Trade Compliance Director - Global Manufacturer

Company Overview

Our client is a global industrial manufacturer of critical, engineered components serving fast-growing end markets across transportation, energy, industrial processing and other highly regulated sectors. The business is differentiated by its engineering expertise, operational execution and focus on delivering high-quality solutions for customers with complex technical requirements.

The organisation operates through several specialist business divisions, supplying engineered products and components to customers across automotive, rail, energy, aerospace, defence and wider industrial markets.

The company has a substantial international footprint, with operations across EMEA and a global customer base. This role will work closely with regional and global stakeholders across a multinational manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

· Lead and execute trade and export controls compliance across the EMEA region, with a primary focus on military and dual-use exports under Polish, German, UK and EU regulations, alongside sanctions controls for commercial products.

· Act as the regional subject-matter expert on the EU Dual-Use Regulation and relevant national military trade control regimes, providing practical guidance to the business.

· Advise on classification of military and dual-use items through review of technical data, specifications, and engineering drawings.

· Determine licensing requirements, support export license applications, and ensure compliance with license conditions and authorizations as applicable

· Support compliance related to technology transfers and deemed exports, including cross-border sharing of technical data within multinational teams.

· Provide EU- and UK-focused sanctions compliance support, including customer, supplier and transaction screening and escalation of potential sanctions issues, including US extraterritorial applicability.

· Partner with engineering, supply chain, sales, and operations to enable compliant exports while supporting business objectives.

· Implement and execute corporate trade controls policies, procedures, and internal controls across EMEA.

· Serve as regional lead for trade controls and sanctions screening tools, supporting testing, implementation, and effective business use.

· Develop and deliver targeted training on trade controls and sanctions compliance.

· Support mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures by leading trade controls due diligence activities as required.

· Support customs compliance input with a focus on EU imports, including awareness of CBAM, regional value content reviews, HS classification, and relevant EU import regulatory developments.

Role Requirements

· You have a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field (Business, Law, International Trade)

· Several years of relevant experience in customs and trade, including in export controls within a multinational, law firm or a consulting company

· Experience working within a multinational manufacturing company, particularly one with a US parent, would be advantageous.

· You have experience with working in a multidisciplinary environment and in multi-cultural teams

· Strong familiarity with Polish, German, UK and/or other European military controls, together with EU dual-use controls.

· Ability to interpret technical drawings to co-relate to export classification

· Experience with Trade Management Software and IT affinity strongly preferred

· Experience with EU origin certifications, HS classifications and customs procedures within movement of goods in Europe

· Fluent English, both written and spoken. Polish language skills would be advantageous but are not essential.