>Design, implement, and continuously improve logistics, distribution, and customs compliance systems for inbound raw materials and outbound finished goods.</li> <li>Build and scale the logistics and customs team, including transportation, warehousing, trade compliance, and import/export operations.</li> <li>Establish and maintain a robust global trade compliance program, ensuring adherence to U.S. and international regulations (e.g., ITAR, EAR, Customs regulations, HTS classification, country of origin, valuation).</li> <li>Oversee import/export operations, including customs brokerage, duty optimization strategies, and tariff mitigation.</li> <li>Responsible for Inbound and outbound packaging requirements and designs.</li> <li>Develop and manage relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics providers to ensure reliability, cost efficiency, and compliance.</li> <li>Implement systems for accurate classification, documentation, and recordkeeping for all cross-border shipments.</li> <li>Partner with Engineering, Operations, and Data Informatics to integrate digital tracking, automation, and compliance monitoring into logistics workflows.</li> <li>Lead the design and optimization of warehouse and distribution networks to support high-volume production and global shipping requirements.</li> <li>Establish KPIs and performance metrics for logistics efficiency, cost control, and compliance adherence.</li> <li>Collaborate with Procurement, Manufacturing, Legal, and Customer Operations to align logistics and trade strategies with business objectives.</li> <li>Proactively monitor changes in trade regulations, tariffs, and geopolitical risks, adjusting strategies to ensure supply chain resilience.</li> </ul> <p><em>Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business. </em></p> <p><strong>Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li>10+ years of experience in logistics, supply chain, or international trade compliance, ideally within manufacturing environments such as advanced materials, aerospace, automotive, battery, or high-volume production.</li> <li>8+ years of demonstrated leadership experience in logistics, customs, or supply chain operations.</li> <li>Deep expertise in global trade compliance, including ITAR, EAR, U.S. Customs regulations, HTS classification, and import/export documentation.</li> <li>Experience managing customs brokers, freight forwarders, and international shipping operations.</li> <li>Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems, transportation management systems (TMS), and global trade management (GTM) software.</li> <li>Strong understanding of supply chain risk management, tariff strategy, and cross-border logistics optimization.</li> <li>Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related technical field.</li> </ul> <p><em>Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.</em></p>