Trade Compliance Director

About the role

This individual leads the global trade compliance function for a large multinational industrial manufacturing business, with responsibility for developing and executing import and export compliance strategies across multiple domestic and international locations. The role serves as the primary trade compliance advisor to business leadership, legal, and operational stakeholders, ensuring compliance with U.S. and international trade regulations while supporting broader business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Oversee global export controls, import compliance, licensing, product classifications (ECCN/HTS), sanctions, and denied party screening.
• Maintain and continuously improve the organization's trade compliance program, including policies, procedures, training initiatives, and internal controls designed to mitigate regulatory risk and ensure operational efficiency.
• Manage a team of trade compliance professionals, providing strategic direction, mentorship, and leadership across the function.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including legal, supply chain, operations, engineering, sales, and finance.
• Partner with external stakeholders such as customs brokers, consultants, and government agencies.
• Drive consistency in trade compliance practices across global sites, oversee broker performance, conduct compliance assessments, and implement corrective actions where needed.
• Lead trade optimization efforts, evaluating opportunities to reduce cost and improve efficiency through duty mitigation programs, free trade agreements, foreign trade zones, tariff classification strategies, and other trade-related initiatives.
• Represent the company during interactions with regulatory authorities and provide guidance to senior leadership on evolving global trade requirements, risks, and business impacts.
• Oversee customs compliance, investigations, voluntary disclosures, and audit activities.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive trade compliance experience, preferably within a complex industrial manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or other dual-use environment.
• Strong expertise in EAR, OFAC, customs and import regulations, export licensing, compliance program management, risk assessment, and regulatory investigations.
• Prior people management experience.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to operate effectively across a global organization.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies, project management, and building scalable compliance programs is highly valued.

Schedule

This position requires approximately 25-50% travel.