Program Operations Specialist - International Trade & Material Readiness

We are a stealth-mode battery startup developing cutting-edge battery technology. Our mission is to revolutionize battery technology to accelerate the global transition to clean energy. By leveraging innovative materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, and next-generation energy storage architectures, we are building the future of sustainable energy.

It’s not you, it’s us! We’re really excited about the potential of our technology, product, and mission, and have chosen to remain in stealth mode. If the job description piques your interest, please apply. If your skillset is aligned with what we’re looking for, the team will reach out to schedule your interview and tell you a bit more about us (e.g. who we are).

Role
We’re looking for an experienced international trade and logistics professional to join our Program Operations team and help ensure materials are available when and where our programs need them. International shipping and customs expertise is central to this role. We need someone who has personally managed complex import and export activity, understands how shipments should be classified and documented, and can help the company navigate customs requirements, tariffs, duties, dangerous-goods regulations, and international transportation decisions.

Responsibilities
International Trade, Customs, and Logistics

• Own domestic and international shipment execution from initial request through final delivery.

• Coordinate parcel, courier, truck, air, and ocean shipments between company locations, suppliers, processors, customers, and international partners.

• Determine and validate HTS and Schedule B classifications, commodity descriptions, declared values, country of origin, Incoterms, customs valuation, and duty responsibility.

• Identify lawful opportunities to reduce tariffs, duties, taxes, and landed cost through appropriate classification, country-of-origin analysis, preferential trade programs, duty drawback, temporary imports, tariff exclusions, and other available mechanisms.

• Prepare and review commercial invoices, packing lists, shipping instructions, bills of lading, certificates of origin, AES/EEI filings, and other import/export documentation.

• Coordinate compliant shipment of dangerous goods, batteries, chemicals, high-value equipment, fragile materials, and other regulated or time-sensitive items.

• Work directly with customs brokers and freight forwarders to resolve holds, classification questions, documentation gaps, and clearance issues.

• Select transportation options based on timing, landed cost, risk, service, and program requirements.

• Review freight, brokerage, duty, tax, and accessorial charges for accuracy.

• Maintain shipment and compliance records and develop practical SOPs, classification records, checklists, and internal guidance.

• Monitor changes in trade requirements and advise the organization on potential cost, compliance, or schedule impacts.

Material Readiness and Program Operations

• Support clear-to-build and material-readiness planning using build requirements, BOMs, inventory, open orders, supplier commitments, and required dates.

• Maintain accurate material, shipment, allocation, and delivery status in Flux and supporting systems.

• Identify shortages, late deliveries, customs risks, and other readiness gaps early, then help drive recovery actions to closure.

• Support procurement execution and supplier follow-through once sourcing and technical decisions have been made.

• Track open purchase orders, supplier commitments, and materials moving through external processors.

• Coordinate vendor-to-vendor shipments and ensure materials arrive at the correct location in time to support program needs.

• Provide concise readiness, logistics, and risk updates to Program Management and build teams.

• Partner with Material Control on receiving, inventory availability, internal transfers, staging, and shipment handoffs.

• Help establish scalable workflows for material readiness, logistics, customs, and supplier execution.

• 8+ years of experience in international trade, import/export, customs, freight forwarding, international logistics, or supply-chain operations; 10+ years is strongly valued.

• Demonstrated experience independently managing international shipments and customs clearance for physical products, materials, or equipment.

• Deep working knowledge of HTS and Schedule B classifications, country of origin, customs valuation, Incoterms, tariffs, duties, AES/EEI, and import/export documentation.

• Experience identifying and implementing lawful duty- and tariff-reduction opportunities.

• Experience working directly with customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, and international suppliers or customers.

• Familiarity with export controls, licensing, sanctions screening, and restricted-party considerations.

• Experience shipping dangerous goods, lithium batteries, chemicals, or other regulated materials is strongly preferred.

• Experience supporting material readiness, procurement execution, supplier delivery, or build planning in a hardware or manufacturing environment.

• Ability to work with BOMs, purchase orders, inventory records, build requirements, and delivery schedules.

• Strong judgment, attention to detail, organization, communication, and follow-through.

• Relevant customs, export, dangerous-goods, or transportation certifications are preferred.

• Battery, energy, semiconductor, automotive, aerospace, advanced-materials, or other complex hardware experience is preferred.