Trade and International Transportation Operations Lead (grecia, Costa Rica)

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson · Pharma · Grecia, Costa Rica

This role is for a Trade and International Transportation Operations Lead in Grecia, Costa Rica, at Johnson & Johnson's MedTech division. The primary focus is on establishing and maintaining controls for global transportation and trade operations, particularly within the Free Trade Zone. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with import/export regulations, managing logistics providers, optimizing spending, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to support global markets and business strategy.

What you'd actually do

  1. Develop and implement controls for all import and export activities at the Costa Rica Manufacturing Site in the Medical Devices sector, with particular emphasis on managing free trade zone procedures and maintaining compliance. This includes overseeing operations from purchase order receipt through product customs clearance and final delivery to the warehouse at the destination. Key areas of focus include compliance with free trade zone regulations, tariff classification, import permits, certification of origin, and other relevant local regulations to ensure the plant remains within compliance and leverages eligible trade benefit programs.
  2. Support logistics providers tender processes: For Brokerage and International Transportation services, providing inputs related to controls and free trade zone regulations, documentation of standard procedures and Service Level Agreement, setting up the purchase order/payment process and spend controls.
  3. Communication with strategic internal stakeholders (Franchises, Planning, Procurement, Quality, Warehousing, Trade Controls, Health Care Compliance, Finance, etc) and external providers and authorities (originating companies, freight forwarders, customs broker, local customs authorities) to fulfill the project deadlines, operations leadtimes, quality, compliance and service level requirements aligned with local regulations.
  4. Guarantee compliance with local regulation/ free trade zone regime and J&J Policy, standards, and procedures; coordinate any regulatory / customs needs to ensure shipments 100% compliance with all local regulation. Implement solutions to streamline compliance procedures and minimize risks associated with cross-border transactions.
  5. Implement operational performance process through elaboration and review of import/export reports, indicators, periodic monthly reviews with logistics service providers thru Contracts, Service Level Agreements, KPIs monitoring.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in international trade, supply chain management, finance, laws or a related field
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience in international trade management, with a focus on strategic projects, operations optimization, financial controls, and digitization
  • Strong understanding in Costa Rica of international trade regulations, customs procedures, transportation and trade compliance requirements.
  • Project management skills

Nice to have

  • Master's degree or relevant certifications (such as Certified International Trade Professional)
  • PMI or FPX Certification

What the JD emphasized

  • Strong understanding in Costa Rica of international trade regulations, customs procedures, transportation and trade compliance requirements.