How to hire an international trade specialist

How to hire an international trade specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step international trade specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an international trade specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new international trade specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an international trade specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your international trade specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an international trade specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An international trade specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, international trade specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of international trade specialists.

   Type of International Trade Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   International Trade Specialist		$18-49
   Compliance Officer	A compliance officer is responsible for monitoring company operations, ensuring that all the processes and members are adhering to the regulatory and procedural policies set by the company. Compliance officers' duties also include proposing compliance programs, reviewing and updating existing company policies with management approval, taking immediate actions for policy violations, and mitigating risks... Show more	$20-46
   Business Developer	A business developer specializes in conducting in-depth business analysis and crafting various strategies that would not just help a business grow, but also strengthen client base and brand awareness. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around identifying areas in need of improvement... Show more	$31-75

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Trade Compliance
   • Export
   • Customer Service
   • Technical Assistance
   • Export Compliance
   • HTS
   • Government Agencies
   • Business Administration
   • ITAR
   • International Business
   • Trade Shows
   • International Shipments
   • Customs Brokers
   • Market Research

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage import and export projects, reviewing documentation to identify potential risks and make recommendations for mitigation to upper management.
   • Work directly with various freight forwarders, airline carriers and truckers.
   • Process claims with carriers, forwarders and vendors.
   • Fill ACH and NON-ACH entries for duty with customs.
   • File for and renew require USDA permits for research products and clinical trials.
   • Interface extensively with officials at USDA and U.S. Customs, including handling negotiations when import issues arise.

   More international trade specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your international trade specialist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An international trade specialist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an international trade specialist in Wyoming may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level international trade specialist usually earns less than a senior-level international trade specialist. Additionally, an international trade specialist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average international trade specialist salary

   $63,227yearly

   $30.40 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level international trade specialist salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average international trade specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$86,028	$41
   2	Virginia	$81,673	$39
   3	New York	$81,433	$39
   4	Illinois	$79,486	$38
   5	Massachusetts	$79,094	$38
   6	Michigan	$76,049	$37
   7	New Jersey	$75,675	$36
   8	Washington	$75,092	$36
   9	California	$74,646	$36
   10	Indiana	$67,337	$32
   11	Colorado	$65,924	$32
   12	Pennsylvania	$65,516	$32
   13	Texas	$65,129	$31
   14	Oregon	$63,855	$31
   15	Florida	$55,020	$26
   16	Hawaii	$50,909	$24

   Average international trade specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Morgan Stanley	$114,772	$55.18	3
   2	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$111,747	$53.72	1
   3	Juniper Networks	$103,277	$49.65
   4	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	$82,014	$39.43	1
   5	U.S. International Development Finance Corp	$79,759	$38.35
   6	Northrop Grumman	$78,457	$37.72	2
   7	Hughes Hubbard & Reed	$77,887	$37.45
   8	Aerojet Rocketdyne	$76,245	$36.66
   9	Mytech Partners	$75,630	$36.36
   10	The PNC Financial Services Group	$75,305	$36.20	2
   11	Lowe Hauptman & Ham, Llp	$74,963	$36.04
   12	Small Business Administration	$73,499	$35.34
   13	NI	$73,250	$35.22
   14	US Meat Animal Research Center	$73,026	$35.11
   15	Modern Technology Solutions	$73,022	$35.11
   16	North American Lighting	$72,967	$35.08
   17	Cooley	$72,289	$34.75	2
   18	Teleflex	$71,366	$34.31	3
   19	GitHub	$69,919	$33.61
   20	Fortis Business Media LLC	$68,581	$32.97

4. Writing an international trade specialist job description

   A good international trade specialist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an international trade specialist job description:

   International trade specialist job description example

   Vista Outdoor is seeking an International Trade Specialist to add to our team in Overland Park, Kansas. The International Trade Specialist is primarily responsible to oversee general Trade Compliance activities for this business Unit. In this role, you will be responsible for general trade compliance activities and support the enterprise by providing direction and guidance in managing the business unit transactions with all U.S. import laws and Export regulations.
   RESPONSIBILITIES
   Responsible to assign classification code for multiple product types imported by VistaIdentify any other potential duty costs such as antidumping duties, related to the items Responsibilities include to review the HTSUS and determine impact to item from any other government agency, such as FDA, EPA, DOT etc.Work closely with the Product Development teams for duty savings opportunities Analyze large amounts of data, generate and report key metrics utilizing: ACE reports, broker reports, forwarder AES reports, and BI ReportsPerform Free Trade Agreement (including GSP) analysis by analyzing BOM components to determine if materials qualify for FTA preferential duty status: understand, interpret, and apply FTA rules of origin Monitor, audit and report improve import compliance related activities for Vista and all supporting third parties Perform monthly audits of the import Department transactions Participate in the development of corrective action plans following audits of import transactions Represent Trade Compliance by maintaining consultative communication with management and staff across multiple business functions.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   Licensed Customs Broker, preferred but not required; will work with qualified candidate to obtain license2-3 years' experience with broad customs classification experience to determine the correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule number(s) by using the Harmonized Tariff ScheduleKnowledge of international documents, custom's regulations and tariffs Strong self-motivation and the ability to work aggressively to complete projects Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in work experience High-Level working knowledge of Microsoft word, Excel, Access and Power Point
   
   We offer a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including: medical and dental, vision, disability and life insurance, 401K, PTO, tuition reimbursement, gear discounts and the ability to add value to an exciting mission!
   
   Our Postings are not intended for distribution to or use in any jurisdiction, country or territory where such distribution or use would violate local law or would subject us to any regulations in another jurisdiction, country or territory. We reserve the right to limit our Postings in any jurisdiction, country or territory.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Protected Veteran/Disabled
   
   At this time, Vista Outdoor is closely monitoring the developments on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) COVID-19 workplace rule regarding COVID-19 vaccination or testing. You will not be asked any questions regarding these items during application.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right international trade specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with international trade specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit international trade specialists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your international trade specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit international trade specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with international trade specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new international trade specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect international trade specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new international trade specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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